Is there a difference in the gearshift linkage mechanism between a 727 and 904 in an A body?

[Ragnar in Iceland]

I recently bought a 1969 Barracuda 360 with a 727 trans. She was originally 318 with a 904 trans. Car has center console with the original shifter.

There is one thing I need to figure out: If I disconnect the shifter and move the control lever of the trans only, it goes into all gears and park so the trans is fine. But if I connect the original shifter to the control lever and shift into gears I can either hit only park, reverse, neutral, drive and second, or only reverse, neutral, drive, 2nd and 1st. It just depends on if I connect the shifter to the control lever when the lever begins in park or 1st (i.e. fartest to the right or left). My guess is that I need to modify or change the upper rod mechanism. Can anyone clarify what I need to do?
Thanks for responding

Ragnar in Iceland

 

[Kern Dog]

I think that they are different but there is more to it.

There is a lever on the transmission case that controls the position of “park” and the gears. There are a few different lengths and shapes. A longer lever there will require more movement to engage all gears. A shorter lever will need less travel to get all gears.
I’ve cobbled together stuff to make it work while not knowing what each of the parts originally was used for.
Good luck to you.

 

[krazykuda]

I know there are differences in the column shift linkages because the trans bellhousing is larger..

I swapped a 340 with 727 on my 67 barracuda from a 273 with 904 without any problem since the shift linkages come through the floor and attach to the side of the trans next to the pan...

You may just have use the 904 lever for the trans..

 

[318willrun]

I've put 727's where 904's were and used the 904 linkage on the 727 without issue on column shifts. I would think this would cross over with console shifts as well, but can't say I've done that.

 

[66Valiant528]

Gonna throw this out there. There is a bushing in the bracket that mounts to the rear on the trans. Make sure it isn't wiped. I believe Mancini has the bracket and possibly the bushing.

 

[krazykuda]

I've put 727's where 904's were and used the 904 linkage on the 727 without issue on column shifts. I would think this would cross over with console shifts as well, but can't say I've done that.

When we converted my son's 71 Valiant from 904 to 727 column shift, the bracket that bolts on the bellhousing for the z-bar was different, plus we learned the shift rod from the z-bar to the trans linkage was a bit longer...

 

[318willrun]

When we converted my son's 71 Valiant from 904 to 727 column shift, the bracket that bolts on the bellhousing for the z-bar was different, plus we learned the shift rod from the z-bar to the trans linkage was a bit longer...

yeah, I did so many swaps throughout the years and I can't think of once where either way I didn't use the linkage on hand with the vehicle without modifying anything. Maybe slide the adjuster a little.

 

[j_anderson]

When I swapped my 904 for a 727 in my '72, I couldn't get the linkage to work right. I did a thread on it and there is some good detail in there though it may not apply to your console shift setup.

I was the same as you. I could hit park through drive 2 or reverse through drive 1 but never all positions. I also experiences some binding/resistence in the shifter as well. Bought 727 torque shaft, linkages, trans bracket and shift lever and it all works smooth as butter now.

 

[George Jets]

Here is a '76 D100 small block 727 linkage setup.

☆☆☆☆☆

 

[318willrun]

When I swapped my 904 for a 727 in my '72, I couldn't get the linkage to work right. I did a thread on it and there is some good detail in there though it may not apply to your console shift setup.

I was the same as you. I could hit park through drive 2 or reverse through drive 1 but never all positions. I also experiences some binding/resistence in the shifter as well. Bought 727 torque shaft, linkages, trans bracket and shift lever and it all works smooth as butter now.

Now that I think of it, one time I drilled a hole closer to the transmission in the shift lever to catch all the gears.

 

[JDMopar]

Are the brackets that bolt to the bottom side of the tailshaft housings longer on a 727 than they are on a 904? If so, that could cause a little misalignment.

 

[Cuda Al]

I recently put a 727 in a car that originally had a 904 (67 Barracuda convertible) I had no problem installing the originaly 904 shift linkage on the 727 with no modifications and everything works as designed.


Alan

 

[Ragnar in Iceland]

When I swapped my 904 for a 727 in my '72, I couldn't get the linkage to work right. I did a thread on it and there is some good detail in there though it may not apply to your console shift setup.

I was the same as you. I could hit park through drive 2 or reverse through drive 1 but never all positions. I also experiences some binding/resistence in the shifter as well. Bought 727 torque shaft, linkages, trans bracket and shift lever and it all works smooth as butter now.

Thanks Anderson, for pointing out this tread. It just might contain the solution I need.

Ragnar in Iceland

 

[krazykuda]

yeah, I did so many swaps throughout the years and I can't think of once where either way I didn't use the linkage on hand with the vehicle without modifying anything. Maybe slide the adjuster a little.

I was able to swap the 904 and 727 when I did engine swaps on our 72 Challenger and 67 Barracuda with floor shifts, I believe that I also used the same trans linkage brackets...

I didn't get the longer 727 bracket, that may have thrown it off, I just used all of the linkages that came with the original 904 that the car was built with from the factory....

 

[krazykuda]

Are the brackets that bolt to the bottom side of the tailshaft housings longer on a 727 than they are on a 904? If so, that could cause a little misalignment.

I believe you are right, there may be differences in the length of the brackets coming off the trans between the 904 and 727...

 

[krazykuda]

I recently put a 727 in a car that originally had a 904 (67 Barracuda convertible) I had no problem installing the originaly 904 shift linkage on the 727 with no modifications and everything works as designed.


Alan

Were you running column or console shift???

 

[Cuda Al]

Were you running column or console shift???

Console.

The tail shaft bracket is the same, transmission mount is the same, cooler lines are the same.

The lever on the transmission is different. Kickdown is all different.


Alan

 

[oldkimmer]

I have swapped 727 to 904 and 904 to 727 with a consol shift and never had a problem. I used the straight lever on all 727s and the dog leg lever on the 904s. Kim