beefing up a torque flight 727

[robselina]

Hey folks,
wanted to get your impressions on beefing up a 727. I bought a spare one from a friend and I want to rebuild it and add some meat to it so it will take the abuse of the desert heat and rock crawling.
I've installed two B&M transmission coolers in my rig already to keep the existing TF727 running cool, but i'm thinking about heavy duty clutch packs and any other suggestions you guys can offer. Suggested mods and sources for parts are greatly appreciated! :D
Thanks,
Rob

[Rockwagon]

A shft kit if you like that I personaly think the 727 is one heck of a tranny stock. My buddies run t350's and t400's and go through them almost every year and I am going on year 4 or 5 on mine with no problems. I rebuilt it myself for about $100.

[robselina]

Thanks Rockwagon. Any suggestions on a shift kit brand/model?

[billyrb]

Transgo Stage 1 shift kit.

[Cliff]

Tranny Mods:

1. Switch to synthetic tranny fluid.
2. Deep pan (1-2 qts extra). Mopar pans cheapest.
3. Trans temp gauge (know your tranny temp!)
4. Shift kit from Transgo, B&M, or Turbo-Action
(set them up for "heavy-duty" -
don't go crazy here)
5. Auxiliary coolers. Consider an aux fan for
the coolers only, if your fluid runs hot
6. Keep your linkage clean and lubricated
7. Adjust your shift points using the kickdown
linkage. You can inccrease your shift points
and firm up the shift by simply sliding the
kickdown bar.

[robselina]

thanks Cliff and billyrb. I'll check out the Transgo and B&M units and your other suggestions cliff.

[Zacko]

I just put a Transgo TF-2 (stage 2) kit in at a rebuild. I can tell you it shifts a LOT crisper than before and the ability to pull it in to 2nd or low at any speed is pretty cool. I'm not sure if there is such a thing as heavy duty clutches, but the better fluid and better cooling are always a plus. The kit I put in had me drill a few holes for improved oil flow especially in park. Normally the oil doesn't flow in park in a 727 but adding a hole and opening up a passage are supposed to cure this.

[robselina]

Originally posted by Zacko:
I'm not sure if there is such a thing as heavy duty clutches, I've been told you can add more clutch packs or change them around for better grip, not sure how acurate that is though.
That would be very cool to get fluid flowing in park! I normally have to leave her in neutral to cool down, but without an e-brake that can be fun sometimes :eek:

[Zacko]

The clutch plates are constrained by the space they have to fill so there is no way to get more and/or bigger ones in there. The only option I could see is different friction plate/steel plate material or stiffer springs. I'm sure there is something, but mine had over 100K on it and the steel plates were a bit scorsched, probably due to low fluid since it leaked like a sieve, but there was no "abnormal" wear on any of the internals.

[timmirvin]

Very interested in the Coolan Gauge.

Where and how is it installed???

[Cliff]

The temp gauge can be purchased from jegs or Summit. Don't buy the B&M gauge - it's only a 90 degree sweep. The Auto Meter is a much nicer gauge. You install a sending unit (much like for coolant) in the trans pan. That's about it.