NicholasDM

Hi guys,

I've got a 1977 D100 short bed with the 318 and the A833 4 speed. The gearbox is in dire need of a rebuild as it really isn't oil tight anymore; rearmost seal at the tail leaks like a sieve! Plus fourth whines louder inside the cab than there is engine noise. I have no problem rebuilding that unit, but I'm thinking along the lines of making it more practical to tow a light payload and just generally make it easier to get around with. Stock truck for all intents.

I'm strongly considering doing the swap over to a 727 and am currently looking for the cheapest lock-up doners I can in the latest models I can get away with, under the assumption that if I could get away with say an '88 transmission, some of the early lock-up bugs from 10 years earlier would have been worked out. Is that in any way an accurate assumption to have? Are the lock-up units from this era really worth perusing over a standard 1977 727?

The intent is to do a master rebuild, including a shift-fix kit.

Locating on car-part.com I see doners in the range of 82-88 for Dodge 150 and 250 vans with 318s. I think I've been able to verify that these should be long output. Cost is $200

Are the 150 or 250 van transmissions compatible with the D series trucks? So long as it has a long output and engine matches?

Thank you for any input!

-Nicholas

Iowan

Why not go with a 518 overdrive?

NicholasDM

I'd like a direct replacement without needing to mod mounting points or shorten the drive line. I understand I need to grab the throttle linkages as well, but I'd prefer not to modify the drive line if I can avoid it. I'm also trying to keep costs down as this truck wasn't maintained very well before I got it, so I'm having to sink a little money in to several points.

Iowan

Where are you located?

NicholasDM

Portland, Oregon.

Iowan

Just wondering, I've got a rebuild 727 from a 77 pu in my shed I wouldn't mind getting rid of.

Iowan

On the lockup converter transmission I've always avoided them so I can't help there. But if I was going to bother with a swap I'd go 518 and overdrive.

NicholasDM

Understood, thanks. Are you aware if the 727 from a B150 or 250 van would fit in the truck, regardless of it's lock-up design?

I'll look a bit more in to the 518 options.

Also, what doner vehicle would you suggest for a 518? Doing one's own homework is fun.

You can locate the A-518/46RH transmissions in these donor vehicles:

1. 1990-'95 Dodge van with a 318 or 360 engine
2. 1992-'95 Dakota with a 318 engine
3. 1990-'91 Ramcharger with a 318 or 360 engine
4. 1990-'95 Dodge pickup two-wheel drive (1/2- through 1-ton) with a 318 or 360

(Source: https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/mu...n/1301453.html )

Iowan

I was looking the the other day for 1300 you can get trans and converter. But it seems like you could find a good use transmission, the controller isn't to bad.

Iowan

TVLynn

should be loads of 727 SB trans out there Van pick up both basically the same

Mikek1982

Nicholas, I am not sure if you're still working on this project or not but I wanted to give you a heads up on a few things. I just swapped out a 727 mated to a np203 in my 75' power wagon, for a newer 87' 727 trans and np208 transfer case. All went well except the torque converter bolt patterns are different. The old 727 torque converter was an 11" bolt circle and the newer was a 10" bolt circle. I had to purchase a new flex plate to match the new 10" torque converter. I done a lot of research before this swap and not a single thread or person said anything about this. Just a heads up not everything you find online meets the eye. sometimes people forget small details like this. good luck on the swap. also a 46rh is the exact same trans just has overdrive if you want that.

Iowan

The bolt pattern of the converter is a converter thing and not necessary a year thing. Chrysler used both depending on aplacation and the converter installed.
This went back to the sixties

Mikek1982

I get that now. But when doing my research on all of this no one mentioned anything about the TC having variations depending on year and application. Everyone said it would be a direct swap, which it really pretty much was. The only thing anyone ever said was that the newer TC would be a lockup converter. Anyways I guess the school of hard knocks teaches you a thing or two every now and again. In the future I'll be darn sure to check everything twice.