Bad Torque Converter or Dead Transmission

[New Madrid]

Three years ago my brother-in-law gave me his 1994 Camry LE 5S-FE, when the dealership offered him $200 on trade.
I gladly accepted. Only a few years ago he paid for a new transmission. I heard rumors about the quality of Japanese cars, but I always owned Fords.
The Camry had survived the flooding of Katrina on the second level of a garage. After the flooding subsided my brother-in-law snuck back into the City with new battery, but the Camry started without it on the first try.
Because the Camry withstood the potholes and general mayhem of New Orleans driving, because the Camry safely got my niece and nephew through the early years of their lives; I decided that this car had proved its mettle and that there was something valuable still left, I would return her to her glory days.
I started small, fixing the door handles. Gradually I worked my way up to a complete valve job with the help of the shop Manual. Finally, a few months ago I pulled the motor to repair the rear main seal.
I reinstalled the motor and for a short time the car drove fine. My only problem seemed to be that the car would take off faster when I took my foot of the brake from a light or stop sign. I figured that it was something with the timing since the car was idling around 1K instead of 750.
I drove the car into my garage. Set the timing and then discovered that the car wouldn’t go. No drive no reverse. I checked all my fuses. I checked the Park/Neutral switch. I tried operating the transmission manually. No luck. When in park, the car won’t move, so that’s good. The transmission fluid isn’t burned up.
Suddenly I felt like the guy trying to change the door handles on the street with traffic wizzing by.
I’ve heard that if the stator on the torque converter is broken you get constant slippage, that there’s nothing wrong with the transmission, it’s just not engaging.
Of course when I present my problem to most people, they ask “how many miles? You probably need a new transmission.”
Anyone experienced anything like this? The car has sentimental value, but the cost of time and money is getting high.

[carsrus]

Torque convertor may be seated wrong? I dont think that's possible but its gonna be related to you pulling it.

Triple check all wiring and vacuum lines, maybe youll get lucky. If not I say bite the bulltet and drop the trans.