727 trans rebuild shelf life

[Scoober]

Hello fellow Moparians!!!!
My question is regarding a rebuilt 727. I had this trans rebuilt by a friend/reputable trans shop owner 40 years ago. Life got in the way of the plan for the trans and it sat on a shelf in my garage ever since. It has been dry and clean other than some shop dust. The shop put better than stock clutch plates in it, but not the best that were available. I had a budget.
Do you think this trans will be ok to use?? Or are the clutches a gonner from sitting so long?? I am giving it to my son for his Duster, maybe 400ish HP.
Your thoughts please!!
THX!!!!

 

[gdrill]

You can run it to failure and get your money out of it.

 

[Charged440]

I had the same thoughts on mine, it had sat over five years and there are no issues.

 

[RemCharger]

It'll be fine. Worst case replace input seal

 

[GTX JOHN]

40 years in your garage,
I would replace all the seals or at least
take it apart and inspect them.

Of course, I worry about everything!

 

[451Mopar]

I'd likely run it. Because I have a lift and trans jack, it's not that big an issue for me if it needs to come back out.

 

[Kern Dog]

I'd likely run it. Because I have a lift and trans jack, it's not that big an issue for me if it needs to come back out.

That is funny...I was thinking the same thing! You can be cavalier and even ballsy when it isn't as hard to replace what breaks!
I've thought the same thing about trying parts here that are of unknown history.
Transmissions though, they are not like engines where I'd wonder more about valve spring pressure, sludge/rust build up, etc.
I had a 727 sit for about 18 months after a rebuild and it failed almost instantly when I did use it. This was 9 years before I got a car lift so it was a pisser. Who knows what went wrong with mine....I used clean, new fluid and filter and warmed it up, drove easy at first but it still was AFU. I suspect that it wasn't properly assembled. They warrantied it without any trouble but wouldn't tell me why the first one failed.

 

[icetech]

Hello fellow Moparians!!!!
My question is regarding a rebuilt 727. I had this trans rebuilt by a friend/reputable trans shop owner 40 years ago. Life got in the way of the plan for the trans and it sat on a shelf in my garage ever since. It has been dry and clean other than some shop dust. The shop put better than stock clutch plates in it, but not the best that were available. I had a budget.
Do you think this trans will be ok to use?? Or are the clutches a gonner from sitting so long?? I am giving it to my son for his Duster, maybe 400ish HP.
Your thoughts please!!
THX!!!!

I would pull the pan just to check drums for rust and stuff, depending how dry it was when put together... When i took apart my 727 that sat for 48 years it looked perfect inside and i was expecting a mess.. but it had been soaked in trans fluid for 100k miles...

 

[HawkRod]

I would pull the pan just to check drums for rust and stuff, depending how dry it was when put together... When i took apart my 727 that sat for 48 years it looked perfect inside and i was expecting a mess.. but it had been soaked in trans fluid for 100k miles...

As you pointed out, I think fluid is the key.

The valve body especially has springs and balls that need to move fluid around based on pressure, etc. If it sat dry for 40 years I could see that it might be sticky and cause shifting issues. On the other hand, I'm not so worried about clutch packs. They should do their job once there is power coming through the transmission.

If it were me, I'd want to check the valve body for "stickiness" and make sure small valves with springs move freely. Then I'd stick it in and run it.

 

[dvw]

If the parts were lubed up with trans fluid it's proably fine. Clutch frictions ar affected by water. If it's been dry it shouldn't be to rusty inside. A touch of surface rust won't hurt anything. I've pulled apart a lot of functioning units with slight rust. Heat affects the frictions and seals. It's amazing how long bands and frictions will last if they haven't been overheated.
Doug

 

[Black_Sheep]

If put it together correctly the frictions will have been soaked in ATF and the seals, thrust washers, o-rings, etc… should be covered in assembly lube. I would pop in a fresh input seal and send it.