The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Im having some trouble with gear changing,seems im almost missing a gear,are the auto 727 just 3 speeds?..on a highway feels like my rear end and engine hums real load..and to release the gas just brings a even louder 'car shaking!' hum.also have problems with a very slow responce to reverse opon first start up..then works fine after warmed up,car seems to shift fine at low speeds,oh and my kick down is not hooked up yet!fluid levels are good smell and texture all that stuff....thanks for all your advice in advance!

Marcus

The TF-727 is a 3 speed automatic. Perhaps the engine is externally balanced, meaning you might need to add weight to your torque converter to get it to 'zero balance' - maybe that could be a cause for the rattle. I'm pretty sure this has been addressed here before..

-Ross

DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ANOTHER INCH UNTIL YOU HAVE HOOKED UP THE KICKDOWN AND ADJUSTED IT CORRECTLY!

Otherwise you are well on your way to a new transmission.

Yes they have three gears. If your car has been modified someone might have fitted a low gear in the axle. This makes the engine rev higher. But it could be lack of line pressure causing clutches to slip. Do the rpms seem to go up out of relation with the speed you are doing?

Vibration is common on cars that have been 'messed around with'. Incorrect pinion angle and/0r badly installed rear gears are often the problem as wel as the usual wheel balance thing.

Thanks for the Tip dave..I din't think it was a big deal..just a passing gear "kick down"..ill do that though..I think you got some info on that somewhere here on the site. And yes the rear end has bein modified,Its Posi.my cousin put it in..years ago before i took it over.not sure what grears they are..but if there that low and you can't even cruise the highway comfortably i don't think i like that.And yes the RPM's do seem to go with the speed,even though i don't have the Tach hooked up yet...you should see the work i have on this thing! doing 80-90 and hearing and feeling that drag in the rear must kill the gears!! right
Thanks All
Marcus

Marcus.
From what you mentioned in your post (slow engagement when cold, works fine when warmed up ), I'd be concerned about the lip seals that are in your clutch drums becoming old and worn out. Your symtoms are typical of all automatic transmissions that are reaching the stage of needing repairs.
Lip seals in the drums are supposed to be soft and pliable. As they age, they become hard and when the tranmission oil is cold, slow engagement is the typical result. When the transmission oil warms up, it softens the seals, and the transmission then appears to perform normally. The oil now might be the right colour, and not have the pungent odor associated with a bad transmission, but if it was my car, I'd be cautious on driving it very far, especially in the hopefully forthcoming warm summer months.

Transman

Trans!
I think you hit it perfectly.the car did sit for 8 years,had to do a complete restore to everything..."but the tranny" seems im just riding on the die hard Crysler product it is!! ill have to get that rebuilt..i know a guy who can help me with that..thanks!
Dave..maybe its just me..but i seem to be having some trouble finding the "kickdown" article.. Tech/Tranny/1970 diagrams/..or something.see if you can point me the right way,i wanted to have a look at that.

PS .. Dave I still have the great 72 dodge repair manuals you recomended,"what 2 years ago now?"...lol..kickdown is in there as well im sure....best investment i ever made on the car!.thanks for that.now if i can just do the actual work they say to do!!..lol..im just a carpenter/sidewalk mechanic

Yeah some of the links will not work since the message board moved.

http://challenger.mpoli.fi/phpbb/viewto ... =2083#2083

And http://challenger.mpoli.fi/phpbb/viewto ... ?p=640#640