Just got my used 727....now what?

[dodge freak 2]

I would trust ATI but yeah those prices are crazy. ATI has the name thou, go around the tracks and you see many run their harmonic balances.

TCI is junk, IMO.

Shipping would cost about $150 I believe but depending where you live you should be able to find somebody local...those trans been around "forever". Any big cities in a hour or 2 drive time but then your gambling on who you find. 

[shadango]

Well, just got back from tranny shop #2...its a Cottman's, one that a relative of mine uses as a vendor in his work and also had his Barracuda's tranny done there.

Talked to the builder, and asked to do the following:
billet rear servo kit, heavy duty lo/reverse and intermediate band struts, Transgo TF-1 shift kit, confirm I have a 3.8 ratio intermediate shift lever,  I also asked about upgrading the intermediate servo to the "super servo" kit and we briefly discussed going to kevlar bands for good measure.

He is said that with this setup the torque converter needs to be a high stall ...3k is what he is suggesting.  He said that he is "building me a hammer " and that the torque converter will be the weak leak...a low stall stock one wont do, that it will fail and take out the pump.   He recommended ATI but said they are very pricey and said TCI would be OK....

He said he will build the tranny but I am responsible for the converter, so its not like he is trying to sell parts. He said that my 2.76s will be an issue....that they wont take too much hammering for long so I need to change to numerically higher gear set.

I really dont see that a TF-1 , rear servo and hd struts is building a hammer, is it??? He said the u jointsand rearend will take a beating....ormaybe he is just saying how to make it bulletproof.....Hesaud he has a 10second chevy that he drags......

They are also saying I will need to have a auxillary tranny cooler...no problem there....just heve to get one.

Price is yet to be determined...they said they will get prices on the parts.....I had some prices jotted down and he mentioned that he has to make some money on parts....that you dont take your eggs to Dennys and ask them to cook them......I agreed but also aid that a 3x markup wont work either like one shop wanted to do....so I think we see eye to eye there....they said they will get into to the tranny late today or tomorrow and then give me a total.....the price we had discussed on the phone before I went down( I had mentioned the shift kit and struts and billet rear servo) the guy said to figure $600-800 with parts and bench time.  Not sure if that will change now or what.....

I know torque converters are pricey.....I was hoping I could run the stock for now, which would normally be included in the cost.....not sure if I will get a discount since he wont be providing a rebuilt convertor now or what....

What do you guys think about B&M convertors? They seem to be reasonable cost wise....I lso see "Hughes" out there ..... TCI seems to be a min of $500....ouch.

[tactransman]

What engine do you have and what are the specs on it?

[shadango]

Right now its a '76  318 with j heads and a 750 cfm edelbrock carb and manifold......no idea whats in it....I was told it is stock except for a double roller timing chain, and it looks like it has a milodon oil pan.

Isnt a 3k stall more for big torque producing engines?

I did say that at some point I hope to go to a 340 or 360 or just build up this 318 with maybe a cam etc a bit and would like to be ready for that.....

He started out saying I should go 3500 if I plan to drag race it at all..when I said that would be rare hesaid a 3k would be fine.....I also said I would probably go to 3.55s or 3.91s at some point.

Still seems excessive...but I aint a tranny guy.....what do you think?

[tactransman]

A stock converter is fine as far as engine performance. If you go with a stall ( TCI etc.) they are built heavier duty on the inside.

This is the one that I would go with:
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=TCI-141200&N=700+4294905607+115&autoview=sku

[shadango]

But what about the stall speed?

Looking online at the B&M products and they say that a mild street car would use a 2k....a moderate street car 2400....3k is reserved for big blocks........

What do you suggest as far as stall and brand?

whoops just saw your link...will check it out.

[72hemi]

I had a converter built by spec rite and so far no problems. I have heard a lot of great things about them in the past, especially from the racers. They are in California but shipping wouldn't be too bad. Here is their link. It cost me about $225 for a ~2k stall.

http://www.specriteconverters.com/

[shadango]

Ok, just checked your link....2400 seems reasonable based on their descripotions...

And 2400 would "cover me" for a little upgrading engine power later too, right? 

Can you figure out any reason he would say I need a 3k stall?  Is there a downside to going with a 3k? 

I guess the problem here is that I have a very vague understanding of the whole "stall" thing....

I wasnt really planning on getting a perf. converter..., but if this is a good idea and will prevent issues and give me better performance, might as well do it now I guess, right?

One thing I noticed is that converters have very short warranty coverages......like 90 days.  I guess that will give me incentive to get the car on the road once I buy it, eh?  LOL  

Thats one thing we hadnt discussed...warranty coverage on this rebuild....the last place was 12 months/12k miles.....I assume a national franchise wouldoffer something similar even on a "custom" job like this.....fingers crossed.  Will ask this when theycall me with the costs.....

[shadango]

Spec-rite looks interesting.....but wondering if they have the quality and following of the TCI?

Can deal with a $225 to $325 extra outlay if it will let me beat it a bit.......but 3k stalls and we are talking $500 and up it looks like....

Probablywill go with the 2400 as you suggested, Tactransman,  This should let me beat on it a bit and be safe, right?

[72hemi]

In northern California they are the premier covnerter builder and have a huge following. 3k is really excessive for a street car. My friend had a low 11 second Chevelle with a 383 stroker with a cam larger than .600 lift and was running a 3500 stall. On the street I would not go above 2500. I have heard that you do not want your stall higher than your hwy cruising rpm because you are always on the stall and run the risk of burning it up.

Terry your thoughts?

[71chally416]

A good street convertor IMO is one that you won't hardly notice is even there until you use it under full power. It doesn't slip excessively during normal driving and feel lazy on gear changes or slip excessively in high gear, but when you need it it stalls it's advertised amount, launches the car good and costs you nothing in MPH over a stocker. Not every company has the ability to make "efficient" convertors like that and it will probably have more influence over gas mileage, top end speed and your 60 ft time than anything else you will select.

[tactransman]

A good street convertor IMO is one that you won't hardly notice is even there until you use it under full power. It doesn't slip excessively during normal driving and feel lazy on gear changes or slip excessively in high gear, but when you need it it stalls it's advertised amount, launches the car good and costs you nothing in MPH over a stocker. Not every company has the ability to make "efficient" convertors like that and it will probably have more influence over gas mileage, top end speed and your 60 ft time than anything else you will select.

Now that I have to agree with! 

[tactransman]

In northern California they are the premier converter builder and have a huge following. 3k is really excessive for a street car. My friend had a low 11 second Chevelle with a 383 stroker with a cam larger than .600 lift and was running a 3500 stall. On the street I would not go above 2500. I have heard that you do not want your stall higher than your hwy cruising rpm because you are always on the stall and run the risk of burning it up.

Terry your thoughts?

A well built converter can have a 3000/3500 RPM stall range and still be very streetable. I definitely would not go that high with less then a 3.91 rear gear.

[shadango]

Now that I have to agree with! 

Ok, thats great...but how does one FIND that "perfect" converter.....

[shadango]

A well built converter can have a 3000/3500 RPM stall range and still be very streetable. I definitely would not go that high with less then a 3.91 rear gear.

Ok, maybe that is why he suggested a 3k.....I had said I was planning, at some point, to go to 3.55s or 3.91s in the rear......

Still , seems like 3k is high.........