Checking used 727

[Dano 1]

Does anyone have any tips for evaluating/checking used 727's prior to install? My car came with a 727 installed and I purchased a '71 440/727 combo separately primarily for the 440 but potentially for the trans as well. I'm wondering how best to evaluate and choose between the two to use. The casting #'s confirm my '71 727 is date correct from a '71 c-body and appeared to have never been separated from the engine. The 727 that was in the car when I bought it apparently came out of a '78 Dodge/Plymouth HP 400 package so slightly newer and may have been rebuilt at one time (based on the story from the PO and the performance shop sticker on the case).
Any tips for checking these two out and picking one to drop in with the 440? 

[justcruisin]

Check the condition of the fluid, pull the pan and remove the filter for inspect, see how much crud is on it. If you don't want to strip it down, you could just pull the valve body and air check the circuits.

[John_Kunkel]

There is no way to evaluate the condition of a used automatic transmission without a complete disassembly.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Even air checking does not tell condition.

[Dano 1]

Thanks, guys. I plan to pull the pan(s) to replace the gaskets and filters so I'll take a look and see if there are any glaring issues and then just make a judgement call. Good thing it's not too hard to pull the trans on these cars!

[c00nhunterjoe]

With only the pan off, what do you intend to inspect? 

[Dano 1]

Really just fluid condition, anything in the filter, metal debris or other evidence of major problems.  Beyond that'll I'll just bolt one up and give it a shot. I've never rebuilt an auto or been deeper into one than just pulling the pan so I'm not going to go any farther until I have to. This is my first Mopar so I just figured I'd see if there were any tricks to 727's specifically. Thanks!

[c00nhunterjoe]

Its out and on the bench. I would suggest sending it for overhaul if you have never done one. What engine is it going behind?

[Dano 1]

Valid point Joe. The trans will be behind a 1971 440 which will be stock except for headers. One of the 727's was mated to this engine when I bought it and came from a 71 imperial that I was told had ~100k miles. I was also told the car ran/drove just fine and was old lady owned, the PO bought the car for the engine/trans and just never used them so they sat until I came along.

The other 727 was in my 69 charger when I bought it, bolted up to a '66 440 with unknown miles (this engine sat in the car with the heads off for 20 years so it's...rough). The numbers on this trans indicate it came from a '78 400 HP car. The car hasn't run since around 1992 when the PO took it off the road after graduating high school. He claimed the trans had either a shift kit or full manual valve body installed, he couldn't remember. When I pulled this trans there was a performance company's sticker on the case which leads me to believe it was rebuilt/modified at some point per the PO's story.

My goal is to get this car back on the road as efficiently as possible so I can start enjoying. I totally understand your point about the trans being out and making sense to send it out now, I'd just rather know for sure that one or both of the trans actually need to be rebuilt before ponying up the money for a rebuild. It really doesn't bother me to install and potentially remove the trans if it's bad, that's all part of the fun of it to me. This car will really just be a cruiser, it has a 2.76 open rear end which will be staying for now so I won't be doing anything too exotic. Thanks again for your input, I promise I won't come back here whining if I swap the transmission in and it's bad!

[c00nhunterjoe]

Trans 1: 100k owned by a lady tells me the bands were never adjusted in its life= time for overhaul.
Trans 2: Sitting since 1992, unknown history, unknown miles = time for overhaul.

But its your money and time so do as you please. Overhaul kits are not expensive.

[justcruisin]

I understand where your coming from and I'm sure you agree with Joe that a strip down is best. If I were you at the least before you install it, I would get my hands on Carl Munroe's book - "Torqueflite A-727" and have a read. You say working on the car is part of the fun, well get this book and do some work. With a good understanding the 727 is not a hard trans to work on. As Joe said, a basic overhaul kit is not expensive, well worth the effort and you will learn a heap by doing it yourself. There is plenty of help on here if you run into a problem.

[Dano 1]

Good tip on the Munroe book, I'll definitely pick up a copy. Definitely not arguing the best solution and what will likely be the inevitable solution, just trying to decide what to do to get the car on the road. Thanks again, guys.

[grdprx]

I can vouch for that book, invaluable to me!  I was in your same position Dano, I had zero knowledge of the inner workings of a 727, got a used unit that was "running when pulled".  Got it home and pulled the pan to inspect, found a 1" chunk of metal in the pan; turns out the reverse band was broken.  I guess "running when pulled" doesn't include reverse!  I was a little overwhelmed by the overhaul process, so with the guidance of the Monroe book; I set out to replace the reverse band, which is in the back of the case.  Everything had to come out.  I was pleased with the condition of the assemblies as I pulled them out.  I laid everything out as I worked, and it all went back together with only minor issues. (those little Z things with the bearings in the bottom of the case are a bitch!)  I figured it if worked, it worked; if it didn't, the band needed replacing anyway and I was only out my time.  I was on a budget and an overhaul would have been a big set back for my efforts of getting my Charger on the road.  Worked for me... 
An overhaul is the smart choice to offer piece of mind and reliability; but I went the route I did and my Charger it's still going down the road.  Good luck!

[Dano 1]

Thanks for the feedback, grdprx, that gives me a vote of confidence to take a dive into the trans. I'll grab a copy of that book and get to work.

[John_Kunkel]

Munroe's book is great but there were so many minor changes from year-to-year that I'd recommend the FSM for a beginner. Both wouldn't hurt.