ok guys.. i have a 98 dodge ram 1500 with the 360(5.9l) with auto trans with od... wife took it to the racetrack tonite and said it did fine.. i picked it up on the way home from work and it started slipping like crazy and a weird racket coming from the tranny.. the noise was vibrating through the floorboard... so i got it home and started checking everything out.. the dipstick was out of the tube about an inch and a half and you could tell trans fluid had been backwashing out of there onto the motor.. so i checked the fluid level and added the needed amount(about a quart).. started the motor back up and the racket was really loud so i crawled underneath it and couldnt pinpoint the exact source of the vibration or noise as it was so loud and vibrating so hard it had the whole tranny buzzing... so i let it cool down a bit and started it back up.. no noise or vibration.. but as it got warm everything came back... but then the noise and vibration stopped and then the truck wouldnt go into gear.. reverse or forward... the noise is linked to the rpms as you give it gas and the whirring sound goes faster... so i shut it off.. restarted it and it went into gear but was slipping again.. (enough to pull it into the garage all the way)... so i need help at least on identifying the problem and identifying the transmission.. no fluid being lost after i put the dipstick back in.. and i took it out on the road with the idea of if its gonna break im gonna be the one to break it.. kicked it in passing gear.. accelerated fine.. but then started slipping so i turned around and headed back home.. noise going in and out with vibration.. so.. clutches? discs? bands? tourque converter? rebuild or buy used? any help appreciated.. thanks.. joe..oh yeah.. 2 wd..

 

Wow, sounds like BIG problems.
So many internal "could-be"s.
I believe they call those A-518---should be.
I'd yank the pan and take a look inside. I doubt you are going to get away with just a fluid change and new filter.
The RPM change in noise(in park) targets mainly the torque converter,pump and input shaft/drum.
Its junk....
If you love the vehicle, then get it rebuilt at a GOOD rebuilder.
You take a chance on a used as these have many issues in the trans to begin with.