refilling an air cooled Ford-o-Matic

[dmsfrr]

Yes, this is my first one of these transmissions.

I just got a freshly rebuilt '55 transmission & torque converter back from the shop and need some helpful hints about the best way to refill it.
Right now it's still out of the car with the pan on... and the bell housing, torque converter and dipstick/fill tube off. I know I have to be really careful about getting the t-c fully seated into the shaft tabs on the front of the trans and will dab a bit of fluid on the seal & sleeve first.

Should some trans. fluid go into the torque converter before it goes on the trans? Or can I just refill the whole thing from scratch after putting it in the car? I assume any trapped air will work itself out once it's running and I shift thru the gears.
I don't want to mess this up and have to pull the engine to do it all over again.
FYI, the trans. shop told me to use Mercon fluid.

Thanks.

 

[cjc56]

I just had my 56 F/M air cooled rebuilt along with the torque converter. The rebuilder told me that I did not need to fill the torque converter first. His instructions were to put about 5 quarts of fluid in the transmission before start up then as soon as the engine starts continue to pour the rest into the fill tube. He said if I poured it all in at once the fluid would come back out the tube. I did per his instructions and the trans runs/shifts great.

 

[dmsfrr]

Great, Thanks.