727 to a 518 or Gear Vendors?

[mauve66]

i wish i lived where you guys do, tranny here is 200 AFTER you pull it, engine 2-400 AFTER you pull it

[flyinlow]

I looked for a518 for 4 months . No u pull 518 near me. found 2 a500's . The trans I paid $400 for was pulled ,stored inside, the year I wanted ,5.9l engine and I pulled the pan before I bought It. It was $500 with a 90 day warrenty. Since I was going to cut the bellhousing off I offer $400 with no warrenty. They agreed.

[Bobs69]

Gear Vendors will sell you another unit for half price if you do manage to break it after the warranty has ran out.

I have one, the shifts are instantaneous.  I was however dissapointed that I can't go from 1 over to 2 direct.  Rathern you need to go 1 over to 2 over.  So you need to decide where you want to split.  1 over or a 2 over.  So really the way I look at it I only got 4 driving gears when launching. 

But you got 6 to play with, and you'll like the way the engine sounds.  When in 3rd and you want to pass but you think second direct is not enough you hit the button to goto third over then floor it so it drops to 2nd over then to 3rd.

[70daytonaclone]

how do I identify a non-lockup 518 transmission? any pictures of a non-lockup? anybody?

[chargercrazy]

I got mine out of a 92 Ram 250 Van.  It was the only thing in the yard of the 12 possible donor vehicles that had a transmission left in it.  I didn't know if it was lockup or non-lockup until I looked at the converter.  Check out this article: http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2006/07/01/hmn_feature15.html

[flyinlow]

518 non lock up have a two wire connector instead of three wire

[idahogrumpy]

There is an adapter plate kit for a big block that can be bolted to the back of the block that will accept the 518. I'm told it is stronger than the ultra bell. We have this kit for the 518 going behind the 470. I do not have the price. The 727/904 cross member will need to be modified at very least. For the A body I had to build a new one. I had to replace the cross member in the floor also. Pretty tight fit. Kyle

[chargercrazy]

518 non lock up have a two wire connector instead of three wire

This is not always the case.  The one I have has a three wire connector and a non-lockup torque converter like CR-62 on Page 64 in this catalog:

http://www.transtarindustries.com/catDownload.asp?ID=813

[Bobs69]

I'd want to be checking into the prices of all options, and how much "Doctoring" there is for each.  The GV is a bolt on, you do need to put a couple dents into the floors so the GV doesn't knock against the tunnel.  Not that I'd want to spend money like a fool but if anytime in the future you went to a manual tranny, the gear vendors will bolt onto it as well, you just buy a different tail stock.

[flyinlow]

There is an adapter plate kit for a big block that can be bolted to the back of the block that will accept the 518. I'm told it is stronger than the ultra bell. We have this kit for the 518 going behind the 470. I do not have the price. The 727/904 cross member will need to be modified at very least. For the A body I had to build a new one. I had to replace the cross member in the floor also. Pretty tight fit. Kyle

The addaptor plate I looked at required removal of the engine tang below the starter. The addaptor plates cost more. I was concerned about bolting the Ultrabell to the pump, but I have talked to guys running twice the power my engine makes thru them without problems. You also have a SFI approved bellhousing.

[rusty70charger]

I was out in the u pull yesterday and saw a 91 van that had a long trans in it. butthe pan looked like a 904 pan square with the drivers rear corner cut off.it had a plug at the rear and several up near the front. I couldn't tell what it was. rainning and such and the instrument cluster was tore up. so can any body identify this? I would like to put a od518 behind a 360. what would be better  a lock up? or non lock up? thanks for all feedback.Rusty

[flyinlow]

If it looks like a 904 pan it is a A500 trans.  Overdrive version of the 904.

[Tilar]

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.

Other than the overdrive unit, they are the same.

[Musicman]

GV unit... if going all new... SMR Shortie with the GV already on it. 

[chargercrazy]

I was out in the u pull yesterday and saw a 91 van that had a long trans in it. butthe pan looked like a 904 pan square with the drivers rear corner cut off.it had a plug at the rear and several up near the front. I couldn't tell what it was. rainning and such and the instrument cluster was tore up. so can any body identify this? I would like to put a od518 behind a 360. what would be better  a lock up? or non lock up? thanks for all feedback.Rusty

If you can find these vehicles, then you have found your transmission.

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

The hard part is knowing if these vehicles have/had a 318 or 360 engine.  Go onto www.car-part.com and put in the vehicles listed above and search for engine.  Then you'll know what digits to look for in the VIN.  I think the eighth digit is the one for the engine.

[Carlwalski]

A518 using built 618 parts. No messy inconsistent electronic units and gimmicky "6 speed split gears".

[d72hemi]

Not sure if I should continue this thread or start a new one, but here I go.

I have searched and searched for a lockup 518 both in the junk yards and online, and have come across some interesting information (but no transmission yet*). Some of my research has made me question the ability to use a 1990-1995 plus 1996 to present 518 (46rh/46re) or 618(47rh/47re) along with maybe the even stronger 48re.
he fallowing link made me think that all you need is a manual valve body, along with the previous discussed overdrive/locking torque converter activation, in a 96-present 46/47re.

http://www.competitiondiesel.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48652

Other good reading, from a scanned mopar magazine article. "part 2" discusses the upgrades to 1998. from what I read, a diesel or V10 truck, and the newer the better.
https://home.comcast.net/~ehostler/A518/Part_1.pdf
https://home.comcast.net/~ehostler/A518/Part_2.pdf
https://home.comcast.net/~ehostler/A518/Part_3.pdf
https://home.comcast.net/~ehostler/A518/Part_4.pdf
https://home.comcast.net/~ehostler/A518/Part_5.pdf


my questions are:

1. Is the installation (physical) of the 618 and 46/47re transmissions the same? I believe the cases are the same?

2. Can a 46/47RE transmission be made to work (without a expensive controller), with the manual valve body, and "switching" the OD and lockup.

if the answers are "YES", then that will open the available donor vehicles to most 1990-present V-8, V10, and diesel trucks (and Vipers, but I but those are a bit more $$$$). With the diesel and V-10 transmissions being the strongest, and with the "upgrades" the we would want for a high tq/hp BB.

This is just some thoughts from to many hours of reading about these transmissions. (my wife even commented on my time spent on this research). To bad I am not a transmission expert, allowing me to truly understand all that is involved, but that is why I have you guys!

I was out in the u pull yesterday and saw a 91 van that had a long trans in it. butthe pan looked like a 904 pan square with the drivers rear corner cut off.it had a plug at the rear and several up near the front. I couldn't tell what it was. rainning and such and the instrument cluster was tore up. so can any body identify this? I would like to put a od518 behind a 360. what would be better  a lock up? or non lock up? thanks for all feedback.Rusty

If you can find these vehicles, then you have found your transmission.

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

The hard part is knowing if these vehicles have/had a 318 or 360 engine.  Go onto www.car-part.com and put in the vehicles listed above and search for engine.  Then you'll know what digits to look for in the VIN.  I think the eighth digit is the one for the engine.

[Rolling_Thunder]

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".

Hmmm...    with 3.55 gears, a 27" tall tire, and 55mph you should be ~ 2430rpm...         

You are not getting into Drive!     If your transmission stays in 2nd gear you are turning ~3500

Adjust your shifter linkage ?  make sure your car is getting to Drive man! Doesnt sound like it is!


If you're in drive at 55mph and turning 3500rpm that means you have 5.13 gears !!!   

[NYCMille]

Dude... have a Kiesler in the Daytona and GV/727 in the Charger -

GV ALL THE WAY! - the thing is BULLETPROOF. I have 30,+++ on it, doing everything from drag racing, to road racing to cross country rallies - and haven't had one issue. I run 3.55s with a 285/40/18 and spin 3k @ 80mph.

The kielser is good, but clunky - different is final drive and obviously different feel. I run 285/40/18 rear and in 5th 3k is 106mph... big difference.

[flyinlow]

i agree The  GV unit is tuff . I just wish it had a better overdrive ratio . If I raced more and cruised less I would have gone with the GV.

[73TXRallye440]

thanks, looks like im going GV. Now just gotta find the specific one I need for my 3 speed 727--

http://www.gearvendors.com/hrdodge3s.html

[375instroke]

People worry about "hacking" their car.  That's the name of the game, isn't it.  People think nothing about replacing entire floor panels in their cars, now, or welding in US Car Tool frame connectors.  What's the big deal?  As for 6 gears--how does one shift with one shifter movement, then a button push, or whatever, then a shifter push.  Wait.  Don't you need to push the button again to release the GV as you shift out of 1.5, and into 2.  I see a lot of missed shifts.  I can only see 2 normal shifts, then an overdrive.

[73TXRallye440]

hacking doesnt bother me if it is unseen on the bottom of the car imo.

[Musicman]

As for 6 gears--how does one shift with one shifter movement, then a button push, or whatever, then a shifter push.  Wait.  Don't you need to push the button again to release the GV as you shift out of 1.5, and into 2.  I see a lot of missed shifts.  I can only see 2 normal shifts, then an overdrive.

With practice you may actually be able to do this efficiently, but personally... I wouldn't waste my time... Just use it for the extra gear and the strength of the unit itself... that's all the edge you need.

[flyinlow]

People worry about "hacking" their car.  That's the name of the game, isn't it.  People think nothing about replacing entire floor panels in their cars, now, or welding in US Car Tool frame connectors.  What's the big deal?  As for 6 gears--how does one shift with one shifter movement, then a button push, or whatever, then a shifter push.  Wait.  Don't you need to push the button again to release the GV as you shift out of 1.5, and into 2.  I see a lot of missed shifts.  I can only see 2 normal shifts, then an overdrive.

73 SE /518 with floor mods.........   not stock,not numbers matching, one of 129,000........catch me if you can.   Stock sucks.