New Transmission

[Charger1969B]

Looking into buying a new 727 torqueflite tranny, and i'm looking for suggestions (manufacturer TCI vs. B&M, stall, and what do they mean when they say "Forward shift pattern vs Reverse shift pattern")?
Also Automatic/ manual valve body?
It will be going into a 69' Charger w/ a 440.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Kern Dog]

Reverse pattern is a feature for dedicated drag racers for the most part. It is probably not something you'd want or need. Same goes with a manual valve body. The latter refers to a modification where the transmission does not shift by itself anymore.
If you have what most of us do, a decent street car, a basic stock rebuild with quality parts is plenty adequate. There are ways to firm up the shifts a bit. If you stepped up to a bigger cam, you would benefit from a torque converter with a stall speed higher than a stock based unit.
Good luck.

 

[BSB67]

Do you have a transmission now? If so, just go to a reputable local transmission guy with experience with the 727 and have yours rebuilt.

 

[66Satellite47]

It would help if you give more specifics about what you currently have for a trans, what type of use will the car get, power level you expect to get to with the 440. Many of us started with a moderate power level then modified the motor for much more torque/power.
You are not likely to find a "normal" local trans shop that knows much about a 727 from the Muscle car days. Maybe an experienced local Mopar racer?
For "normal" performance driving with stock level 440 power, a forward pattern, auto shift valve body is good. If you are an aggressive driver that wants to shift each time, a forward pattern manual valve body is good. Reverse manual is really for drag racers, or experienced drivers that have a car set up for that style.
My '66 Satellite street/strip has a reverse manual valve body, but it has 4.10 gears, 500+ cubic inches, easily starts out 2nd, and 10"(or now 9 1/2") converter.
I built all my own 727's in my bracket racing days, now have a CRT(John Cope) 727.
Cope, ATI, Turbo Action, A&A are all familiar with 727's.
727's are tough so you don't need to "over buy" either. Be honest about your expectations.

 

[66 Sat]

I think the reverse pattern and manual valve body go together, so instead of D 2 1 the transmission would shift 1 2 D when moving the lever from Park. As said above it's designed for drag racing.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

For driving I like to keep the transmissions kick down(automatic)intact. I believe you can buy the manual valve body in forward or reverse pattern. First and drive are turned around in the manual reverse pattern. If you are running the factory floor shifter in your charger it is not great with the reverse pattern. We have a reverse pattern cheetah turbo action valve body in our charger w the factory shifter and get along OK, but I liked it better w kickdown and the forward pattern w the shift kit for driving. The turbo action valve body we have the trans pressure is all the way up and the shifts are hellatous. When we had a stock torque convertor w the manual body it barked the tires shifting in drive even at low speeds. We went to a dynamic 9 1/2 convertor and it did soften up the shift some but when these for-racing valves bodies shift and the transmission is new and tight its a radical shift. Shift kits I have installed don't usually max out the pressure...and will still hold big power.
I like rebuilding 727 from the early to mid 70s best. The 727 in our charger we got from a friend new and I think came from cope, but it was full race. Getting a bolt in sprag would be one thing I would get if you ever go to a track no matter who you buy from.
The Lupo family at Dynamic would be another tranny builder to consider but $$$.
I would not do a Tci or b&m convertor...i would do Hughes for a economy build, Dynamic or Ptc if performance.