Quote:

The startup noise/vibration/front leak, and the slipping in forward gears issue seems to point towards the torque converter.



a broke TC snout would do all that for sure.

I have had a lot more 904 TC break the snout than 727s. one of the reasons I think the 904 went to the solid hub with machined flats to drive the pump over the notch/tang set up.

good luck,hope there is no more damage other than the TC.