Tf 727 modify or not

bcuda1$3$ said
Barracuda 318 2 barrel/727. Recently had been rebuilding the 727 with a basic street kit/shift kit.

My transmission has 9 engagement springs for the clutches. Also has 4frictions and 3 rear.

So I’ve been reading about adding more springs to eliminate the 2-3 overlap. Btw I’ve never driven this trans, and it isn’t known to have this problem, it’s just something I’ve read.

So question..should I leave well enough alone put the 9 springs back in along with 4 friction clutches?

And/ or add the Dorman 555-115 freeze plug and drill it. I have read people drilled anywhere from .90” to .150” ?

My shift kit didn’t come with said restrictor. It was just heavy duty springs added. Drilled holes in valve plate and one through body. And the few servo rings.

Anyway is it a worthwhile mod or just leave well enough alone?

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As far as how many springs to put in the high clutch drum, that is going to depend on a few things.

1. How much pressure you will have the valve body turned up to
2. How many clutches and how much clearance you will have
3. Kickdown servo style (early 2 spring model, or late 1 spring model)
4. Second gear band lever ratio

Yes you’re correct that by adding more return springs to the high gear clutch drum, you will help the 2-3 overlap…BUT….you can also create a shift flare by adding too many if you are not careful matching the above listed pieces appropriately.

Typically, I run 15 springs in the high gear drum. But I’m using mainly reverse manual valve bodies (pressure is increased compared to a stock or shift kit valve body), 5 clutches with .060-.075 clearance, 4.2 kickdown lever, and a dual spring early model servo.

In a recent build, with an automatic shift valve body from A&A, with a late model servo (with heavy duty single spring), 5 clutches, .070” clearance, 4.2 kickdown lever, I put 12 springs in the high gear drum. That is behind a well built 340 in a Street driven and pounded Dart.

For your application since you only intend to do a shift kit and rebuild the trans, I would probably stick with 9-10 return springs.