Dodge 50 Torqueflight transmission problems!

[tassle]

Hey from Brighton on the south coast of England, where I am busy creating my new festival home from an old Dodge 50 bus! Things are going great so far but I could really do with some pointers regarding the Chrystler Torqueflite 727 automatic transmission. I've heard great things about the 727, about how it lasts forever and is fitted to drag racers and monster trucks because its so tough but mine seems a little unwell!

The bus is very slow to accelerate in first, though the engine revs sound pretty high! In fact its a real effort to get it to change out of first at all, I have to take my foot off the gas and then stamp on it again to get it to shift up. I thought maybe the clutch was slipping but once it is in second it seems fine and accelerates pretty normaly. It also selects drive, neutral and reverse gears fine too

I don't know much about transmissions but I know the 727 uses bands somehow. Could one of them be slipping or is it more complex than that? Could really use some advice. Cheers folks!

[fredjacksonsan]

Fresh transmission fluid may go a long way towards helping with the problem. (Change the filter also)

Do you have a bit more of a description of the symptoms? Does it labor in first gear, seem like it might be in two gears at once, (with much resistance starting off)?

The reluctance to shift can be caused by some worn parts; a shift kit helped one of my older transmissions to overcome this problem.

If none of that solves the issue, you may want to rebuild the transmission, after which it should work for quite a long time for you.