727 rebuild options

727 Roadrunner options?


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Boydsdodge

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So I have a friend that bought a nice looking but in terrible mechanical condition Roadrunner. The transmission is shot, mud and flakes of glitter fill the pan. On top of, it would not move the car.
When it arrived it had no transmission fluid, all wheels seized, kick down/pressure linkage not connected, just a mess.
I have options.
#1. I drop transmission and deliver to trans shop for rebuild. $2000.00 with converter is shop quote.
#2. I buy a master rebuild kit and do the rebuild here. I did a couple of 727s when I was young and nothing could go wrong. They worked out from what I remember of those days, but we also went through cars like the seasons change.
#3. The big Mopar yard up here (National Moparts) has a 727 from a 72 Roadrunner that was a driver I could go get, change filter and seals, Re and Re and cross my fingers.
Your ideas are welcome.

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#1 and done. Other choices include several risks that would require pulling the transmission again. I guess it depends on how much $ the owner has and what the labor rate and amount of calendar time you are willing to accept.
 
IMHO, if you've done them before, you can do one again.

There are two reservations I have about doing it yourself. First is finding the problem. Sometimes that can take an edumacted eye that has done a few transmissions before. Second is if you can source any parts that are damaged. If those don't bother you, go for it.

Another alternative is you buy the used one and go completely through it... Giving you the best of all worlds... A known good trans to start with that has been rebuilt.
 
IMHO, if you've done them before, you can do one again.

There are two reservations I have about doing it yourself. First is finding the problem. Sometimes that can take an edumacted eye that has done a few transmissions before. Second is if you can source any parts that are damaged. If those don't bother you, go for it.

Another alternative is you buy the used one and go completely through it... Giving you the best of all worlds... A known good trans to start with that has been rebuilt.
I was thinking number three and go through it with a basic kit. The transmission is from a driver that one of the main guys at the yard had.
 
My first answer is #2. They are not difficult to do, and you have done them before.
But if you don't have a ready source to the misc. parts that may be damaged then #3 starts to make good sense. Even with a kit you'll have way under 1/2 of what the shop wants, invested into it. Especially if #3 comes with the converter. Those have gotten to be rather pricy nowadays. Even with flushing out the converter you have, I'd be a bit skeptical if you can get it really clean again.
 
Start with #2 to the point of disassembly and assess but keep #3 in your back pocket. I have a really hard time wrapping my head around the cost of #1 unless that price included the r & r…..
I have a buddy that does mine for Pennie’s on that dollar.
 
Start with #2 to the point of disassembly and assess but keep #3 in your back pocket. I have a really hard time wrapping my head around the cost of #1 unless that price included the r & r…..
I have a buddy that does mine for Pennie’s on that dollar.
That idea sounds about where I was headed. The price is a surprise for sure. That's me dropping trans to the transmission shop. I think I am done with paying that price. Last rebuild in Sept was 1200.00 then he quoted a client I sent to him 1600. Now he is quoting 1900. And that doesn't include replacement of broken parts.
Thanks.
 
That idea sounds about where I was headed. The price is a surprise for sure. That's me dropping trans to the transmission shop. I think I am done with paying that price. Last rebuild in Sept was 1200.00 then he quoted a client I sent to him 1600. Now he is quoting 1900. And that doesn't include replacement of broken parts.
Thanks.
That sounds like a "I don't want to do it" price.
 
Now for a kit. I gave my parts guy a couple of numbers for rebuild kits, one of them a Raybestos master kit, he can't get any kits for 727.
My quickest shipping kit would be this Parts authority kit from rock auto. Looks like it has all the needed parts, packaged well. Any thoughts? I understand there are better trans shops available south of the border, but cross border shipping with smaller business can lead to long delays in arrival. Rock auto has pre-clearance and will be here in a couple of days.
 
I do 904's and 727's on the side. I always talk with the guy about upgrades I recommend and then ask them what their expectations are then make additional recommendation from there. I have a few upgrades I do just in general that don't cost any extra. If a guy wants upgraded clutches and steels, bands, bolt in rear sprag, higher RPM TC. The price goes up because of parts. If the guy wants the valve body reworked price goes up for labor. If you want to learn the different levels of rebuilds a good resource is Cope Racing Transmissions CRT. You can look at the different kits he offers for different horse power rates. He also has a youtube channel and has a bunch of info that is free. He is pretty much just a Mopar guy and has seen it all.

If you want to bring it to Mid Michigan area and hang out at my house I could rebuild it for you and you could even help if you want. I have done this for another member on here. His was a cable shift that I had not done in years so it was nice do one again.
 
#2, 727's are easy peasy, if you've done one you're good to go, use an FSM as a reference.

The man you want to talk to when he comes back from FL is Pat at SMR transmission....he can set you up with a kit for that 727. He forgotten more about TF's then most transmission builders will ever know.
 
#2, 727's are easy peasy, if you've done one you're good to go, use an FSM as a reference.

The man you want to talk to when he comes back from FL is Pat at SMR transmission....he can set you up with a kit for that 727. He forgotten more about TF's then most transmission builders will ever know.
Thanks.
Is SMR in Canada.?
I see the site but not seeing the location of business.
 
Alternatives...

1a) Buy a rebuilt 727 and converter from the 727 Specialist (Keith). He installs his own shift kit and he'll ship it to you. 727Specialist

2a) If you do it yourself, recommend installing a shift kit to improve the common complaints of the 727 (overlapping shifts, converter drainback). Such as this one from Transgo: TransGo - SK TFSC - TFSC SHIFT KIT® Valve Body Repair Kit

3a) if you like to gamble....
 
Alternatives...

1a) Buy a rebuilt 727 and converter from the 727 Specialist (Keith). He installs his own shift kit and he'll ship it to you. 727Specialist

2a) If you do it yourself, recommend installing a shift kit to improve the common complaints of the 727 (overlapping shifts, converter drainback). Such as this one from Transgo: TransGo - SK TFSC - TFSC SHIFT KIT® Valve Body Repair Kit

3a) if you like to gamble....
Just keep in mind some valve body rebuild kits affect clutch and band timing and require extra springs in the clutch to make the clutch disengage before the band applies. Make sure you know what you are doing or you will have binding of the clutch and band. You can’t just rework a valve body anyway you want and have good results.
 
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