727 vs 904 for a 383 cube motor

I'm going to go all in for V8 power and I'm thinking a stroked 318 that will be around 383 cubes with a 4" crank. I already have a 904 tranny. Will it handle the torque of the stroker with the usual upgrades of better clutch materials and steel sprags? Or should I start with the 727. Will the beefier 727 innards fit into a 904 case? I also have a spare 727 but with the 4WD tailshaft so it would need a different output shaft to make it fit the 2WD tailshaft.

 

727=bullitproof, not sure about 904's

 

a standard 904 is considered about maxed with the 318. If you spent enough extra money it could probably be built to handle it. A 727 can handle a 426 Hemi or a 440. The choice should be obvious!

 

727

 

727 all the way. The 904 will take 500 ft-lbs of torque reliably but you will be putting a lot of money into it. To do that much ro more torque with a 727 just requires a good rebuild and shift kit.

Do clutches and steels, solid bands, a 4.2 kickdown lever and upgraded strut rod, 4 or 5 clutch drum (just shave the apply piston or use thin steels - you can get 6 clutches in there), and a 4 pinion planetary. Basically all the stuff that came in factory hipo 727's.

The low performance ones only had 3.0 or less kickdown levers, and a thin stamped strut, 3 pinion planetaries, and 3 clutch drums.

 

Don't even bother with a 904. Unless you need that last oz. of weight reduction for a race car and can deal with failures and teardown inspections, just get a 727. Don't bother with the 4X4 trans. You need to change the tailshaft and output shaft, and after getting those, you may as well just get the whole thing. If you must have a 904, here was a beefy version in the late '70s called a 999 that was behind the 360 4V and perhaps in cop cars like Diplomats. Don't know why you would want 727 internals in a 904 case, but they won't fit anyways. You should find a smallblock 727 for $100 or less. Here's one now: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/pts/336448578.html

 

Thanks. the 904 will go to the car farm for another project if I go ahead and stroke the 318. Yes, a 360 would be a better place to start for the stoker as well. come to think of it I could probably get both the 360 and the 727 for a couple bills.