Help finding the right 727

[1970challenger]

Hello all, I am starting the search for a 727 to go behind a 69 440HP in my 72 Barracuda with a console. The car originally came as a column shift, and have the console brackets, shifter, and console.
So when looking for a 727, I understand I need a long tail shaft, but what about when using a floor shifter?
Is there a specific range of year that might work better for me? I had read that a truck trans might be better and I would need to add the tail housing and shaft?
I just want to build something with maybe a shift kit with some spirited driving when the need is there and not break it. The engine will be stock and eventually want to do a sure-grip in the 8 3/4 with 350 gears or a little lower.

 

[1972CudaV21]

A&A has everything..

 

[moparleo]

727 passenger from the 70's. All you need.

 

[1972CudaV21]

A&A has everything..

If you needs 727 parts, I highly recommend A&A. They’ve been a Mopar-Only transmission company for 40 years.

 

[70chall440]

Nothing special about the 727, as stated any 727 out of a 70's passenger car will work but also as stated you are much better off going with someone like A&A from the beginning and getting something that is a known entity.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

I would tend to disagree , some of the 727 HD used more clutches & 4 pinion planetaries instead of the std 3 pinion ones .
If you want some serious HD parts I would look at ones used behind the Cummins engine in 89-93.

 

[moparleo]

Stock 440.

 

[NoCar340]

When I had my last automatic trans built, which was quite a long time ago, I did a bunch of reading and talking on the phone in regards to which transmission, what internals, etc. Rick @ A&A mentioned using a '72-'76 transmission as the best starting point, due to various minor internal upgrades that had happened up to that point, including part-throttle kickdown (which you will absolutely want). Chrysler started building lockup 727s in 1977 in both big- and small-block versions; you definitely do not want one of those. They have a different input spline--try and find a decent converter--and the lockup clutch is extremely failure-prone in HP use.

Hemi and other HD applications used a stronger input shaft and 4-pinion planetaries. Those transmissions will have a yellow paint daub on the end of the input shaft from the factory. An unscrupulous seller may try to fake that, but once you're familliar the OE daub is hard to duplicate. They used some very thick, stringy paint to make it. Motorhomes are a great source for the "Hemi" input shaft and 4-pinion planetaries. Well, at least 440-powered motorhomes are. Lockup transmissions were never used in them, either. Even a late one will have the "Hemi" bits; my '76 CB300 trans has 'em, as does a friend's pulled from a '79. The mainshafts and extension housings are essentially worthless, though--it's a very short output, often terminating in a drum parking brake.

As Chryco Psycho mentioned, later Cummins transmissions used similar parts, eventually using 5- and even 6-pinion planetary arrangements. I'm not sure about interchangeability with the older transmissions, but I do wonder about the diminishing returns in strength v. increases in internal drag. More gears means more friction; more friction also means more heat. Do you plan on pulling 10,000lb GTW loads? Probably not, but diesels do. 70chall440's advice to talk to A&A is solid. Rick and his people will have the answers you need. I stopped running, and hence actively researching, automatics about 20 years back.

As far as case considerations go, the only thing you absolutely need to have is the mounting boss for the lower shift-rod bracket. The boss is visible in the photo below, the tab with two holes to the right of the speedometer gear opening. Not all 727s have it, and without it you're dead in the water installing a factory floor shifter.

 

[oldkimmer]

U can easily find the correct extension housing. Kim

 

[1970challenger]

I wanted to give an update, I purchased a 727 that is rebuilt with a shift kit. It was built in detroit by a mopar specialist for an older gent as a spare for his charger, its been on the bench since completed nice and dry. So on to my next parts of purchase, I will need a torque converter, flex plate, and kickdown linkage?
I want primarly a stock converter maybe a tad above stock stall, what would you get? For the flex plate having a 69 440 HP I assume I need a zero balance flex plate? And the kickdown linkage amy leads on a complete kit I can bolt up and go?
Thank you