1969 Coronet R/T with a 727 lost gears.

[1969CoronetR/T]

I was driving home from work in my Coronet and it drove flawlessly all day. I went to pick up emblems that I had repainted and as I was leaving the shop I had to cross over two lanes of traffic (made a left turn) and once I hit the road over a small curb (one or two inches) I heard a clunk and lost gears. Luckily, no cars were coming towards me and I put the car in neutral and then back into drive and the car drive normal again. About to miles down the road the car just revved in drive as it was in neutral. Shifted it into neutral and back into drive with no luck. Put the car in park with four way flashers on and tried to engag drive. Nothing would catch. Finally, I could put it in first and barely crawl going about 1 MPH with the engine revving about 2,500 RPM. I got it off the road and had a flat bed tow it to the local shop a few miles from my house. Reverse works fine, but all the other gears are as if it is in neutral. Park engages fine as well, but the shifter seems sloppy. Any ideas?

 

[dvw]

Either the rear clutches are toast or it broke a hard part, stripped front planet, etc. Either way it's got to come out.
Doug

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

I have to call the transmission place to see if it is still under the one year warranty. I was hoping it was just a loose connection or linkage. Oddly, when I had the transmission rebuilt to handle over 600 HP they could not get the linkage to engage first gear, only second, third, drive and reverse. I called A & A transmission and they said that it would be a needle in a haystack find. I figured since I never put it in first, second or third, only drive, that it really does not matter. The loud clunk surprised me and I expected to see scattered metal and fluid behind me on the street, but it engaged drive fine again only for a few more miles and all seemed good. No hesitation, no bogging just fine until it lost the gears. No I have to get my Super Bee out of the other shop that is doing the interior so I have something to drive in the next few weeks. My wife hates these cars...

 

[dla4567]

There is a great Mopar drive line guy in Butler. (Not sure where you are located). This guy knows muscle cars. If interested let me know and I can get you his info.

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

I am in McCandless about a half hour south of Butler. I would appreciate his number or email so maybe I can get his view as the local shop may not be familiar with the 727 or later transmissions.

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

The company that did the transmission rebuild March 2015 agreed to fix it if I agree to pay for the removal and installation at a cost of $300.00. I have about 1,000 miles on it which I was surprised as I would have guessed about 500 miles on it in a year. The owner of the shop, Jim Gillece, is going out of his way to fix his rebuild and supposedly bullet proof transmission. He was laughing asking me how hard I drove it and I had to admit that I do not baby it, but I do not lay tire in it either. I drive it hard off the start and he was well aware of the 500 stroker engine that is in front of his transmission. I will get the report in the next few days of what failed, but it will most likely by be in the shop for a two weeks. I am curious why the build did not last and if this will be a yearly chore...

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

The transmission is done today and the low roller clutch failed. Hopefully it lasts more than 1000 miles this time.

 

[Cranky]

Even with a big engine, I wouldn't think street tires would stick well enough to break things. Was the part that broke a stock replacement or something aftermarket?

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

I am not sure as it was built for my application. The technician claimed that the parts should have held even if I abused the transmission. I never floored it off the start, but would occasionally race it from red light to red light on the street tires. I never abused it.

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

Picked it up last night and drive it to work today. There was a car show down the street and it ran beautifully. Hopefully this transmission rebuild lasts longer the the last rebuild.

 

[hangn0ut]

Since the shop had it apart did they fix the shift issue? That is not right and its possible it had something to do with the failure. There is no reason for it being like that. It can be made right.

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

Yes, I got the correct shifter from Megaparts and Classic Industries. All worked great for an afternoon ride to work and back. Then, I went to change my bulbs to LED and I fried the tail lights. Another call to a professional to sort this out and hopefully it is just a fuse (started a thread about this already).