Good subject indeed!
I have recently had a front drum bearing failure on a pre 1971 727.
With this in mind I will be using the 71-up drum and reaction shafts from now on!
Lots of Folks us the earlier narrow bearing drum without problems...
I think its down to the individual trans and end float etc?
Some 727's seem to have way too much end float so i like to 'cut it back' to around 30 thousanths now...
Good luck with you front drum issues, they can be troublesome indeed...
I personally would not go anywhere near a dragstrip 'without' a Cope steel drum now...(1971-up only)...