I dont think its the front clutches welded together. Reason is when in third gear the front and rear clutches are applied. So when you go into first the rear clutch and the overrunning clutch give you first. If the front clutches are welded you would be in third gear when you put it in drive and not first gear. Sounds like the rear clutches may have a problem to me since it is applied in all forward gears but not in reverse. Reverse is the forward clutch and the low-reverse band applied so if the rear clutch was partly welded together then you would have a two element fight like trying to be in first and reverse at the same time. Ron