Transmission failure-torque converter?

i have an 87' 4dr hatchback escort and recently the transmission failed on me. i have had the transmission worked on prior to this incident and what i had fixed was the head gasket on the transmission, the pumps and the valves all replaced. now this situation happened while i was stopped at a stop light and when i was getting ready to go i hit the gas and the car jerked and went nowhere. it didn't die it just would go into gear while the gear shifter was in drive. i turned the car off and back on and it still did the same thing (was hoping for some luck). i think that its the torque converter that went out on it. any suggestions?

Hi, RE, Your 87 Escort trans? problem? Yes it is...You sheared the splines in the planetary gear....Classic symptom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...Pleas tell me, What is a head gasket doing in a transmission?....Pumps and valves?....Please explain....See Ya.....Clay.....

Your car is almost 20 years old. If the tranny has lasted this long you are lucky. Take it back to whoever did the last work and tell them what happened to it. Oh! I forgot it won't run. Call them on the land line and tell them what it did. They should be able to tell you what happened and give you an estimate to get it fixed again. Have you considered a new or rebuilt tranny? Maybe it's time to put in another one.

I didn't mean to say the head gasket, i just meant to say the gasket seal. it had a bad leak and i had the seal replaced, the pumps in the tranny were replaced along w/ the valves for the fluid injection

no i haven't considered either a rebuild or new tranny. i spent 250 repairing it in the first place and all i want to do is repair it if it is worth it. i may want to just trash the car. i don't know. i haven't figured out how much it would be to fix yet. i will though and let you know

Fluid injection... starting to sound a little funky to me. I hope you at least get a room at the inn when all this starts