I would think if there was some fluid in there at least some in the converter & it sounds like you did prime it with some and there was some in the trans that it did not burn up & the non op issue is unrelated to the fluid but wait for Kunkel to chime in. I did build a 904 then it sat outside (with no dipstick for 2 years (rain & snow) "dont ask" & then in the summer pulled the pan & it was dry so I installed it in the stock car & filled it up with fluid & it ran flawless. My tranny building skills ain't super, it's just a tough trans. Heres a BTT for ya