RACING TRANSMISSION EXPLOSIONS. THE WHY WHAT HOW OF 727 CATASTROPHIC FALURES

[@JointEffort440]

Excellent video John, I did a lot of research earlier this year when it came to rebuilding my 727 and ended up going with the drag sprag and billet steel drum for my street driven (some strip) roadrunner. Alot of people told me it was overkill, but this video right here just confirms I did the right thing.

[@Davidwinebarger-o2g]

I work at farmington dragway. In the water box. I watched a foot break/street car mopar do EXACTLY this. Injured the drivers lower leg. Looked like a grenade went off in that car. Red, everywhere, Bulged the roof of the car a few inches, holes in the bottom of it, and the dash was split in two.

[@marcbenish2204]

Turbo 400 through the floor with double scatter shields ripped floor open big AZZ fire, knocked out some teeth, chunk of metal in my cheek, fractured wrist, bruised ribs, and fractured shin....... nothing is safe in drag racing

[@dougobrien2840]

I am a bit late here. In the 90s i broke the bell housing in a ford with a c4 and spun the gear box in the tunnel ,Man it made a mess .It would be horrifying to have a gear box explode. Cheers from Australia.

[@jgmopar]

Uncle Tony sent me over. This is an excellent video. Thank you for making this.

[@coperacingtrans]

Thanks for watching

[@TonysHotRodGarage]

Excellent video John! There is not enough of this information out there. I've seen first hand (thank God it's never happened to me) the violence of transmission explosions. It's no bullshit. People... watch this twice and take it to heart. It's gospel truth!

[@joecool4649]

John ,thanks for doing the video. I have a story I would like to share. About 15 or so years ago I stopped at Gartlis museum in Florida. I was so lucky I was able to take a short break with him and listen to his stories. When i asked him about the explosion when he lost part of his foot he told me this story. He said he was useing a 727 trans and he had modified it to be a two speed. I never got into how he had done this but he said that he thought that was the reason it exploded. I sure wish I could have spent more time with him.

[@frankadkins3861]

Wow, excellent video! Great information. Like most Mopar guys, I have been aware of drum explosions for a long time, but I was never fully aware of how it happens. Thank you for walking us through it.

[@bcbloc02]

I don't ever want car parts blowing into my body parts. I once pulled the sprague out of the case truck pulling even with low gear apply. I never did know exactly what caused it but i be there had been a driveline failure previous and the sprague was jacked before it got ripped from the case like you said.

[@socomcygnusx1778]

I knew to shift into second before lifting since the 70's thanks to car craft or hot rod due to 'overspeedin' but now I actually know. Thank you.

[@frankroy9423]

Sheared and pulled the bolts on the torque converter on my 505 / 440. Wake up call, put a blanket on the transmission. Then broke the drive shaft in two. Yup need more power and traction.

[@kjkiely4101]

Excellent video. Thanks John

[@teagank2826]

Awesome information! This was by far the best demonstration of the 727 operation that I have seen. Guess I am getting a billet drum now lol.

[@MuscleCityMadness]

I will say i have lost some sleep since mine exploded. If that all that I have lost I'm lucky and I will be ordering a Billet Steel Drum before I take another Ride down a track in a 727 in my Mopar. Thanks for the Phone Convo the other day Mr Cope your a good dude and thanks for helping others stay safe with this awesome video! 👍

[@coperacingtrans]

Your welcome, thanks for watching

[@chrisrichard2526]

Already helped me out a lot with my first build.

[@coperacingtrans]

@@chrisrichard2526 awesome

[@JamesCat-qx6sb]

Me too. I watched many of his videos before I went through my 46re❤

[@robertkoenig1187]

Thank you for sharing such a detailed description of this issue. I had a similar experience at englishtown in the 80's. Driver error. I cringe when I see people doing burnouts in first gear. In my 86 ram I have a 16 roller sprag and a billet drum. Stock valve body with shift kit. Haven't had any problems since I built it 15 years ago.

[@VinoRatRodbuilds]

very good watch 👍

[@turbomike71]

Everyone who has a high performance Mopar with a 727 trans should watch this video! Could save you money, trouble, life. Thank you John Cope

[@deanefoxsr5732]

Thank you for the info I have read about it and been concerned about it too the footage is the best all I have is a street car but I've been looking into one of your transmission I'm going to show my son the video thank you again

[@jseal21]

Been trying to find this video again. Absolutely the best education you can get for the 727 transmission, hands down!!! Thank you!!!

[@RTums]

John, THANKS for the education & understanding 727'S ! I will certainly share this.

[@coperacingtrans]

Thank you

[@79asspin]

What an eye opener, thanks John, very good.

[@jhowdle]

Thank you for sharing this John. Appreciate the detailed explanation. It is a good reminder of what can happen. 7 years now on your transmission with 2 refreshes. Still going strong. Just pulled it again yesterday as I want to go through it again and make a stall change on the converter. Very happy with it. Thanks.

[@Russeljfinch]

Love your. Intro John 👍

[@318willrun]

Very good video, John. Thanks for your time making and explaining this!

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Great Video! John is speaking 100% truth...

[@AtomicFacePunch]

Clear, concise explanation. Thanks! A billet drum is looking more like cheap insurance rather than overkill for my warmed over 440 street car now.

[@michaelgreer8659]

I seen a 400 blow apart in the burnout box. bigger mess than the ones you showed.

[@americarsqueensland1667]

An excellent demonstration/explanation starting at 25:03.

[@da1082]

Thanks John, very well explained video on preventing an explosion! I have a bolt in sprag, and always do a 2-3 burn out, but I WILL be installing the billet drum now! Thank you, thank you, for making this important info available !

[@richieayers6958]

Very informative video . Great work with the explanations.

[@topenddean]

John, THANK YOU. This was a VERY much needed discussion on the TorqueFlite's weakness in Drag Racing applications. CRT, out in front and pulling away.

[@mrbillpurcell6203]

well presented! good visual ! thank xou

[@jmflournoy386]

Enjoy your videos JOhn First fatality I saw at the drags was in a flathead coupe with the moon tank on the passenger floor Bright orange flash then smoke and driver rolled out of the car but no lungs left They outlawed interior tanks, you remember them in front of the radiator? Old San Gabriel in the 50's Then came scattershields Seems that someone has to die for safety

[@offthegrid5078]

Awesome video thank you for explaining all that. I've had transmission failures but nothing that catastrophic, but great, video thank you.

[@miketaylor7487]

Thanks for your efforts. I knew that the sun shell would speed up when the sprag let go in first but I didn't realize how drastically it speeds up.

[@chrisp.1780]

Ex trans mechanic, this was a great explanation

[@cheathunderwood]

Well said . Iv been Doing transmission work for 30 years . I have been trying to save to buy your transbrake value body for my 47re Cummins. Keep up the good work

[@MikeY77z28]

Hi John.Very good explanation of how it works and what can happen.A lot of people who are racing should educate themselves with safety.I'm using manual transmissions in autocross and I won't run without a SFI bell housing.

[@Thewatcherinthering336]

First time to your channel, you’re knowledge of transmissions is legendary! I appreciate your level of detail!

[@LP23D6]

John. I just shared this video on For A Bodies Only. Great information!

[@eddiemathers1721]

Very Good Video John

[@graydonjones6912]

Just found your channel good stuff i had a truck c4 in my 67 fairlane 289 fully built nitrus oxide, 35 hundred stall and manual valve body and i feel very lucky because I had that motor spinning 95 hundred rpm lots of times and no failure except springs crushing in the valve body

[@georgedennison3338]

I ran 727s in the 80's behind a SBC using an adapter kit which ran a clutch flywheel. Maybe it was because I came up in the late 60's & raced into the 70's & saw the devastation from flywheels letting go before 360⁰ containment bellhousings became mandatory. Had a buddy explode a flywheel in his '56 running an old scatter shield; didn't hurt him or car, but it took a bad enough divit out the track it shutdown racing for a week or so. Because of what I saw, I ran 360⁰ bellhousings in my clutch car, then when I ran the 727 kit in the 80's, I ran a blanket without hesitation. I used to run those 727s to 9-9.5 & luckily never exploded one; hell, I never broke one, at all. We swore by 727's back then. But, nobody knew anything about automatics, compared to today. There seems to be much more knowledge AND it's much more readily shared. Back then, everybody attributed their bull stoutness to being run behind Hemi's. Anytime somebody said it, my reply was, Nah, it was actually because of the Slant 6. They run forever & Mopar had to build a trans to match. Thanks for your contribution to the safety of the sport we all love. Haven't had a car or raced in decades, but once a drag racer, always a dragracer. Hey, were those B&M cable kits for valve body control, (or the original, a PTO cable under the dash), around when you were a kid? I only saw 2 on the street, they were big even a bit before my time. A friend bought an old coupe, 30 something Plymouth somebody had built for street/strip w/ a B&M valve body cable kit. Cable pushed in, it drove like granny's 300, pull that cable, mash the throttle & it'd bang shift hard. Never knew enough about autos back then to understand them, forgot about them for years. Now I've forgot most of what I learned GeoD

[@kjax76]

Yep. Thanks to people such as yourself, pointing out the basics of how these transmissions work, I hopefully made some decent choices, rebuilding my 48RE (diesel). I did the the 16 rolller bolt-in, and I did the the billet drum. And I don't race the trans. But maybe somebody else will? I'm about to rebuild a 47rh, and I'll be doing the same- Billet direct drum, 16 roller bolt-in sprag (and a billet forward drum). If I do race it, it'll get a blanket, too. Going for 5k, 1000hp, 2000tq. A lot of ppl in the diesel world building transmissions using the stock direct drum. High $ transmissions, with stock direct drum.

[@nhra7110]

great demonstration! Thank you.

[@koboskolors]

Thank you for another awesome informative video John. Track crew are heroes. They make it safe for the next car to go down safely.

[@Scarlet_1971_cuda]

Some great information right here. Should be required watching for all 727 owners.

[@TheSilverDartRacing]

Thank you, great video.

[@coperacingtrans]

Glad you liked it, thanks for watching

[@tomstrum6259]

Thx so much for putting this dramatic Info out....How the Heck did the Ramchargers & other drivers Survive the early S/S '60's Max Wedge & later A990 Factory Hemi powered A727 Equipped "Reverse V body" (Likely No Lo Band Apply) drag Racing days ?? ....Especially in the Low Traction 7" Drag tire days, How could Experienced Factory drag Racing engineers Not Know their 727 Oem Front Sintered Iron Drum was/Is a Dangerous driver Killing centrifugal Bomb ?? .....Chrysler forged Everything back then & Must have Known these Iron Drums were Hot street & Drag racing Prone to Explosion !! ......Most guys knew Nothing about Auto trans Internals & No one Explained how Predictably Dangerous that Oem sintered Drum Pos was/is !! ......

[@GeneralElectricCNC]

Excellent Video John! Glad you chucked up that output shaft to show us all what happens to the Sun shell and drum. The drum was never made of good enough material to withstand the centrifugal force. I believe they were cast! Thanks for explaining.

[@73-carina18]

cast,or powder forged.good for a pass. car getting around.

[@VinoRatRodbuilds]

john the first half was very clear ! and Im a novice

[@MoparNewport]

Die hard dodge guy here. Never raced my dodges, but I have reduced my 727 to slag more than once by working it literally to death. Truck in my pic, rebuilt the 727 with a Stage 1 kit, valve body rebuild, external cooler, usual stuff. Drove it, full of tools, towing my 4 door jeep from Yukon to southern BC, drove it there for 6 months, went to tow it all back. Pullin the hill outta Kamloops, drive goes byebye. I swore at the truck: Leave me on the side of the road, I will fucking tow your ass home behind a chevy. To my trucks credit? Even with the full load and towing a 4 door jeep, in second gear, no exhaust (blew that off just before the trip) that truck did not stop pulling UNTIL i crossed the property into my parents yard. Literally, just as i crossed the property line the trans gave up the ghost and stopped moving altogether. No matter what Ive done to my Dodge truck, she has never, ever left me on the side of the road. Hydrolock the engine? Choked right through it. Battery burst? Drove it home. Slag the transmission? Nope, still goin. Good vid. Good info. Curious though - any suggestions for a 'extreme work' build? Gonna be building this into something of an apocalypse truck.

[@Modad1jimr]

Thanks

[@firstrespondergarage]

Damn, thats some crazy carnage. Thank you for sharing, lot of info that will protect a driver.

[@coperacingtrans]

Thanks for watching, I hope the video helps the Mopar community

[@JSparrowist]

TIL I need three things for a transmission to work. I need an input, a holding device, and an output. I'm going to build a transmission now!

[@BigMikesHooptyBarn]

Great video Mr. Cope! John Wilburn sent me the link. Since I know I won't have the time or money to upgrade before this year's No Name Nationals, I will definitely be taking my car much more seriously and carefully down the dragstrip. I don't intend to be the fastest anyway. Perhaps next spring I can get a stronger unit built for the Green Goblin.

[@kerrygatling663]

Good video ...appreciate sharing your knowledge on how these explosions happen scary.

[@memadmax69]

I learned something today. ^.^

[@billsmopars4927]

Good video John, thanks for spreading this info.

[@coperacingtrans]

Thanks for watching

[@dkd1228]

Great explanation of the processes involved in a TorqueFlite failure of this magnitude. (Uncle Tony sent me here). It seems like the 700 bucks for a billet drum is cheap insurance, even for a car that's not raced.

[@crazytrain7114]

I hope the blue Dakota was ok, through the windshield???????

[@REGROY1913]

Thanks for posting this John.

[@Vanvee]

Great info on the 727 transmission. Would like to see the parts you recommend in the video. Going to pull out my cheap reverse valve body. Thanks

[@moparnut6286]

Yeah man John!! Shared with all my friends great info!!!

[@coperacingtrans]

Thanks 👍

[@Hydrogenblonde]

Very sensible advice.

[@powers6963]

Excellent demonstration on the lathe! Can you explain why this isn't an issue for a 904?

[@coperacingtrans]

904 drum is lighter and closer to the center line of the transmission.

[@73-carina18]

smaller diameter.

[@tonybattaglia6358]

Thanks so much, i put a bolt in sprag in my 727,2nd gear burnouts, thought i was good to go!! 🤔🤔😳😳Guess not!! Getting on the fix, thanks! 🤗 👍

[@mattgeiger2627]

Great video, i learned a lot, thank you.

[@williamroberts6803]

Low reverse spray, spring and roller clutch, is the one really weak spot on the 727. I’ve only had one pop on me after a rebuild but just went in and replaced it and never had another problem.

[@TWak4ord]

from all the photos wondering , IF we had a super slow-mo camera, how the drum coms apart? Like it must fracture then maybe centrifugal "flowers out" & still under power to starts cutting the housing until it stalls/ breaks/ & goes to shrapnel out?

[@coperacingtrans]

That's how I envision the drum coming apart. Always wanted to put one on a test stand with the motor take the Sprague out get some super slow mo cameras and video tape the transmission exploding

[@Doug-b4p]

I had 63 polara 383/727 I did not know that it would work with the low band not applied I thought it would just sit there if the low band failed pls send us info I would like to stay in touch my name is Douglas thank you John I should have blown mine upset veral times based on your info

[@morelanmn]

I know the music your playing,, Two Steps from Hell..... Great video, Great music

[@tommywilliams5135]

Have friend bought lost his foot from blow up on 727 car caught fire lucky it was on starting line

[@raystudio777]

Great video! So how do I get my 727 bullit proof? And how much?

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

Any symptoms of a damaged sprag, or is disassembly/catastrophic failure the only way to find out?

[@coperacingtrans]

Correct

[@UnityMotorSportsGarage]

Crushed springs in the roller clutch, I found 3 in my C4 when I tore it down

[@WhiteTrashMotorsports]

I had a 727 that would rattle in auto low, but not in manual low with the band applied, knew right away that the sprag had failed.

[@rickstotts9176]

Thanks for the video. I'm building 727 for my '79 Power Wagon W150, w/a mild 360. Could you please recommend a good rebuilt kit for me, w/ part #'s. I've had my transmission rebuilt twice. Both bad experiences, mostly from craftsmanship of the whole process whether it be on removal & install, time, or screwing me by throwing in a used unit off the shelf after breaking the rebuild. I'll do it myself. Sorry for the ramble, hope you can help, thank you

[@darrinstone49]

Thanks John, good video! I added a billet input shaft & drum in my 47RE & it has had a vibration ever since... Sonax brand. It's behind a Cummins in my 01 Dodge 2500 for towing. I replaced the small separator plate for lockup In 2nd but the computer has to lockup in 3rd & while the exhaust brake is on, then I can manually put it in 2nd & it will downshift automatically locked up. Any way to lock the converter with a switch so I can manually control it? I added a switch to the pcm & loose all lockup functions till it's turned off & cycle the key. I also wanted instant engine braking when I let off the throttle but swapping the springs to the opposite end of the spool valve made if freewheel like it's in N. Any advice? I built it for towing with compound turbos ect. The vibration bugs me... thought maybe I tweeked my billet flexplate. Everything was fine till the tab on my front hard band broke off & dropped the strut into the pan... so I modified my VB & added the Sonex input assembly while I had it appart. Never had a vibration before I swapped the input. Wondering if I over looked something... sonex parts are usually top of the line.

[@LaPabst]

Thumbs up, and Subbed... Now go get a clutch and a Tremic....

[@elroyelblander6277]

Thank u for this video mister 👍👍👊

[@JamesCat-qx6sb]

Well im scared now.. 😱. I modified a 46re for towing in a 5.2 Dakota. I installed a new sprag, set screwed it into the case, and did the oiling mod..practically threw the Sonnax catalog at it lol...I dont often do burn outs..just installed 3.90 gears with LSD and was such a pain to rebuild the differential, I am babying the new clutches..I wonder if this is still a issue with 46re? Same cheap drum? Or did they improve the quality?

[@bearsey26]

If I had a £ for every person in the U.K. racing scene who thinks a 727 is good for 650hp I’d be a very rich man by now. People also seem to forget that these transmissions are 50+ years old! Even if they’re freshly rebuilt using stock parts you’re taking a chance, so myself and my brother have very recently ordered billet front drum kits and some other parts as well from you, we like our feet and toes where they are and we like our trans tunnels in our old mopars exactly as they are. I value my car and my feet much more than the cost of the aforesaid items, anyone blasé about this is a total fool, we look forward to receiving our items in due course, and having our transmissions professionally rebuilt and upgraded by an expert here in the U.K. but thank you very much for your knowledge and passing it on, I’m sorry you had to suffer in your experience. All the very best to you. 👍

[@mcintoshamps2550]

John, Many Many Thanks 👍 Go CRT Yeah 👏👍

[@matthewtaylor4956]

great video..

[@RussellCompton-fh3gr]

thanks

[@deanstevenson6527]

Watched again.🥺🥝✔️ Mopar to you as well.

[@andretorben9995]

Does this problem still persist with the 46RH. I believe they have a larger, maybe wider sprag standard. I know you can buy an upgraded heavy duty bolt in sprag. I have a transgo upgrade but I believe if shifter left in "drive" it does not apply the band in first, it will only apply if shifted manually to 1st.

[@coperacingtrans]

@@andretorben9995 yes it does. They use the same drum

[@JeffLeblanc-xb7qe]

Great video better safe than sorry

[@konradfrancis2572]

First two videos are dakotas and I'm planning on putting a 727 in mine

[@lilmike2710]

Take a shot of fireball every time he says "spragg". 🍺

[@LoneWolfZ]

so I'm assuming the TH400 uses a different planetary config with a sprag in a different spot? It seems like I have heard the term over-running clutch used in GM circles, and never even heard mention of a sprag. BTW, I've always had a hard time forming a mental image of power flow in a planetary geaarbox, but I think I have the basics now. Thanks

[@EdwardFoehring]

I had wrong planetary gear 4 verses 3 and had to go to a bronze out put shaft .

[@chriscatarcio2983]

Please send this to Nick's Gradge. I tried to warn him. But got canceled. And you did a better job.

[@itseithergonnaworkoritaint7852]

Wow, that's some violent carnage there to be safe one would need a suit of armor if they didn't have one of them blankets. Thanks for the heads up, I like automagic transmissions and the 727 is probably what I would chose to go behind the 383 future build I have planned that will be stroked to 518 or maybe 548 cubes if the 4.75" crank will fit in the 383 B block?(still in the research stage) Sorry, I couldn't help to laugh listening to you talk about this very serious topic when you said you "I exploded my tranny", still made me laugh writing it. LOL

[@aussiebloke609]

Violent carnage is right. Watched that purple pickup a second time and noticed something coming up and through the windscreen. That would have left a mark if the driver had left an appendage in the way.

[@Fireandiceautok9v]

Iam building a 69 coronet and I suddenly feel the need reinforce my floor and save up for a drum😮

[@bennyboyy7]

Anytime someone tries to talk smack about one brands transmissions or just stock components not being able to handle more power I mention that the manufacturer never intended for that power. If they did they would've gave it that power, some transmissions are beefy but most of the time those are manual transmissions or diesel transmissions. I have a 46re with a 5.9 magnum and just bolt ons, 150k miles and as far as I know it's a stock transmission. It's worn but she works better than any I've ever read and heard about

[@edwardchascsa4191]

Great video.

[@feff5717]

Thank you John. Any truth to the forward manual valve body being bad for 904's?

[@toddh2410]

I have a 340 powered 23 t roadster that weighs maybe 2000 lbs at the most. It has a 727 and I will be installing the crt automatic valve body. 340 is only slightly warmed up with a little more cam than stock and 10.5 to 1 compression so it’s not high horsepower. No drag strip at all just occasionally light up the tires a little bit. Trans is re built. Am I safe???

[@TonyC-s9w]

Great video! What do you mean by having 'low band apply'?

[@73-carina18]

that the rear band is holding the rear drum,and by this is helping the o.c. to hold.