Julian wrote:
>
>
> Steve (and all the others) thanks very much. I think you've hit the nail
on
> the head - the car has done about 70,000 miles, was built in 1973 and I
> don't think the box has ever been worked on.
Well, its got about 1/3 the miles that a stock 727 can typically run
without trouble, but the years caught up with it first ;-)
>
> I've spoken to a gearbox specialist (in Crewe, England) who is a 727
> whizzkid and does most of out Mopar drag transmissions and he said the
same
> as you - it's the piston seal for the rear clutch that have hardened
up.
> Anyway, he's going to do the work on the gearbox (after I've dropped it)
and
> also fit a ****ft improver kit. Jensen specified the softest ****fting
option,
> and the change from 2 to 3 is just so slow that it almost binds up on
> itself.
That's just about the only consistent gripe with Mopar automatics: 2-3
bind-up problems, and yes its more noticeable the softer the ****fts are
set up. A good ****ft improver kit will concentrate on quickly releasing
the 2nd gear elements as much as quickly applying the front (direct)
clutch. I think the factory timed the ****fting to eliminate any hint of
RPM flare on the 2-3 ****ft, but frankly I'd prefer a little flare to the
bind-up that happens when you go too far the other way and overlap the
release/engage events too much.
>
> I think I've sourced a 440 block today that I want to build up over the
> winter with a stroker kit. (prolly 500cid) I'm formulating the plan as I
> read Chuck Sentore's book 'Big Block Mopar Performance.'
>
> I've found Mancini, 440 source and Summit for components on the
internet.
> Are there any other good suppliers that will ****p to the UK that I
should be
> considering?
Being mostly a stock/mild build guy, I've never done anything more than
pick parts and have a local machine shop do the work for me. I've
certainly had great luck using Mancini and Summit as parts sources, and
I've heard good things about 440 Source too. (You gotta be careful with
some places like Summit because they stock a lot of junk under their own
brands, but if you stick name-brands like Mopar Performance, CompCams,
KB/Silvolite, Edelbrock, etc. its OK. I would probably at least give
Hughes Engines a check also. Other guys on here have made more use of
the big-name engine builders than I have, so listen to what they say!
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