Adapting an A518 transmission to a 440 on the cheap?

[flyinlow]

One of the best mods I have done to the car. I live in the sticks ,so I do a lot of hi way driving.

The Transgo shift kit firms the shifts, bumps the preasures up to help hold the clutches/bands and lets you shift into first gear at any speed(left that out) Two switches, one for OD ,one for lock up.

Changed the fluid/filter over the winter after about 5000 miles . Nothing in the pan. Transmission had about 80k on it from the Ram van. So far ,so good.

How strong is it? I always felt a 727 with a cooler and a good shift kit could handle a Hemi or mild build 440  for a long time in street use. When you look at a 518 it looks like a 727 with a fat tailshaft housing. Internal differences ? Don't know yet. I was going to upgrade the internals last winter, but did a couple suspension projects instead. Maybe John Kunkle or RD could tell you more specifics on the internal differences.

If I went to the track often a beefed up 727 and GV. would be stronger.

Ultrabell was from Summit , Speedo cable on Ebay, forgot wear.

[idahogrumpy]

      We have a 518 behind a 470 stroker. Ours was pro built here locally for our 600 hp engine. The owner had the transmission built to non lock up specs. He also had a custom built converter with about a 4000 stall based on the dyno slips.  This has been stuffed into a 73 Plymouth Scamp. Serious cross member mods were made to the Scamp which included building a new upper and lower cross member primarily for strength. Our combination used a adapter kit, plate. It is not quite finished yet but we have a target date for the second week in July. I do not have any pictures. Grumpy

[Big440]

 I got my 46RH today! Any one have the part number for the JW Ultrabell from summit?

[Hot_Rodder]

You will have to cross reference the number with Summit but here it is:
http://www.campbellenterprises.com/parts.php?type=search&query=jwp92457

[flyinlow]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/JPT-92457/

[FJMG]

A fair amount of components are shared in these trans. For example, when I built my 46re in my 97 ram I noticed on the parts invoice that the oil pump is identical from a 1961 727 to my 97 46re!! which would lead one to think that you could build one any way you want. I was only warned that a stock lockup TC can wear prematurely if the  flex screws are not torqued properly since they can dimple the TC exactly where the L/U wears on. The solution (I was told) was to use a billet face TC. 

[adauto]

Intresting thread for sure with a ton of good info. Some day I'd like to get an OD behind my HEMI and get the 3.23's swapped for some 3.91's. Wonder how it fit in an E-BOD tunnel... hmmmmm

[rcannon440]

What is the connector on the side of the over drive unit used for? I found an A518 R3008101AC unit to use but I want to make sure this will work, it also has the same connector on the side of the tail housing shown in your pic.

[rcannon440]

Disregard my previous post. I see that the connector is used for the electronic speedometer. What truck did the crossmember come from?

[flyinlow]

The crossmember was from a 73 Charger,not a truck. Modified by me. The transmission mount was a 92 chevy 1500 , I think.

[Paul G]

The A518 was the best mod I have done. I used a GM auto trans kick down switch mounted to the throttle linkage along with a relay. I believe they have it as a kit on the PATC website, I pieced mine together, it will kill power to the OD and TC at what ever throttle position you set it at. It insures that the OD and TC wont engage under heavy load. I used pressure switches on the trans as suggested already. All this stuff is on the PATC website I think. Oh, I picked up an adjustable pressure switch on Ebay for the OD to get it to come in a little sooner. Your final drive ratio along with line pressure in the trans will determine when the pressure switches operate. I have 3.91 gears, OD & TC were coming in pretty late. OD comes in at 40 mph the way it is adjusted right now. I recently ordered a time delay relay to try in place of the TC pressure switch I am using. I am going to have the TC engage 5 seconds after the OD comes in. Newer cars operate kind of that way. Other wise the TC doesn't engage till 52 MPH, I hardly ever get to 52 when cruising. The goal is to have nice low RPM while cruising. We'll see how that works out.     

[Paul G]

Also, to avoid pinion angle issues, make sure you get the trans tail in the same position as the other trans was, no lower or higher.

[Paul G]

This thread is over two years old!