Transmission

Got a question for any AT expets out there. I might have asked this question a few months ago but I can't recall. I've got a 68 Dodge Coronet that I restored a few years ago. At first I put the motor and tranny in and didn't know there had to be the linkage for the overdrive so that was a set of clutches. Then the second one was I hooked up the coolant lines in the wrong holes and it ripped out reverse. That one was a mistakein 383. I asked a tranny guy but he thought it was a Chevy 383 I guess. Are you startin to see a pattern? lol. This was all 2 years ago but after the second time I took it in and had a local shop fix it and tune the overdrive in and it was working fantastically until last fall. It started to make a whine in first. After I got out of first it quit and didn't come back until the tranny cooled down. One night comin down my road it completely went and I had no power goin to the wheels. It was in first when it broke becasue I was followin my dad takin our 6 wheel polaris back to the house. So it's been in the barn for a few months and the guys gonna come get it to fix it pretty quick but what do you guys think is the issue? It goes into reverse fine with no noise but no forward. It wants to go forward beacaus it lunges but nothin. I was thinkin the front pump went bad but the guy thats gonna fix it said it might be an internal seal. It's a 727 torqueflight behind a 383. Things like tis always seem to happen to it. I baby the thing to death but i guess it comes with the terratory of the old car. Thanks for any help

I have a couple of questions. First how does a 727 torqueflight have an overdrive? they never had one from the factory, however some of the derivatives of the 727 did as in the A518 (the A500 I believe was derived from the 904). Also the secondary linkage should be just for the kickdown into a lower gear for when you floor it, otherwise it will go into high gear at the wrongtime and be not efficient and hard on the trans. I am trying to remember the last time I was into one of these just how they went together. Maybe there was a lack of fluid, maybe due to the pumpas you stated, or due to some debris in the radiator or trans. Or possibly the case is cracked.Either way it sounds like the trans is smoked. Fortunately the 727 is a VERY strong and durable transmission ands if you need some parts and are close to Nebraska I may be able to help you. BTW dad has his 69 coronet that he bought new, but it needs alot of work, both years look awesome I think

gregs right , no overdrive,,it's kickdown linkage . if not working burns it up

I agree. I think that 68 and 69 are the best looking years. Personally I think I should have got a 69 because they look a little meaner then the 68 with the different grill. I didn't know what I called the overdrive was called. Either way its on the driver side of the tranny and it helps the tranny shift better. Also I can drive it in reverse fine but just no forward. I had to back it down the road about a quarter mile to make it back to my house. The guy said that it could be loosing pressure through the broken seal or it's the pump. I've been trying to figure out what it is so I know how empty my wallets gonna be. Thanks for the input.

looking at my chiltons trans. manual. reverse uses front clutch and rear band only. all foward positions use rear clutch and various applications of over running clutch, front band rear band and front clutch. looks like you probably have an issue with the rear clutch, maybe as simple as a blown seal or a retaining ring out of place or as bad as a split clutch housing, burned out discs ect. hope this helps leroy

dont let the guy who thinks a coronet with a 383 Cid. and a 727 is a chevy!!

I would say that you have a blow clutch pack seal or retaining snap ring. Cost should mostly be the labor of your mechanic tearing the tranny half appart. If pump was bad you should not have any gears. If rear band was bad you would not have first or reverse. It should not matter which way your coolant lines are hooked up, it may cause a heating problem but it has no effect on reverse. To me it sounds like most are your problems are coming from poor rebuild jobs or lack of maintenance. As stated before these trannys are built tough, but they do require regular adjustments to the bands or you have problems. I have the exact same setup in my 68 dodge pickup. I rebuilt the tranny myself 10 years ago and have not had any major issues.

Sounds like you have it figured to me. First 727 I did I put a seal in backwards on a clutch pack and i wouldn't shift out of first, thought I had done something really serious. Mechanic friend at the local Dodge dealer helped me out, probably could've done it blindfolded.

$20 on e-bay will buy a Dodge or Plymouth factory service manual for your car that covers transmission and engine overhauls. It includes excellent color coded hydraulic diagrams that explain how your transmission works and shifts. It has a good diagnostic (troubleshooting) guide. It also explains how to adjust the throttle (kickdown)linkage. It would go a long way towards answering your questions.

In it's day the A-727 was Chrysler's heavy duty automatic transmission, equivalent to GM's Turbo-Hydramatic 400 and Ford's C-6. They were practically made to be abused. The 727 was made in three levels: standard (3 front clutch plates), heavy duty for 4 barrel big blocks and 340's (4 front clutch plates) and extra heavy duty for hemi's and 440 6-packs (5 front clutch plates). Valve bodies changes for different shift points. A-518 is the 4 speed version of the A-727, but it was only made to fit small block engines as the big blocks were discontinued by then.

Those transmissions are not difficult to overhaul, much easier than an engine. The hardest part is getting it out of the car, they are very heavy and clumsy to handle. Like anything hydraulic, keep everything very clean. You might look through the service manual and decide if you can service it yourself, or at least get a better understanding of what's involved. Labor should cost more than the parts.

Years ago Mopar Performance sold a transmission overhaul kit for the A-727 kit #P-4529013. Similar kits should be available through most automotive parts stores.

Dodge Corronets and Super Bees shared bodies and power trains with Plymouth's Satellite, Road Runner and GTX. There is a Road Runner restoration guide that may also be of some help to you.

You have a blown lip seal on a clutch pack. Those are hard to put in without damage as you can't work them in with a feeler gauge. When you get that far E-mail me & I can tell you how to do it.