727 Shift kit or not ?

[Pac J]

Hey,

I'm on the way to let rebuild the 727 transmission of my '72 Roadrunner ...
I’m really not an expert in automatic transmissions. The last day I tried to find out if it would be better to do a simple rebuild or to install a shift kit too.

There are many posts about the advantages and disadvantages of shift kits. Would a transmission last longer with or without it and what would be the better drive ?
I don’t know what’s the better way for a car that will be used for cruising most of the time.

Would be nice if some guys with a lot of 727 experience could tell me there opinion about this.
And witch kit would you recommend for this application if needed?

Thanks a lot,

Pac

 

[Homstead]

I'm my opinion it depends on how your going to use the car. You say your just going to use the car for cruising. Then I would go to a mild shift kit. A hard shifting trans can be a little harsh if your just cruising around. Transgo makes some pretty good kits. They make different shift kits for the level of driving your doing. I use them in most of my cars.

 

[dan juhasz]

I just installed a B & M shift improver kit in my 67 gtx. I went with the mildest change which they refer to as heavy duty. It included a modified plate that goes in between the valentine body halves, and instructions to adjust bands, adjust pump pressure and throttle settings. Street and strip provided an extra part or two. Almost removed and check ball and spring and an accumulator piston spring.
Results were great, higher shift points at full throttle in auto. Breaks the tires loose on a 1 / 2 upshift at full throttle. Great manners in normal driving.
I was well pleased

 

[PurpleBeeper]

I agree with these guys. Do a Transgo/B&M or other "milder" shift kit. Do not go with a manual shift valve body or anything like that....just a basic shift kit.

 

[condor74]

I like the manual valve body myself because it gets rid of the kick down linkage. As far as keeping the auto functions I like transgo kits.

 

[HT413]

I decided to go with a street strip reverse manual valve body from Cope. Just a street car that I may take to the track one of these days.

If yours is column shift, id go with a shift kit. But if she's a console car the manual valve body is a lot of fun and doesn't hurt drivability in the least.

 

[747mopar]

I've installed B&M shift kits in a few and really liked them, I always went with the harder shifts and found that they shifted nicely when not hammering on it and very snappy when your on it. Very street friendly but much improved shifts.

 

[Pac J]

Thanks you for all your help !

The rebuilder has no problem to install a shift kit and prefer to take Transgo in this case.
So I will go this way, because of the only positive feedback for the use of a shift kit.

 

[RamRunner]

A mild shift kit should give the trans a longer service life as it does not slip as much when shifting. I have a mild reprogramming kit from Trans go and love it.