RV tranny compatibility question

[adk-roadrunner]

ok so here it goes I am currently gathering parts for the conversion from 318 to a 440 in my 73 roadrunner over the winter. I have already purchased my 8 3/4 sure grip rear end and am shopping around for an engine and tranny. I found a 440 with 56,000 miles which runs great and comes with a 727 tranny but they were out of a motorhome. I plan on rebuilding the engine even though it has low mileage but am not sure if the tranny will work as i thought I read some rv trannys were not compatible. The seller is going to call with serial numbers and the length of tranny from bell to tail. what should i look for and are some of these usable. thanks guys

 

[daredevil]

I,ve heard not seen that they have a big drum,bell at the tailshaft for the parking brake. All hearsay.May not be true.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

ya i asked him about that he said it doesnt have the drum thing looks like a regular tailshaft.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

The guy just left a message saying the is 24 inches long that doesn't seem very long.

 

[moparmarks]

Which class fo motorhome? Class A will usually have the parking brake drum. Class C will usually have the short shaft tail.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

also does anyone know where the serial number would be stamped on the tranny he says he can find no numbers on the tranny anywhere

 

[moparmarks]

On the side right above the pan. Pass side I think.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

He said it doesn't have the parking brake drum is the short tail shaft one compatible.

- - - Updated - - -

I just talk to the guy he's going to scrape the grease off and give me the number later on. I asked him if he would split the tranny and engine up if the tranny will not work as he wants 950 for both and he said the transmission is basically a give me . he said for just the engine he would still want 950 as it has all the brackets alternator power steering everything included and he said I would be hard pressed to find anything for less than that as I told him I would really only be willing to pay 500 for the motor alone . He didn't seem thrilled seems pricey to me as I'd still need a tranny.

 

[moparmarks]

Keep in mind that you'll need to change the oil pan and pickup tube. Exhaust manifolds, Motor mounting brackets. Water pump housing and the brackets may not work in your 73. Tell him its going in a car and you'll have to pretty strip it down to a long block to install all the car stuff.

 

[RustyRatRod]

It will cost more to convert it to what you need than it will to buy the proper core. But you can do it if you really want to.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

There are a few others I've found one is a 440 that was in a car at one time comes with tranny and headers the headers prolly won't work I'm guessing though. This guy wants 1100 for all 3 and was not willing to budge at all.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

the guy just called me and told me the only number he can find on the tranny are on the bell housing and it's a 355 - 3 and that's all the can find on it

 

[RustyRatRod]

The number aint on the bellhousin. It's on the side of the pan rail. I forget which side, but it's a stamped number. You need to forget that POS transmission and get the right one.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Ya I'm feeling the same way about the tranny. If anyone is in this neck of the woods and knows somone with a 440 and 727 please let me know. I'm gonna let the guy know that I need to keep shopping around a bit I wish I could find a decent price on one everyone I find.seems to think these 440s are worth their weight in gold and that they are rare or something I've looked into about 15 different ones now and they all seem to want 1000 dollars plus.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Now, I will say this.....that transmission might be a great source for parts. It probably has heavy duty steel 4, 5 or even 6 pinion planetaries in it, along with high capacity drums. That's certainly worth something.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

ya im surfing the web again tonight looking for an engine that isnt gonna break the bank. hopefully ill find somethinghe wasnt willing to budge at all from 950 even without the tranny because he said it was basically a freebie. it is the most complete one ive found gotta keep pounding the pavement i guess. i found one other on craigslist but the guy said he junked it a few weeks back as it never sold.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Ok update just got off the phone with a guy who has a 440 with supposedly 25,000 original miles from a motor home and it comes with a car 727 that came out of a Newport with a 383 the deal with this motor is though has no alternator or power steering pump not sure about brackets but does have.brand new weiland aluminium intake and a new gasket set and also it comes with the proper oil pan and sump that he purchased for it to put in a car he wants 800 for the whole thing. I would still like to barter him down a little more as well of course.

 

[Cranky]

Never seen an RV trans with more than the 4 planetary gear set and if it doesn't have the drum on it, then it'll have the bolt on yoke and short tail shaft and usually a funky tail shaft mount. Too bad you're so far away because I have a fresh 440 sitting with moly rings, closed chambered heads, Hemi grind cam etc etc...and standard bore to boot. It came out of a low mileage smashed up New Yucker many moons ago and it didn't need boring.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

here are a few pics of what I'm looking at now for 800 and he said there is some other stuff not shown.

 

[mattsinger]

View attachment 88155View attachment 88156View attachment 88157View attachment 88158 here are a few pics of what I'm looking at now for 800 and he said there is some other stuff not shown.

what year ?/ still a 440? has it ever been rebuilt?