Simplest Replacement for Borg Warner 8

K

klholmes

New member
Brand new here. Restoring a 1968 1200B 2 wheel drive truck with a 304 engine. I'm not a mechanic but trying to learn, and have spent alot of time reading tons of threads here and at Binderplanet to try and figure out what to do.

It has the BW 8 with the now impossible to replace vacuum modulator. The vintage trans rebuild shop I took it to said they have checked with all the suppliers they know of and can't obtain serviceable units or rebuild kits for it.

So this began the hunt for a different trannie to swap with the BW8.

I've read about the TF 727, using one made for IH from 1971-1975, and the GM adapter plate route using the 700R4, or a 350 or 400.

Which one would be simplest for novices to install and get working? Or is there another option out there I'm missing?

Will greatly appreciate your help!
Ken Holmes
 
I replied to your post over on the other forum. I've swapped an IH 727 in place of a BW11 in a '71 1210 pickup. I had the donor '73 1210 truck that the 727 came out of to harvest anything else I could possibly need, so that made it pretty simple. The trans is obviously a simple bolt on to the engine. You need the throttle valve (kickdown) linkage pieces, but those are very plentiful. If your column shift neutral start switch works now, you can continue to use it rather than the thread in style that the TF 727 uses. Your drive shaft length may need to be altered no matter which swap you do. If you go with an IH manual trans, then you need to swap out the foot pedal assembly as well, which is certainly doable, but kind of a pain.
 
If you can pick it up in Hopland, CA I have a complete 727 from a '73 1210 with all the bits and pieces available. PM me if interested.
 
Scoutboy74 said:
I replied to your post over on the other forum. I've swapped an IH 727 in place of a BW11 in a '71 1210 pickup. I had the donor '73 1210 truck that the 727 came out of to harvest anything else I could possibly need, so that made it pretty simple. The trans is obviously a simple bolt on to the engine. You need the throttle valve (kickdown) linkage pieces, but those are very plentiful. If your column shift neutral start switch works now, you can continue to use it rather than the thread in style that the TF 727 uses. Your drive shaft length may need to be altered no matter which swap you do. If you go with an IH manual trans, then you need to swap out the foot pedal assembly as well, which is certainly doable, but kind of a pain.
Click to expand...
Thank you for showing me a good way forward. I think the 727 way would be best for us.
 
Sure. Couple other things you need if you go that route. You need the 727 Flexplate (ring gear) plus matching crank hub spacer, and you need the starter spacer shim for proper bendix gear to flexplate engagement. I can't recall if the BW setups used the starter spacer shim or not.
 
Another question. Can a 727 from a 4 wheel drive Scout II work in a two wheel drive truck like our 68 1200B? Or do I have to have a 727 from a 2 wheel drive vehicle?
 
It needs to be from a 2wd Scout or any full size Pickall '72 forward. Reason being is the 4x4 Scouts have a married transfer case that is attached directly to the trans case via an adapter plate. The rear output shaft and sun gears are also different for the married t-case configuration. The full size 4x4 rigs have a divorced t-case that uses a short intermediate or "jack" shaft, so the trans itself is configured the same way whether a 4x2 or 4x4.
 
Well we have received our 727 core this week and I took it straight to our rebuild guy. He said "oh, it's an AMC 727". I hadn't realized there would be other 727's besides the Chrysler. I got to wondering about this and am concerned because I've read that the 304 engine that AMC made is different than our IH 304 (a 1968). If this AMC 727 came off of an AMC 304, It might not work, right? Didn't some later IH's come with the AMC 304, mated to an AMC 727? Is this transmission going to mate up with my IH 304?

I'm pretty sure I explained to Dan what I was trying to accomplish, and he provided all the other parts you mentioned in your original reply, as well as the core itself. Have I started down the wrong path, or am I okay? Thanks!
 
Um yeah. That's a thing about the 727. The one piece cast aluminum case was made with a variety of bell housing dimensions and bolt patterns, but with similar internals. The IH 304 and the AMC 304 are not the same at all. The AMC 304 was never offered in any IH vehicle. IH did use the AMC 232 and later the 258 inline six cylinder engines in Scouts and some pickups as well. The AMC 401 V8 engine was used in some Pickups and Travelalls in 1973 to make up for a shortage of IH 392 engines that year. So, if the unit you have is indeed an AMC pattern shell, unfortunately that won't work behind any IH SV8 engine. This is why the prior discussion above focused on what specific vehicle platforms would make suitable donors.
 
I am doing the Borg to 727 I ordered all the parts had the 727 rebuilt but do not have any photos or diagram of how to install the kick down linkage any help at all thanks
 
We're still working on the hookup. I'm attaching photos from a Chrysler 727 repair manual. This particular diagram is the closest one to the setup on an IH. I may have a picture or two from Mike at IH Parts America where he circles a couple of connection points for clarification.
 

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Here are a few photos I had sent to Michael at IH Parts America. I didn't have the linkage from the trans actually attached to the kickdown assembly, but was just leaning on the connection point. Michael said this was correct.

Here's some other detail he gave me:

"Yes, it looks right. The flat arm with the ball stud gets flipped around. The spring attaches on the little hook thing in the middle of the flat arm and the hole on the end of the threaded stud that the flat strap attaches to."

Hope this helps.
 

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