There is a 79 Cordoba for sale for parts locally with a 360 2 barrel and an automatic transmission. Just wondering if there is any way of identifying before pulling it out of the car if it is a lockup or non lockup transmission (I am assuming it is a 904, but I could be totally wrong).

Hopefully there are some who would know. The owner offered to give me the VIN tag as well if that helps.

Thanks

most likely a lockup, either a 998 (HD 904) or 727

When did the lockups come out on those cars? My old 76 Charger SE 360 2-barrel had a non lockup 904.

I had a 78 Cordoba 360-2 and it had a lock up.

1978 was the first year for lockup and its very possible it's the 999 trans. All the small trans I've seen in the 70's B Bodies with 360-2 bbls have been the 999 trans. The early lock-up trans had a bad reputation for not being to durable at least for Hi-Po use.

Would this transmission be a low gear transmission with steel front and rear planetaries?

Very possible it's a 999 transmission which has the wide front drum and usually the low gear set. According to A&A the lock up 998+999 cases are stronger than a standard 904 case. If the price is right, and it has a 904 variant (999 or 998) trans in it, then i'd pick it up.

When we built my 904 we used a later 998 case (i believe it's an 1984) and put standard 904 guts in it with steel plantaries. The reason behind that was the wide front drum was scored from the band slipping, and i don't need a low gear set.

If you end up needing a low gear set, i've got a set here i'll sell for $100 + shipping. Sorry to make that sound like an add, but just letting you know i have one...

A '79 360-2 would have come standard with a lockup 999; the lockup 727 would have been an option.

999 w/lockup. The weakness in these was early engagement of the lockup, at around 30 mph. Not enough pressure to tightly lockup the convertor, and it would shear the innards.