What's the difference between a small block 727 and a big block 727 (mainly) ?

What did short tailstock 727's come in ?

Can you tell anything from this vin# - year, model, etc ?? PK4329482 8433 0373

Thanks

Biggest notable difference is the bell housing.

It’s been awhile !.... IIRC .... some of the SB trans had 3 clutch front drum and 3 planet gears instead of 4 on the BB. The short shaft came on some vans and motor homes

The primary difference between small and big block transmission is simply the case. The bolt pattern and shape are different for the engine families. Both small and big block could have 3 or 4 pinion planetaries, or 3 or 4 clutch drums depending on application. The short shaft transmissions were primarily used in trucks with 4 wheel drive or motor homes.

Yep, you can gut either one and install everything inside the others case

Or even cut off the whole bell and bolt on an ultrabell for whatever application you want.

I have been getting a 727 crash course here lately. I also have the Hand and Monroe books. Your trans is from a 1985 dodge truck 318/360, non lockup, short tail

Your case was cast on:
Day 8433 is Wednesday, August 29, 1984

I think the other #s are federally mandated abbreviated vin to discourage chop shops.

Man it feels good to be able to give back some trans knowledge- John Kunkel, Transman, moparax, and some other folks have been helping me out bigtime. Seems a good built trans costs about $300 if you do it yourself- $1500 to buy, and a super dooper race trans is about 2k ish to build and a gazillion dollars to buy. Plus with all the rumors about Total Crap Inside who knows if you can trust anybody these days...

PK= Plant Kokomo

4329482= A 727 from an '84-'85 318 or 360 truck with a two-piece driveshaft

8433= Build date Aug 29, 1984 so it's a 1985 model year trans

0373= Sequence number, the 373rd built that day.

BTW, that's not a VIN, the VIN is located on a raised pad on the bellhousing.

The pic below shows the difference in the SB and BB case.

plus the starter position is at 3 o'clock for the big block bell, while the starter position for the small block bell is at 4 o'clock.