Re: aluminum or steel drum??
[Re: weedlayer]
#1274934
07/27/12 02:04 PM
07/27/12 02:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,721
Portage,michigan
B3422W5
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,721
Portage,michigan
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Quote:
How much maintenance is involved with aluminum? steel better choice?
Are the light weight components available worth the cost? speedwise or maybe easier on parts being lighter? 
I would go with the steel drum, instead of the aluminum
Few years back i swapped out a pretty much stock 727( just better bands, clutches, etc) for a fully rollerised 727 with lightened sunshell and aluminum drum, and saw little or no ET difference over the mostly stock trans i then used for backup. If there was any difference, i sure didnt see it on my time slips.
69 Dart GTS A4 Silver All steel, flat factory hood, 3360race weight
418 BPE factory replacement headed stroker, 565 lift solid cam
Best so far, 10.40 @127 1/4
1.41 best 60 foot
6.60 at 103.90 1/8
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Re: aluminum or steel drum??
[Re: B3422W5]
#1274935
07/27/12 02:24 PM
07/27/12 02:24 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330
Lynchburg, VA
Leon441
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330
Lynchburg, VA
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I removed a steel drum and installed an aluminum front drum and gained a solid .15 in ET. I found no maintenance issues other than mine was 100% aluminum and a chrome sealing rings will tear up the sealing surface. Some new drums have a steel liner for the sealing ring surface.
Leon
Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.
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Re: aluminum or steel drum??
[Re: B3422W5]
#1274937
07/27/12 03:29 PM
07/27/12 03:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,230
Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,230
Bend,OR USA
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Quote:
Quote:
I removed a steel drum and installed an aluminum front drum and gained a solid .15 in ET. I found no maintenance issues other than mine was 100% aluminum and a chrome sealing rings will tear up the sealing surface. Some new drums have a steel liner for the sealing ring surface.
Leon
A tenth and a half swapping to an aluminum drum.......thats a funny one Leon.lol
If the car is not hooking well reducing potential friction and rotating mass reduction will not result in increased ET and MPH, it may spin the tires worst instead 
I know several NHRA Stock and SS racers that are very cautious on spending money on there race cars that went quicker and faster with lightweight(expensive) internal trans parts   OP, check the weight of the straight steel, aluminum with a steel outer wear sleeve and a lightweight aluminum only drum  , before deciding  The straight aluminum increases the amount of fluid changes needed from say 200 runs to 25 to 50 runs, depending on who you talk to The aluminum ends up poluting the fluids Any billet drum is way better than a stock cast iron drum, especailly when racing and having high RPM(above 5000 RPM ) shift points, especially with a trans brake
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: aluminum or steel drum??
[Re: Cab_Burge]
#1274938
07/27/12 03:38 PM
07/27/12 03:38 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,607
westerly, ri. usa
440lebaron
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,607
westerly, ri. usa
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i had to change fluid 10/15 runs with aluminum drum. fluid turned gray also reaction times went up valves/solniods sticking
went to billet steel
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Re: aluminum or steel drum??
[Re: Just-a-dart]
#1274942
07/27/12 09:57 PM
07/27/12 09:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330
Lynchburg, VA
Leon441
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330
Lynchburg, VA
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My fluid turned grey but never had any adverse effects. And if anyone remembers my old KOS days with the torqueflite didn't have any reaction time problems either. And we ran on the real bulbs. Also ran a stock replacement filter. Not the brass screen type.
Leon
Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.
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Re: aluminum or steel drum??
[Re: weedlayer]
#1274943
07/27/12 10:07 PM
07/27/12 10:07 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Not that I'm a pro trans guy but IF I were to change right now I would go with a alum drum and steel cover.. pretty much gain both wear and weight 
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Re: aluminum or steel drum??
[Re: turbocolt2.4L]
#1274946
07/28/12 08:33 AM
07/28/12 08:33 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,646
Ringtown, Pa.
Dartsport540
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,646
Ringtown, Pa.
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I ran a billet Aluminium drum from 2005 untill the end of 2011, in a Copes racing trans, rollerized, Griner trans brake. Switched to a billet steel drum this spring when the tranny was freshened up. NO et difference.
I use to change the fluid and filter every 25 to 35 passes. With the steel drum, I haven't changed the fluid yet, this year.
548 cu. in., Bill Mitchell Aluminum Block, CRT 727 auto trans, Alston Chassis. 8.981et at 149.46 mph. 1.204et - 60 foot, So Far....
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Re: aluminum or steel drum??
[Re: Steve Reynolds]
#1274948
07/28/12 09:48 AM
07/28/12 09:48 AM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,646
Plymouth Meeting, PA
bigtimeauto
Trophy Winner
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Trophy Winner
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,646
Plymouth Meeting, PA
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I doubt a aluminum drum would show a increase in a car that is not 100% sorted out and if it did it would be minimal. What it does do is make your overal package lighter, its easier on transmission clutches and sprags and is less rotating weight to explode.
I run a turbo 400 with 2 aluminum drums and have no issues with fluid or longevity. Actually between the 9" rear and the T400 trans they are the only 2 things that don't break in my car!
BB, TT5,Procharged 3300lb Street Car 4.79/154
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Re: aluminum or steel drum??
[Re: bigtimeauto]
#1274949
07/28/12 10:18 AM
07/28/12 10:18 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330
Lynchburg, VA
Leon441
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330
Lynchburg, VA
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The key thing about a 727 is the front drum changes direction. It is not like the rear drum that only turns one way on a run. I was running a warmed over 360 engine running 7.35 in the eighth. Changed the drum and went to running 7.20. It is what it is.
I had two powerglides one was a steel drum with a 1.76 helicle TCI planet and eight clutches in the high gear with the full load in the reverse. All of this is supposed to hurt ET. The other tranny had an aluminum drum 1.96 straight cut with only two reverse clutches. There was no difference in ET. The car ran like crap with both transmissions all seven torque converters combinations I tried as well as five different gear choices in the rear. The combination was way off and nothing made a difference. I doubt an aluminum drum in a powerglide or the low reverse drum in a 727 will make any noticeable difference. The front drum in a 727 will if your car is dialed in. If you did not see any difference then maybe there are some areas of improvement in your combination.
Leon
Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.
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I could not go red in the .400 pro tree index class until I stuck Joes trans in my car. Now I'm on a first round loosing streak cause I'm .015 red a couple races in a row. This is a good problem because being late is for losers!
