'You haven't seen it yet, but we've parked the 480hp 370 we built in the Jan. '06 issue in the engine bay of the CC/Rambler, right in front of the leaky three-speed automatic from the '72 Gremlin we pulled from the wrecking yard. Yes, we knew we were going to need a rebuild and were scouting local transmission guys when we thought about looking to the aftermarket for an already rebuilt and race-ready transmission like the one we found from TCI.
Yes, it is a Chrysler transmission, and yes, you can bolt a version of the 904 TorqueFlite up to your small-block A-Body Mopar. The 904 we are talking about has the AMC-patterned housing that first appeared in 1972 and was called the Torque Command, a name patterned after the original Borg-Warner Shift Command that AMC used before 1972. So why do you care? Using the closely related AMC 727 Torque Command housing, Chrysler 904 internals, and a Powerglide tailshaft, you have a transmission that is as light as a Powerglide and has an extra gear. ProFlite builder Marv Ripes from A-1 Automatic Transmissions claimed this hybrid is being used in Super Stock, Modified, and Comp Eliminator cars making over 1,300 hp running 9.0 at 190 mph. You can also buy a housing adapter and mate this transmission to Ford, Chevy, or Chrysler engines.
Obviously, the holy grail combination is a built AMC 727, but since we are making 480 hp instead of 1,300, the slightly modified 904 is perfect for a lightweight car. The AMC 904 weighs 115 pounds, whereas the 727 weighs in at 135-140 pounds, and to keep it inexpensive, the TCI 904 costs around $1,000 compared with the ProFlite that will cost you at least twice that much. The AMC transmissions also have the preferred bellhousing for non-Chrysler or AMC conversions with slimmer dimensions, a lower inspection cover for easy torque-converter access, and a swap-friendly bolt pattern. The final highlight is the First-gear ratio of 2.74 instead of the standard 2.45 you get with the TorqueFlite.
So we found a rad little transmission for about a grand that TCI rates to 450 hp, has a steep First gear, weighs 25 pounds less than the 727, and is small enough to fit into the little '60s two-door post.
PARTS DESCRIPTION PN PRICE TCI Torque Command 904 601100 $1,009.69 TCI 10-inch StreetFighter 751600 432.88 Transmission dipstick 22160 74.02 Royal Purple transmission fluid 8.95/quart
You also get new lip seals that seal the outside diameter of the servo piston that applies pressure to the clutch packs and new bushings to replace the wasted ones, like the one seen in this front drum.
727/904 GEAR RATIOS Transmission First Second Third AMC 904 2.74 1.54 1.00 {{{Chrysler}}} 904 2.45 1.45 1.00 Chrysler 999 2.74 1.45 1.00 Chrysler 727 2.45 1.45 1.00 AMC 727 2.45 1.45 1.00
FLUID LEVELS Dry transmission 5 quarts Dry converter 3 quarts *Fluid and filter change 4-5 quarts *Frothy fluid indicates high fluid; 