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75 440 Power Wagon: 4 sp to 727 : Donor Vehicles?
#1667918
09/06/14 01:57 AM
09/06/14 01:57 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
OP
Striving for excellence
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OP
Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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I have a 440 4 speed Power Wagon with 4.10 gears. 4 wheel drive. Ive never been much of a manual shift guy, but this truck was given to me by a friend. It has full time 4wd and what looks like a NP 203 transfer case. I understand that the transmission is somewhat desireable due to its strength and the super low 1st gear. Nevertheless, to enjoy the truck more for how I like to drive, I would like to convert it to an automatic.
I expect that the 440 is a cast crank mill, so if I sell all the manual trans specific stuff, a balanced 440 flywheel will be part of the package. Knowing how it is with cars, the costs of converting TO a manual trans are pretty steep. I suspect it is less so with trucks since the parts are more common. My goal ultimately is just to come out even or ahead by a few bucks. I'd prefer a rebuilt 727 or one I've seen running. Changing transmissions in 4wds really sucks so I'd surely want to know the one I'm installing is in good condition.
Has anyone here any experience with this? Any suggestions? Thanks, Greg
Last edited by Frankenduster; 10/22/14 10:23 PM.
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Re: 75 440 Power Wagon: Not sure I like the 4 speed
[Re: Golden-Arm]
#1667922
09/06/14 01:45 PM
09/06/14 01:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
BulletBob
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
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Quote:
just guessing, i'm thinking he's in granite bay, california. 
Not just a Sheep Shagger but a brilliant mind also 
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Re: 75 440 Power Wagon: Not sure I like the 4 speed
[Re: Kern Dog]
#1667924
09/07/14 02:10 AM
09/07/14 02:10 AM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
blown340
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
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Quote:
Granite Bay is in Northern CA.
Looking closer, the 440 is a forged crank mill. This trans also is as tight and quiet as you could imagine. If I were a 4 speed fan I'd be pleased as punch with it. I'm running 4.10 gears and 32" tires. I know I'll be losing some gear ratio advantage by switching to the taller 1st gear 727 as compared to the granny low of this 4 speed.
Do you not like shifting, or do you not like the granny low gear spread? If its the gear spread you don't like you might consider a swap to the NP445/NP4530. It has a more normal 4-speed gear spread. I did this swap on my 73 W200 and it made the truck much more driveable in pretty much all conditions I use it for. If I need a really low first gear I just throw it in low range. The NP445 gear ratios are 4.56 first, 2.28 second, 1.31 third, and 1.00 fourth, and all 4 gears are synchronized.
With all that said, I'd prefer a 440 over my current 318 so if you do ahead with the swap PM me as I might be interested in the big block bellhousing.
-Jon 
70 challenger convertible. 340/5 speed. blown, intercooled, efi, blah blah blah
71 valiant scamp 318/A833OD/AC/PS
00 dakota RC 4.7L 5 spd autoX'r. SRT10/T56 swap in process
73 W200 Power wagon, PTO winch, 4 spd
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Re: 75 440 Power Wagon: Not sure I like the 4 speed
[Re: Kern Dog]
#1667926
09/07/14 05:54 AM
09/07/14 05:54 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
BulletBob
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
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Quote:
Much easier to drive, text, eat chinese food with chopsticks and juggle chainsaws while driving on snowy, curvy roads. 
You failed to mention big rocks & the like
Must have been eating soup from a skillet & juggling porcupines that day
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Re: 75 440 Power Wagon: Not sure I like the 4 speed
[Re: BulletBob]
#1667927
09/07/14 08:50 AM
09/07/14 08:50 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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Quote:
Quote:
Much easier to drive, text, eat chinese food with chopsticks and juggle chainsaws while driving on snowy, curvy roads.
You failed to mention big rocks & the like
Must have been eating soup from a skillet & juggling porcupines that day
I remember pics of that day.
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Re: 75 440 Power Wagon: Not sure I like the 4 speed
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#1667929
09/07/14 04:01 PM
09/07/14 04:01 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
BulletBob
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Much easier to drive, text, eat chinese food with chopsticks and juggle chainsaws while driving on snowy, curvy roads.
You failed to mention big rocks & the like
Must have been eating soup from a skillet & juggling porcupines that day
I remember pics of that day.
Mike you know Truck section lifers like you & I remember those pics
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Re: 75 440 Power Wagon: 4 speed to 727 ideas
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#1667936
09/26/14 07:59 PM
09/26/14 07:59 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,238
Nevada
dezduster
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,238
Nevada
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I have some suggestions that some may not like but I assure you they make sense.
First if you have the unit bearing style full time front end a great update to that front end is to get 3/4 ton Chevy part time knuckles out including the outer stub shaft and hubs at a salvage yard. Why not dodge stuff more difficult to locate around here,more expensive and the brakes have worked better in my experiances. Also the tie rod.
Second get a newer transmission and tranfercase 84 and later had a lower first gear. The 208 transfercase is pond to pound as strong as a 205 tcase. Yes the 205 has nearly a hundred ponds on the 205. The 203 can be made part time but is still chain driven, as is the 208 but the 203 is more than a hundred ponds heavier.
And finally you will need at the very least a rear drive shaft reguardless of what changes you make because automatic and manual uses different lengths on the rear for sure.
Last edited by dezduster; 09/28/14 05:01 PM.
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Re: 75 440 Power Wagon: 4 speed to 727 ideas
[Re: dezduster]
#1667937
09/26/14 10:32 PM
09/26/14 10:32 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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Quote:
I have some suggestions that some may not like but I assure you they make sense.
First if you have the unit bearing style full time front end a great update to that front end is to get 3/4 ton Chevy part time knuckles out including the outer stub shaft and hubs at a salvage yard. Why not dodge stuff more difficult to locate around here,more expensive and the brakes have worked better in my experiances. Also the tie rod.
Second get a newer transmission and tranfercase 84 and later had a lower first gear. The 208 transfercase is pond to pound as strong as a 205 tcase. Yes the 205 has nearly a hundred ponds on the 205. The 203 can be made part time but is still chain driven, as is the 208 but the 208 is more than a hundred ponds heavier.
And finally you will need at the very least a rear drive shaft reguardless of what changes you make because automatic and manual uses different lengths on the rear for sure.
been here done this a couple times in the past. the chebby knuckles out swap was the ticket when I went to 14" wide rims with 18-44-15 Hawgs 40$ chebby wheel bearing vs 100$ dodge bearing/press work.
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