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Trans is in a '70 Chevelle,2400 TCI converter,stage 2 shift kit.Trans is out of an '87 3/4 ton Chevy truck originally.

During recent radiator swap,I switched to a radiator type cooler(B&M Supercooler)from a tube type cooler(Hayden?),took the car for a drive and it was slightly gear hunting/slipping some.Level a little low and added to correct level and took for another drive with no change.Transmission would whine in L1 and L2 while slowly decelerating(much worse in L1).Seems fine at speed though.I checked the vacuum line to the modulator(o.k.)and have not checked the governor yet.I have done a filter change but haven't refilled and driven yet.Fluid looks and smells o.k.,but there were some tiny metal bits(maybe a dozen) in the pan,largest being maybe 1/16" and all are flat.

Should I put the fluid in and road test or is there a problem here?Is the different type of cooler letting a weakness show by pressure drop or something similar?What do you think has failed and could there be possible damage to the converter?  

Was the problem there before the radiator swap? The fact that you have metal in the pan is not good.

Gary  

No,or not that was noticable.That is what had me wondering if the different type of trans cooler would let the problem show up.I've pretty much made up my mind that I'm going to have to do a teardown,I would like to have an idea of the source of the problem before I begin.I've got a GM trans book and "How to work with and modify the Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 transmission" book,there seems to be multiple diagnosis for this,everything from just a filter to major parts failure.

Thanks for any help,Jon  

I have had a similar problem with the TH 400 in my '68 Jeep Wagoneer.  I have now gone through 2 TH 400's now.  What seems to be happening is the tabs on the case that hold a lock ring in are breaking off then the trans is shot.  I also have a B&M trans cooler on mine.  From your discription that might be what happened to yours.  The tabs are about the same size as what you discribed ealrier.  I'm curious to see what you found.  I would not think a trans cooler would cause this but maybe this type does?????  Please let me know what you have found.  I might try a different cooler also just in case.

P.S. Both of my trannys were professionaly rebuilt.  

Thanks,
Jeff