727 to a 518 or Gear Vendors?

[73TXRallye440]

Debating this now, which way would you go? 727 to a 518 conversion or a gear vendors unit?

[Rolling_Thunder]

GV unit

[flyinlow]

I have a 518 in my 73 / 446.

Just put it in , so only a few hundred miles so far. junk yard transmission with a transgo reprogrammer kit. Ultrabell addaptor.  $1000 so far.

.69 overdrive and lock up converter drop rpm more than a GV.

I Only have one speed in reverse though 

If you have the 727 and converter set up the way you like it the GV is probably a more rugged choice.

518 converter choice is limited.

My 518 makes my 3.55 axle a 2.44  at cruise.  2000 rpm at 70mph.

[73TXRallye440]

saw this from SMR trans--

http://www.smrtrans.com/

[mauve66]

up front i have a GV unit but haven't had the pleasure of going down the road under full power yet

depends on your "FUTURE" plans

do you want 4 (old 518), 5 (newer 518) or 6 (727 with GV unit) forward gears

do you want to "just drive" or manually shift the gears - both systems will allow for that but the 518 is only 1 controller for both, GV is 2 controllers unless you have an aftermarket shifter that has a hole for the red actuator button (you still need the button from GV, a nitrous/translock button will not work)

i believe they make an cross member adapter for the 518 now so you don't have a lot of hacking

you will need to hammer the trans tunnel for both applications as far as i know

i saw a paddle shifter on a 2nd Gen on here that i would love to have to control the GV unit but from what i can tell it will only mate to a computer controlled trans of a specific model, which would include the 518

GV warranties their unti for 1000-1200 HP if i remember right, i've heard that the 518 overdrive gear is the weak link in that system, but by now i'm sure someone is building them stronger

[mauve66]

i'm a slow typer, these other guys beat me to it

[73TXRallye440]

yea, may opt for the GV unit. Is $2600 the best price yall have seen?

[73TXRallye440]

我哈他太落后斯能够doＩｎｅｅｄ？8"噢日１８"？

[mauve66]

i don't think the oriental segment of this thread has put a GV behind their rice burner chargers yet

[73TXRallye440]

Whoa! Wtf? I just asked if I needed the 8 in or 18in tailhouse with the gv unit?

[mauve66]

oh , i'm sorry i thought the 8 and 18 was about valves per cylinder.............

[73TXRallye440]

LOL no. boy that was weird!

[RD]

I have a 518 in my 73 / 446.

Just put it in , so only a few hundred miles so far. junk yard transmission with a transgo reprogrammer kit. Ultrabell addaptor.  $1000 so far.

.69 overdrive and lock up converter drop rpm more than a GV.

I Only have one speed in reverse though 

If you have the 727 and converter set up the way you like it the GV is probably a more rugged choice.

518 converter choice is limited.

My 518 makes my 3.55 axle a 2.44  at cruise.  2000 rpm at 70mph.

where did you get your ultrabell? how much?

[flyinlow]

GV have a good rep. Very strong.

I plan on upgrading 518 next winter. better clutches/ conv.


They used a beefed up version behind the cummins diesel in one ton Rams PU.

518's four gears have more spread than GV's six do.

What happens to the pinion angle when you make the driveshaft 14 inches shorter ?

[flyinlow]

Ultrabell for 727/518 $325 at Summit. Cut stock one off with diegrinder/sawsall.

[Mike DC]

I think a 518 is never gonna fit into a muscle-era tranny crossmember & floor without severe hacking, whether it's got a correct big-block bolt pattern on the bellhousing or not.  Not unless you tilted the whole engine/tranny to point way lower in back, which would create pinion angle questions and maybe other stuff. 

(If all it took was the correct bolt pattern on the bellhousing for this one to work, then why don't smallblock guys do it all the time already?)

[Rolling_Thunder]

Just for a comparison and my opinion

518 costs...       

518 Transmission = $2,177.95
Torque Converter = $???
UltraBell = $325.00
Misc parts for 518 install = ~$200
Modified crossmember
Modified floor

Figure around $2,702.95 + converter

Granted you can cut costs by getting a junkyard tranny and stuff but then you should honestly have it rebuilt and upgraded anyway...    GV is cheaper all around IMO - plus more gears (if thats your thing)

Granted you could

[RD]

RT, unless... you're me! $150 for non-lock up A518, $325.00 for ultrabell, $150 for rebuild kit

$625.00 A518 in my charger! hehehe  i know.. i know... not fair if you can rebuild them by yourself.

[Rolling_Thunder]

agreed -  it is possible -  but i could also factor in selling the old 727 and all that jazz....     just trying to make a small point   

[73TXRallye440]

taching 3500 at 55 is killing me and ive got 3.55's. Just put on tires 2" taller today, hope that helps some. 25" tire to a 27".

[flyinlow]

I looked at 3 choices.

#1 . Keisler kit- a small block Chevy Trans that is modified to handle BB mopar torque . Needs stand alone computor to operate,  4l60 has a 3.06 first gear which is nice .69 overdrive, 1000 rpm freeway drop.   $4000 + $500 upgrade for 550ftlb. torque rating + $300 shipping.     = $4800


#2.  GV. kit.  Very rugged , six speed  if you want to take the time to use all of them. Only .78 overdrive , no lock up 500-600 rpm freeway drop.
     The 727 I had been running was a friends trans.  $2700 + $80 driveshaft shortening + $1000 727 Trans+ $200 shipping              = $3980


#3. 518  _Mopar trans. Looks ,feels  and drives like a torqueflight. required mods to crossmember , denting trans tunnel with a hammer.
     .69 overdrive with lock up. 1000 rpm freeway drop.  Used trans. $400 + $325 ultrabell + $120 transgo kit + $80 to shorten driveshaft+ spare    
      crossmember $25 EBAY                                                                                                                                             =$950
      Future expenses:   conv, $400 + Trans upgrade Kit $ 400                                                      Total $1750



I picked door #3.  all three require some mods to car body.  so , my car is a 73 SE, one of a only a 129,000.  I will also have to do the trans work myself for the $ numbers I used. I have rebuilt a 727"s before but not a 518. hopefully I won't screw it up and have to take it in a basket to a transmission shop.

[flyinlow]

taching 3500 at 55 is killing me and ive got 3.55's. Just put on tires 2" taller today, hope that helps some. 25" tire to a 27".
[/q

Is your tach messed up? seams high

[RD]

that is way high.. i have 3.91's and at 60 its 2900 rpm

[chargercrazy]

#3. 518  _Mopar trans. Looks ,feels  and drives like a torqueflight. required mods to crossmember , denting trans tunnel with a hammer.
     .69 overdrive with lock up. 1000 rpm freeway drop.  Used trans. $400 + $325 ultrabell + $120 transgo kit + $80 to shorten driveshaft+ spare    
      crossmember $25 EBAY                                                                                                                                             =$950
      Future expenses:   conv, $400 + Trans upgrade Kit $ 400                                                      Total $1750



I picked door #3.  all three require some mods to car body.  so , my car is a 73 SE, one of a only a 129,000.  I will also have to do the trans work myself for the $ numbers I used. I have rebuilt a 727"s before but not a 518. hopefully I won't screw it up and have to take it in a basket to a transmission shop.

More like used trans $60.00 with converter from local pull-a-part.  That's what I did.  You are going to have to rebuild it anyway.  Go pull it yourself and save some cash.  I just need to find out what converters work on the 518.  I have a non-lockup trans and I've heard that the same converters that work on the 727 will work on the non-lockup 518.  Is there any truth to this?

[flyinlow]

Non lock 518 's share converters with 727 according to Turbo Action. count the splines on the input shaft . I think 24 for 727 , 518 non LU.


23 spline for 518 with lock up
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