Installing a Chrysler 727
into a CJ
A few years back we
covered a frame up restoration of Rich's CJ.
The old Jeep was stripped and completely redone.
See
84 CJ-7
Restoration
After a few years
the engine that Rich had built started showing
some signs of being tired. AMC engines are
known for some design weaknesses and the fact
that they aren't the most popular engine makes
good rebuilders hard to find. After
deciding to replace the engine with a fresh one
he also decided to convert the Jeep to an
automatic. The factory T-4 was just
waiting to be broken by the torque and
horsepower from the 360 and an automatic just
makes driving a little more comfortable.
To see more about
the engine replacement check out the full
article...New High Performance AMC
V8 for Rich's 84 CJ-7
The TorqueFlite
727 was a popular automatic that originally
appeared in 1956 and was used in various forms
into the 1990s. Comparable in strength to
the GM TH400 this transmission will easily hand
the horsepower of a small block V8.
The TF727 was
used in full size Jeeps (SJs and J series pickups) in the 80s and
early 90s. It has the standard AMC bolt pattern on the engine side and
it has the circular bolt pattern and 23 spline output on the transfer
case side. The transfer case bolt pattern for the 727 is the same as
Dana 300, and most of the New Process transfer cases used in 1980+
Jeeps.
 On a CJ, there is not sufficient clearance for the drive shaft with
a stock suspension, but with a three to four inch lift and a dropped
bump stop, the drive shaft will not hit the pan. The picture to the
right shows the Dana 300 and 727 combination with a 6-8 degree angle
on the drive shaft. This angle on the drive shaft gives keeps it clear
of the pan.
Probably the hardest part of doing a TF727 swap is getting the
correct kick down linkage. Most full size Jeeps used the AMC 360
during the 80s and early 90s and most CJs and YJs used the AMC 258.
The linkage is different and the proper linkage and proper adjustment
of the linkage is essential to transmission life. If an engine swap is
also planned to a 360 or 401, this will not be an issue.
A solution to the kick-down problem is swap in a kick-down cable for
the TF727 which is available from Lokar Performance.
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