My 65 Dodge Coronet has a column shifted 727 automatic trans. The previous owner installed a manual valve body. The column shifter is very sloppy and from what I understand, there are no aftermarket floor shifters for this transmission. I know absolutely NOTHING about transmissions! What do I need to do to convert my transmission back to a "normal" shifting operation....? If I wanted to manually shift my vehicle, I would have bought a 4 speed.... Oh yeah....while Im asking.....is there any kind of adjustments for the column shifter to make it less sloppy? Some times it will start in park, other times I have to shift to neutral due to the slop in the column shifter affecting the neutral safety switch...

 

You need to get rid of the manual valve body. Check the plastic insulators on the shift linkage, If they are worn or missing it will cause excessive slop.

 

Your transmission is a one year only set up. It's the earlier push button unit but with a lever. There are adjustment rings on the cable. You undo a bolt and rotate them to adjust the cable. On the valve body return to normal, I'd let a transmission shop with old people fool with it. Today, all the transmissions are electrically controlled. I'm like you in that automatic transmissions are something I know little about.

Hope you're on the high ground with Delta coming your way.

 

I wonder if there is a late model transmission that I could use? My engine is a 440 out of a 69 GTX, but I would like to find something newer or more common. That way I could possibly use an after market floor shifter too.

We are not going to be hit by hurricane Delta. Maybe some rain.....

 

I forgot about the early 727's as there where some changes.1967 and up is what you want, These where used behind all the big blocks until 78(end of the big block ) You will need either the stock linkage for the kick down or get the cable one available from Lokar B&M Makes some decent shifters. It's possible to put in a A518 (overdrive trans) but you need to modify for the longer tail by moving the rear trans mount. Here is a link on the details.

 

You can use a big block transmission just make sure your flex plate matched the torque converter. You might have a 10 or 11 inch plate. It must match the bolts on the converter. Now, where is your parking brake? On 1964 and earlier cars and trucks, it was a drum brake on the rear of the transmission. 1967 and later, it was the cable to the rear wheels like the majority of vehicles for decades afterward. 1965-66 I just don't know off hand. You may have cables as your rear end is flanged, not tapered axles.

 

Found this company posted on one of the links you provided. They are closed till Monday, but their A41 transmission may be just what Im looking for....I just wonder how many millions of dollars they want for one...??

https://shiftsst.com/

 

What it is is a GM transmission with an adapter bell housing link Somebody needs to make an adapter to bolt on a modern RFE transmission to a big block(along with a controller) Found this but it's not budget friendly.

 

I think I found my answer to the problem. I just received in the mail my Classic Industries catalog. They sell a TCI Street Fighter transmission complete for $2k including converter. I also see that they sell aftermarket floor shifters for my 727 trans. So now I have two ways to go.

 

If your budget allows it, I'd go that route. Your car is more street machine than bone stock and this will let you have fun with it. I'm a firm believer in that if they weren't meant to be driven, they wouldn't have wheels