ask Philip about OD with 3.07's. i would go with the 518 if i could tolerate an auto trans.

 

I have 3:08's with a 518 like Jeff said.

Rebuild the 518 and throw it in. It will seem like a completly different truck. No more engine screaming at 65 MPH. It will be turning 1650 RPM at 60 MPH. You will find the truck settles in real good at 80 MPH for road travel.

It will cost almost the same to rebuild the 518 as the 727. The 518 is a longer trans so some drive shaft work might be needed.

 

Phillip,
What kind of fuel mileage you get?
When pulling heavy loads, do you leave the OD turned off?


Tom

 

When I had the dually bed on it I was getting 20 MPG at 60 MPH, I was getting 18 MPG at 80 MPH. With my flat bed and other engine mods I am getting around 14 MPG now.

I never use OD towing below 55 MPH. Above 55 MPH I always use OD.

If you want to kill a Dodge OD. Towing heavy and light throttle is the way to do it.

 

I really like overdrive. My truck has 292,000 and as far as I know it's the original trans(previous owner believed it was and I don't see anything that looks like it's really been out). The key to either one is heat I have yet to break 200 degrees with mine and it's staying strong.

The only part of the 518 that you need special tools for is the OD unit. it has a crazy strong spring in it that could probably kill you without a press and the adapter to remove it. I think it applies something like 800-1000psi. I rebuilt one for a gasser a while ago but I don't really remember and it would be slightly different anyway.

 

a 12inch long piece of 4in steel pipe,a flate plate on top and a press makes that part of the OD build a piece of cake. 800 on the spring. No question, build the 518.

 

Well looks like the OD is going to be the choice for me. I even have a set of OD reg cab driveshafts lined up. Now I just need to sell the stuff I listed on fleabay so I can buy all the part I will need to make a STOUT 518. Thanks for all the input everyone.

 

I pull 14000 pounds with mine. The only problems is EGT's. Last winter I pulled 9000 pounds from Elkwood West Virginia to West Chester PA. My son shared the driving. We both have a heavy right foot and we couldn't break anything. After that trip I turned the fuel back to get a better hold on the EGT's and reduce fuel costs a little. The A518 worked flawlessly, even in the hills. WE ran it in overdrive most of the way.

 

That's pretty sweet being able to pull all that weight with the auto and have it work flawlessly. Boatnik, are the only mods to your auto the DTT converter and shift kit? What is the DTT converter rated up to, at least 700-800 ft lbs? I was thinking about getting some work done on the stock A518 in my truck (has almost 120,000 miles on it) as far as upgrading it. I wanted to install an aftermarket torque converter, shift kit that I can have the ability to shift it manually if I want to, deep transmission pan, and of course upgrade to a better flexplate. I got all these performance parts for the engine that I still need to install and I'd like to also think about making the transmission stronger with the engine mods. I also have the dealer installed under the bed auxiliary transmission cooler that is not hooked up, which I could put to good use once I start running more heat through the transmission. I am no transmission tech or guru and I'm wondering how much I'd pay if I were to take the transmission to a good shop to have a better, manual valve body installed and any other external mods that help it to perform with increased engine output. I can pull the flexplate and remove the torque converter I think, but tearing into the automatic is where I don't feel comfortable. Any advice?

 

Hi all I am new to dodge transmissions how do you identify a 727 vs 518? I have a 92 w350 that is starting to have transmission problems also any views on rebuild vs Jasper products. I pull 5-14000 with the truck. Thanks Tod

 

Yours should be the 518, a 727 is a 3 speed and a 518 has an overdrive.

 

i have a 91 w 727 had to have some adj done abt 200k the trans guy said i was lucky i had the 3 spd. when they put the od on it in 92 it was a weak od. it goes and takes the tranny w it. he said i would have had it rebuilt twice in 200k. my od is a pair of 325x60 18s i run day to day. changes it to abt a 2.90 final drive ratio.

 

Do not walk away from those products. Run as fast as you can.

I wouldn't use anything Jasper in my equipment or yours.

 

Well the guys down at my local dealer really hooked me up. I guess it helps to have friends in high places. They put all new clutch pack's from the front all the way to the back od unit included and some new trust washers and all new bands the only thing I had to supply was the front planetary (big thanks to JD730 for saving stuff) and they also went through the valve body and made sure it was clean and no chunks of metal were in it. They only charged me just shy of 900. Now I just figure out how I am going to pay for it . But at least I'll have a good "fresh" 518, now I just need to save up to get a tq but that is going to have to wait quite a while.