Just got a 727, need advice for a refresh

[Austin Spencer]

Just got myself a 727 for my 65 Dart project. Code on the pan rail is PK4058332 6191 4455. The owner said it had sat for about 30 years, and mentioned it may have some upgrades since he used to work with TransGo on some prototyping and early product testing. Got 2 torque converters with it too, he said a stock stall, and a low stall that was used for 4x4.

He said it'd be a good idea to go through it and just check all of the seals. I've never dug into a transmission, but I'd like to learn so I'm looking for any advice and things to look for. I've seen the pinned videos for the 727 takedown and rebuild, and I'm looking into getting the book that seems well recommended on here. Just not sure if I need those yet if I'm just going to be checking seals and stuff.

I intend to take a Gearvendors unit and put it on the back to get overdrive. I've already got the unit, just have to take it off my AMC 727 and put it on this one.

Are there any tests I can do with the transmission outside of the vehicle as it is now? Anything visual I can see that may give me an idea of what I may need?

 

[Johnschummer]

You can function test it with air, it’s all spelled out in that Tom hand book which is a great reference. I used it to do mine and it was very helpful.

 

[junkyardhero]

x100 get the Tom Hand book. it's worth every penny.

sitting that long i'd expect to do a soft parts rebuild.

 

[CFD244]

x100 get the Tom Hand book. it's worth every penny.

sitting that long i'd expect to do a soft parts rebuild.

Absolutely

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yup, Tom Hand's book is the one.

 

[Lefty71]

Not entirely off the subject, but i'm curious if it's a difficult fit in a '65 for that setup??

 

[Austin Spencer]

Just finished a video series on disassembly and replacing everything, doesn't look too challenging, just need a few tools and that book. I'll probably disassemble it, see what I need, and choose a kit based on that. I read in another thread about multiple places to get kits from so I'll choose one of those.

Not entirely off the subject, but i'm curious if it's a difficult fit in a '65 for that setup??

I've got a '64 cable shifted 727 in there now and it fits, works when I can get it in the right gear. I'll have to do some looking and measurement for the gearvendors unit and see where I end up.

 

[JDMopar]

You will end up with a very short driveshaft, and you will have to make the driveshaft tunnel bigger for the bell end of the GV tailshaft housing and the GV unit itself. You will need an aftermarket shifter also, but that part is easy.

 

[Austin Spencer]

You will end up with a very short driveshaft, and you will have to make the driveshaft tunnel bigger for the bell end of the GV tailshaft housing and the GV unit itself. You will need an aftermarket shifter also, but that part is easy.

How much bigger does the driveshaft tunnel have to be? Just some massaging with a hammer or something more extensive? Thanks for the insight.

 

[JDMopar]

It may depend on the age of the GV unit as to how much modification you will have to do. The older GV units were somewhat larger than new ones that sell now. I had one that I had previously installed in an 84 D350 2WD truck, that I removed and re-installed in a 71 Challenger. I had to beat the living daylights out of the trans tunnel right between the seats to get clearance. If I remember right (this was 2005ish) the worst points of contact were the top corners of the GV unit itself, plus the top circumference of the bell on the end of the GV supplied tail shaft housing. The GV tail shaft housing locates the transmission mount in the exact same spot as factory. I didn't like how low the tail end of the GV unit itself hung down, so I shimmed the transmission mount up until I was satisfied with where it was. So, my clearance issues were pretty much self-inflicted, but it fit like I wanted it in the end and worked great. With 3.55 gears and 275/60-15 rear tires, my 360 turned 2600 RPM's at 75 mph. Post some pics as you go. It will be interesting to see how the GV system looks up under an Early A body. Another thing that you may already know is, you will more than likely have to beat the pinch weld between the floor pan and the firewall flat to get the 727 to fit in the Early A. The bellhousing on the 727 is bigger than the 904 that came in the car. There is also a rubber bumper thingy in the top of the torsion bar crossmember hoop above the tail shaft that may need to be removed.