What trans is in a 88 Ram 318? Can I put any thing else in? Mine is getting bad and will be looking to replace it.

Auto = 904 727

2x stick OD833 NP 435

4x 727 if auto
NP435 if a stick

You can put a 518 in there!

Fairly simple instal with minor fabrication, or donor parts.

Plus side is you get the overdrive, and lockup features (if you use a lockup 518).

Down side is you have to do some driveshaft mods.

But that overdrive really helps if you do much driving over 45mph.

Ok,so theres nothing special because its fuel injected. I have a 727 out but I also have 904 still in an 89 now that I know they are the same.

have an 87 with a 904 short tailshaft, 86 with a 904 long tailshaft and a 89 with a 904 short shaft these trucks are all rusty but running I just hate to take them apart.LOL The only difference I seen under the truck was the electrical plug on the speedo cable right at the trans.

So your 87 and 89 are Clubcabs?

My '87 with 318 2 barrel has a 727 followed by a 8.25 diff. I have a narrowed Dana 60 I am going to install and will replace the 727 with a small block OD. I want one that is non-lockup and manually controlled OD (dash switch). My question is what trans would be best and how do I identify it? I know I will need to shorten the drive shaft with the Dana swap and the OD changeover, I only want to do it once.

The first 518. Did you read hp's response?

Yes, I read the response. So the 518 is a 727 with OD extension housing? If that is the case is there a number on the case I should look for from all the core transmissions laying on the ground at the local pick-n-pull? There have been a lot of transmissions made in the last twenty years and a lot of them look the same to the untrained eye. I don't pretend to be an expert. I want the simplest and strongest OD Chrysler Automatic that would not require additional electronic controls to operate. I have had painful experiences with Ford AOD transmissions (3 times in a Ford Expedition @ $3,000.00 a whack, finally rid of that POS) and I don't want a lock-up converter as that was the cause of at least one of the Ford failures.

518 is behind the Cummins. You can make just about any trans strong enough

None of my trucks are club cabs

904s were ALL short tailshafts. The long tail in the 87 is probably a 727 because the 500 didnt come out until '88 and the 518 until '90.

Not really short tailshaft when that's the only length made

Thank you for the chart! Now that is some useful information.

That's a cool chart. I haven't had time to measure them yet,just did a visual from under the truck some didn't stick out past the cross member and some did. I didn't even look at the bolt pattern on the trans base. Its been raining and I ain't crawling under no truck!

Gonna be hard to swap trans and axle without crawling under the truck!!

Here's one to help Id the tranny better