The Dodge Challenger Message Board

I tore apart the TorqueFlite last night and started inspecting the condition of the hard parts. Bad news on a few components as water had taken it's toll on the steel parts and some rusting had occured. I think I'm going to replace the following parts:1). Front pump georotor gears because one of the drive lugs for the torque convertor hub has broken off. 2). Front pump bushing 3). Throttle&Kickdown bracket,,mines missing 4). Low/Reverse drum,, the rust has etched deep into the sides 5). Output shaft,,rust has also etched into the bearing surface and cant be polished out. Looks like some dollars are gonna have to be thrown at it.

#2

#3 3 pinion planetary,,might go with a Hemi 4 pinion if it's reasonably priced and I can get it to match my outputshaft spline count which is 28F/30R

The case is also missing the speedo assembly,,when I order the 'new' part which will be a good used replacement from WIT,(whatever it Takes), auto tranny service because I can get a 40% discount thru my school acct.

The endplay before teardown was .045, I'll measure the selective thrust washer and replace it with one that .030 thicker,,that should give a nice clearance on the lowend of scale. The case will go in the rotary cleaner cabinet tomm. then I am going to paint it Hemi orange.

Are the servo bores OK?

Are you going to modify the trans for faster/firmer shifts?

dave-r wrote:Are the servo bores OK?

Are you going to modify the trans for faster/firmer shifts?

Yes, the bores are fine, thankfully, they were filled with fluid and I think that saved the bores from corrosion? I dont want to spend more than I need. Yes, I think a firm&fast shift would be sweet. When I get the kit, I'll ask Carl M. what shift kit or mods he recommends. I also think I know how water got into the case. The Speedo pinion gear assembly was missing and water got into that large opening

Eddie:
If water has gone through the transmission, you should replace:
All friction and steel plates, both front and rear band, ALL bushings, ALL bearings. Water destroys an automatic transmission. The glue that holds the friction material to the plates and bands will eventually let go. While these items may look good now, they won't last for long. You've taken the transmission apart, so don't short cut the rebuild.
Hemi parts will interchange, but you must use all hemi parts, drums, planetaries, input shaft (I believe). True HEMI parts are hard to find (remember, not a whole lot of HEMI stuff made), and when you do find them, lots of $$$$$. I've seen guys come into where I used to work, and want the front HEMI band, and when I told them that they were in the $250-300.00 range, their jaws would drop. Also, as no one to the best of my knowledge is making NEW ONES, all you can get is a relined band, and I know our band reliner would say, no rebuildable core, NO BAND. One of the aftermarket guys (a well know outfit too) would sell the flex band (stock on all 727's) as the HEMI band. A crock of crapola.
The true HEMI band is a 3 piece unit, and the backing is CAST IRON, not flex steel. To use a true HEMI band you also need the HEMI drum the band rides on because the HEMI band is wider than the stock band.
For the information of all, 4 front bands were used on the 727. The HEMI band, a one piece cast iron backing band (cop cars with 440's I think also hard to locate), a flex band made by Raybestos, and a flex band made by Borg Warner. A very good band (used in the late 518/618 transmission) is the HIGH ENERGY band made by Raybestos. and fits the 727 with no sweat.
BUILD IT RIGHT "ONCE"
TRANSMAN

Thanks a bunch Transman! Great advice, I'll get as many heavy duty parts that I can get. The "Hemi' concept is just another word for heavy duty,,I'm not going to use the exact Hemi Parts, thanks for the great and informative advice. The entire lot of bushings, bearings, fibers and steels, band,(Raybestos) will be replaced

Got most of my parts in,,once again Trans Man helped a bunch!(Thank You)!! I got the 4 pinion planetaries for 70.00 bucks for both nice used but perfectly serviceable. The Raybestos frictions&Steels kit, the shift kit, used 27"main shaft, used rear low&reverse drum, oil pump and .749 gears, from Carl Munroes place a used speedometer cover&pinion, used throttle shaft bracket, for a 3.23 8 3/4 rear with 15" wheels and P235/60-15 tires, Carl said he would try and get me in the 'ballpark' with his pinion gear. New Raybestos Rear Band for the 518/618/727 drum,(Heavy Duty). 300.00 for just the hard parts, bushing & Bearing kit, and upgrades, 175.00 for the re-build kit 50.00 for the shift kit, deep steel pan and pickup so far around 575.00 not too bad,,should be a nice piece when I get it all cleaned and case painted parts installed, clearances checked, and pressure tested.