Hi Scott,
Being that it requires the temp to be up it could be the oil pump, its hard to say without being there but if your oil pressure is bouncing around it could be. At least it isn't too hard to change if the car is up in the air.

You mentioned maybe the torque converter, did you pull the dip stick and look and smell the trans fluid? Does it smell burned or look real dark. Does the car seem to take more rpms to get it moving like the converter is slipping?? The other thing in the trans could be the front pump making noise but I wouldn't think that it would have to get up to temp first to make noise.

A transmission shop could check your fluid pressure if you think its trans related, they will probably be glad to rebuild it for your too

Got your message Scott. It is a bit weird that it needs to get to temp first. Is it possibly the oil pump, any signs that the oil pressure drops or is fluctuating abnormally as the oil warms up?

Could be the trans I suppose. Does it seem to slip more than usual when taking off from a start. Converters usually slip or let go, the other thing in the trans is the front pump. That could make a bunch of noise but I would think it would do it all the time, same as the converter. Have you dropped the pan and taken a look at the fluid or pulled the dip stick and see if it smells burned. It shouldn't be off color too much if normal.

Scott

Scott, I'm out of town and I can read my email but not reply. You need to use some kind of lock washer or the french locks on the ends of the manifolds or those bolts will work loose. If not, use high temp loctite but it is pretty spendy. Stainless exhaust is pretty spendy, guess it just depends upon your disposable income. Just think how long a good aluminized system lasts, as long as we'll driving these cars anyway.