727 kick-down question

When I pulled the Plymouth out of the garage yesterday it was the first time I used the 727 (from a 1979 Dodge PU). The transmission engaged in all gears but seemed to be slipping. I did some searching and I learned:

1. the 727 don't pump in park so you need to be in neutral or in gear to get to fluid into the torque converter
2. you got to be careful to ensure to torque converter is seated when you attach the ****** to the motor (354 Hemi in my case)
3. you need to have the kickdown linkage attached and set properly for the transmission to operate properly

I didn't have the kickdown linkage attached when I did my 40 foot 'drive'. My question is do you think the slipping could have anything to do with not attaching the linkage? How should a good transmission behave if it wasn't attached?

Drive seemed to work but gravity was really helping leave the garage and go down the driveway. Reverse only worked if I got the revs up but only weakly. There was a faint metallic sound from the transmission when I was trying to reverse as well.

I don't know the factual history of the transmission but I was told it was a rebuilt unit but considering the source there could be some exaggerations in that story.

 

Kickdown won't affect reverse. Sounds like you have a lack of pressure. Is it full of fluid?

 

The linkage will definitely affect how the trans upshifts. The linkage controls line pressure according to throttle opening. Going 40 ft at low throttle shouldn't have brought the line pressure into it.

 

Fluid shows full on the stick but I'm not sure how much is in the torque converter. I ran it in gear and the level went down but I think it topped off the last time. I'm thinking I should let it idle in neutral for a couple of minutes and recheck. I'm afraid it's more then that though.

 

"Metallic sound"... yeah, sounds like it.

 

If you are still using the oem dipstick make sure to read the instructions on it. I believe that the trans fluid should be checked idling in neutral (not park).

 

Checked in park would leave you 3-4 qt's low.

 

79 727 have an lockup converter not enough fluid no lock up also when a727 gets some years on it they have a tendensy to let the converter drain back but it should only effect in***al engagement unless its REALLY low

you can drive a torqueflite without kick down hooked up but you need to let off the gas so it can upshift i wouldnt drive it alot short distances would be fine (unless you want to manually shift it)

 

Kick down-linkage HAS to be connetcted on Tourqeflite's,it is what controls the pressure in them,no linkage connected = NO pressure = slipping trans and in a near future a toasted transmission,it will also cause the rear bearing to be without lubrication due to low flow all the way back there and the yoke will eat that bearing alive in notime,

Connect the linkage before You drive the car again,if it's not possible to have it connected the right way You can have it locked in a slightly open position with a piece of thin roundbar adjusted so it shifts where You want it to do so, personally I use a wire and the throttle-lever from an lawnmover to adjust it: cruising around I just has it a little bit pulled back,when I feel the need to use the throttle a bit "way" more I just pull it all the way back and it's ready for some entuastic driving so to speak...

 

Wow! Just to be safe I'm going to install the Lokar kick down linkage, doesn't look too hard. I think the Lokar shifter needs a little adjustment as well.

I started it up earlier and let it sit in neutral for a minute. The level on the dip stick dropped so I added a 1/2 quart and checked again. Didn't really move after that. I'll give it another try after I install the kick down.

Thanks for the responses.