A727 QUESTION FOR THE EXPERTS...NO 2,3,ONLY R AND 1ST

[ZAREN]

I have read about 50 pages here and lots of good info!! GREAT SITE!!!
I have also scoured the net looking for answer to no avail.
Although my vehicle is not a cuda or challenger I used to own one,which is how I found this site.
I just bought a 89 ramcharger from an estate sale at a good price. so I cannot ask the old owner anything!
318 w/a727 trans. Cooling lines were cut and routed back to trans due to an obvious leak. Truck didnt move at first and was found to be a little shy of fluid. Topped off in neutral and I thought I was good to go. Drove around the block a few times and it would not shift outta first gear.I left it in (d), tried low 1 to low 2...still nothing.
This is really frustrating because I can't ask anyone as to what it used to do before sitting for 8 months!!!
Anyhow,reverse works fine...no slippage. First gear works well,just won't shift to second or third no matter how high I tach it out...I went as far as to put some Lucas trans stuff in her...still natta.
Reading here I am onto the kickdown linkage and will disconnect and manually hold it full forward and try to drive and see what occurs. I do not know if the rod was bent,replaced with the wrong one or what?
Are ther any other thing to try before scrapping this trans? Are there any common problems with this trans? The fluid is full and not burnt (yet)..Would a manual valve body or shift kit help me out? Filter clogged? Stuck valves in the valve body?
I plead for some answers in hopes not to have to scrap this trans...
Any answers would help soooo much!
Sounds as if there is a pretty smart guy on here who is very knowledgable(American eagle pic) who can help....
Thanks in advance!!
YOU GUYS HAVE SOME AWSOME MOPARS HERE!!!!!!!!!!
zAREN

[tactransman]

Yes,unhook the kick down and drive a little to see if it upshifts then. Post what you find out. 

Welcome to your first post on CC.com!

[ZAREN]

Thanks for you timely response!
I disconected the kick linkage at the trans and used a spring to hold the lever to the most forward position and no luck....
At one point I left it in drive and didn't seem to shift at all but when I manually downshifted to first it did seem as if it went into a lower gear...? Maybe my immagination though.
I nearly redlined the poor old truck and it wouldn't shift. Weird cause first and reverse are strong!....No slipping what so ever.
Maybe this helps,but when in low 1 it stays tight and in 1st,but in drive when I get to about 40 mph or so and let off the gas she free wheels..I need to bring the throttle up to a higher rpm to catch up to the gear it's in(first).
Governor prob?
Would installing a manual valve body work?
I have found a used trans on Craigslist,but recently had a total hip replaced and would be kinda hard for me to replace at this time. Everything looks real HEAVY under there!

I value your advise,as you sound VERY knowledgeable.
I am on a budget at this time as I am not at work,but defenately NOT in a hurry.
What do you think the next step I take should be?
Zaren

[tactransman]

You have a valve body problem or a governor problem. Do you have a pressure gauge kit that you can screw into the trans to check governor pressure?

Like this: http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/atd-5550.html

[ZAREN]

No but will get one.
Where do I attatch it to on the trans and what should it read,
in drive,neutral,park?
Zaren

[tactransman]

It hooks up here on a 2WD,your 4WD adapter housing should be similar. It should read zero sitting still,then build pressure the faster the wheels turn.

[ZAREN]

Hello again,I was having some medical probs and couldn't do much till now. I came across a good used 727 2wd tranny and figured I would just swap out the tail housings and call it a day. NO SUCH LUCK! After reading up on the swap I discovered the swap was not so simple..The output shaft had to be swapped as well due to its longer length on the 2wd,and to do so the entire trans would basicly have to be dissassembled.
Well after dropping the 4wd trans and transfer case I unbolted the tailhouse from the 4wd trans and found the governor was busted up.. The pin that goes thru the unit was bent into a semi (c) shape,the c clips were broken, the ears where the piston in the governor were chipped/broken. I found what seems to be most of all the broken/missing peices either laying in the tailhouse or in the trans pan. The magnet held the steel parts,all of which I recovered. Putting the puzzle together it ALL seems to be there.
Like I had mentioned earlier,I did have reverse and low gears and they worked fine. 4WD also worked fine and never heard any scraping or grinding noises.
How does the governor work exactly and do you suppose this was my problem? I have already replaced the governor with the one from the donor trans. Now I am afraid to put it all back in the truck to find that wasn't my problem and or any aluminum shavings may tear up the trans from here on out. It had been driving ok in low gear. I am on a very limited budget and cant afford to have a shop fix it at the moment.
What do you think? Put it back together,or wait till I can afford to have an expert look at the trans? I would hate to waste all my labor just to do it all over again!! I do believe I removed all of the broken peices,at least thats how it looks to me when I fit all the peices together.
I took some pics of what I have found but can't seem  to figure out how to post them.
What do you think?
Z

[ZAREN]

Pics of what I found.
Also Isee in the tailhouse that there is a passage for fluid to go into the transfer case.Driving in low 4wd,would I have heard or felt if any of the aluminum fragments would have fell in there?
How much and what type of fluid can I use in the 727? I have heard using a ford fluid will help shifts (firmer)?

[tactransman]

That was your problem,seen that a few times.

[tactransman]

Pics of what I found.
Also I see in the tailhouse that there is a passage for fluid to go into the transfer case.Driving in low 4wd,would I have heard or felt if any of the aluminum fragments would have fell in there?
How much and what type of fluid can I use in the 727? I have heard using a ford fluid will help shifts (firmer)?

Transfer case area should be fine. Any fluid will work (Dexron),I have seen NO shift improvement in using Ford fluid.