I am trying to build this trans with a short tailshaft from a van. These big block van transmissions are not very easy to find so that is why I am asking. But it sounds like I will need to obtain a newer transmission and swap the guts into the van. So what years came with lockup? I assume that I could use a small block 727 lockup trans to pull the guts out of equally well, is that correct?
From everything i've read they started production in 78. Not sure if they made them all the way to the end of production in 90 or not. I have been rebuilding torqueflites (mainly 727's) for 30 yrs. and have yet to actually see a lockup 727. I've read they made them but they must be really rare. Small block internals would work if the output shaft is compatible but they made 3 designs of output shafts in the area of the front end of it that mates up to the input shaft so you have to make sure and get stuff that mates up.
I would also assume that the lockup portion has nothing to do with the tailshaft so that I can swap in the lockup frontend and keep the short tailshaft?
I am expecting to pay for the aftermarket lower gears, unless by some stroke of pure luck the 999 stuff are made the same as the 727 (yeah, didn't think so).