A518 Overdrive Questions

[ragtopdodge]

I went ahead and found me a 2-pin non-lockup for $150 near me!  Only had 60k on it, but it'll get torn apart anyways. 

[tactransman]

I went ahead and found me a 2-pin non-lockup for $150 near me!  Only had 60k on it, but it'll get torn apart anyways. 

Good price! 

[RCCDrew]

One of the articles I read recently said that you could get away with running a much "looser" convertor with a lockup style convertor.  Any opinions on this?

[Cooter]

One of the articles I read recently said that you could get away with running a much "looser" convertor with a lockup style convertor.  Any opinions on this?

Although I haven't personally done it, stands to reason you could run a 4500 Stall on the street, as long as it's locked up like a manual. I have however, tried to drive a 4500 Stall on the street with NO lock up and lemme tell ya' it will burn fluid within the first 30 miles. Oh sure, you'll sky the tires with any real traction, but the trade off isn't worth it IMO.

[ted]

can i but an a 518 behind a 383 in a 74 cuda/

[GranCuda1970]

I believe the answer is yes you can.

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/727transmission.htm
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/SwapInformation.htm
http://www.hotrod.com/howto/43323_mopar_overdrive_transmission_swap/

 Modifications needed.

[tactransman]

On this link http://www.hotrod.com/howto/43323_mopar_overdrive_transmission_swap/


I have talked to John Vinson at JVX many times on the phone and he knows his stuff!

[PlumCrazyChris]

Its not as straight forward as with a smallblock, the 518 was never built for a big block.  You need cut off the bellhousing, and bolt on a aftermarket one designed for bigblock.  There is a good thread on Moparts with a guy doing it for a truck.

You'd probably be better off with a good 727 and a Gearvendors overdrive.  It will cost about the same if your buying everything from a dealer and having it installed.  Its a bolt on (no fabricating) and you can take it off again if you wanted to.  The reduction in labor alone is worth it, plus its supposed to be good up to 1200 HP.  It also has a 2 yr warranty.

I have a friend with one in his Sebring and he loves it, it just works and he doesn't have to think about it.   

I by the way, am installing a 518 in my Challenger....someday.   I've had all the parts for years now, but its still not in and running. 

Chris

[Katfish]

Found this thread way late, but

Has anyone posted a complete how-to on the SB/518 swap into an E-body?
Does the floor pan need to be cut?

 

[rockymopar]

This is the definitive source, this very thread. There are 20 pages or so. If you want to do the swap, page thru all of them. Basically, you have a couple of big frankenstein like lugs on the pass side to cut, and you have to notch some fins by the speedo cable. 10 minutes with the sawsall. Presently, you have to fab your own crossmember. I am trying to deal with us all the 5 speed conversion dealers as I think their crossmembers may be adaptable to the 518. I made my own out of scap steel, and it still looks like scrap

[brads70]

Here is a link to the thread mentioned on Moparts
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=best&Number=3453311&fpart=&PHPSESSID=

[Katfish]

That's awesome, would love to see something similiar for SB e-body.

[PlumCrazyChris]

That is a great thread, there is just a lot less work for a small block.   I guess I'll need to read through this thread again, because I thought this was a great thread for installing a 518 to a small block in a Ebody....   Maybe its not as complete as I thought.  I'm starting my assembly (again) so I probably need to go over it again anyway.

[Katfish]

Ok PlumCrazy, I'm right behind you.

Make sure you take tons of pics and document every step.  Seems like we need a vendor to step up and put together a kit, or at least the tranny support.

[ntstlgl1970]

Ok PlumCrazy, I'm right behind you.

Make sure you take tons of pics and document every step.  Seems like we need a vendor to step up and put together a kit, or at least the tranny support.

You can modify the stock trans crossmember and make it work, cut the trans mount "ears" off the front and weld a new mount on to fit a gm biscuit trans mount, elongate the trans mount to trans holes and it pretty much bolts together. That's what I did on mine.