Valve Body Swap

[BlackAce]

I have a 727 with a Cheetah reverse pattern manual valve body and want to swap a stock valve body back in. Is there anything I should be concerned about when making the swap? Is it just a straight forward swap? Would I have any problems with years interchanging?

[70AARCuda]

you will need to installed your throttle pressure linkage....

[nhdriver]

Try to get one close to the same year as the trans They made several changes over the years.

[BlackAce]

How do I know what year the valve body is from? Is there are date stamp? I have one already but don't know what year it's from.

[John Kunkel]

Look closely on the valve body castings and you'll see a casting date, it's usually a circled 2-digit number (65, 66, 67, etc.) The casting year is often one year earlier that the trans itself. The basic groups are '66-'70, '71-'73, '74-'77, '78-

In most cases when a trans is built with a manual valve body the governor components in the tailhousing are removed, if this is the case you will have to procure and install the missing governor pieces.

[BlackAce]

I looked at it today and it had 86 in the circle. I'm am not sure what year trans I have. Will have any issues using this valve body with an early trans. I think my trans is a 71, I have a 727. I will have to look at the numbers on the trans to find out if it is a 71 for sure though.

[dart662dp]

look very closely at the accumulator area in the trans, and BE SURE the new valve body completely covers the openings. even the slightest loss of pressure due to valve body being too small to cover casting area will cause loss of 3rd gear. basically the smaller valve body does not completely cover the acumulator ports, causes loss of pressure, tranny will work for a week or two, starts getting sloppy going into drive, then the clutches fry due to inadequate apply pressure, the thing shifts from 2-3, 3-2 for no aparent reason, and high gear finally goes out.
if the valve body has an 86 in the circle, it is an 86 year valve body.
there are several flavors of stock valve bodys, with different transfer plates, for different shift points, and firmness of clutch/band application.
look for one from a 71 440 HP or police package 727.
DO NOT try to swap lock-up, to non lock up, or vise versa. (obviously)
i prefer to set up (drill a few select holes) my own stock transfer plates.
torque flights are very simple, but be carefull swapping parts from one to another, consult someone in the know if unsure. I've been building them for 10 years, and still do not know everything.