My brother's fighting a problem in an '88 vintage lock-up Torqueflite. (Ok, it's not hooked to a slant. He helps me with my Valiant, so ... ) Seems the engine often dies when it goes in reverse. Just enough to be a bother. Idle is good. He has changed the filter and fluid, and adjusted the reverse band, with no effect.
Ideas?

Most of the time "stalls when going in reverse" problems are related to choke and cold engine operation problems.
(I start the car in the morning and put it in reverse and it stalls...)

Does the stalling happen when warm?
any other "pattern to the stalling?

Reverse takes the most hydraulic pressure in a Torqueflite so it can be a pretty hard "hit". Some things to try may be counter to what you would think to do.
Turn the idle speed lower so it does not hit as hard.
Tighten the reverse band, that makes for a softer apply.
Check the kick-down linkage, take some throttle pressure out of it.

Run some pressure tests to see if the reverse apply pressure is in spec.
DD

The problem has happened hot and cold. And the trans sometimes works well cold and hot. One of those intermittent things that make us exercise the less desirable portions of our vocabularies.

is this a front wheel drive car? if so, check for a split air intake boot. when the engine "torques" in it's mounts the split can open and cause a lean condition and kill the motor.

-james

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No, it's a 1988 Dodge Diplomat with a 318. Rear wheel drive. Actually a pretty good car, and there are a few police versions in the junkyards with some nice goodies on them.