Thread: Torqueflite? Anygood?

Auto is good for uphill, not so good for downhill on steep tracks. Don't know specifically about the Torqueflight, but with the later ones, low first in the autos is a slightly higher gear than low second in the manual so with the torque convertor slip as well, engine braking is almost nonexistent. I was very doubtful when I first bought an auto 4wd, but have never gone back.
There's a complete 5-speed manual conversion on ebay at present. I mention it cos it happens to be mine! Could even do you a deal on a good 4.4 to put in front of it......undoubtedly for more than you are looking at paying for a good 84 model Rangie though.

The Torqueflyte 727 is a very strong box is designed to sit behind big US V8's and are used in drag cars.

The problem in a RRc are that it is a 3 speed box with no "direct" (locked torque converter) like the ZF 4HP22 has although they do have high stall torque converter. They still have a little slip and so can be expensive on fuel. One of my current RRc is a 10/84 build MY85 the first of the phase II Hilines and it had a 727 but I had it converted to ZF back in 1997. You can get a quick change kit for the 727 that will lock low which does allow you to use engine braking down hill (sort of). The low ratio in the LT230 is the same as in all the LT230 but the high ratio is 1:1.003 so no engine braking in high.

If you want to go manual get a R380/LT230 out of a V8 Disco 1 with the flywheel and inside fittings (gearsticks and mechanism) or build up your own centre consol. Then get the clutch pedal pedal assembly and master cyl from another 84/85 classic. Fitting the m/cyl is only a matter of removing the blanking plate and attaching the pedal to the brackets already inside.

That little V8 won't break a Torqueflite. Why not fossick around the USA hot rodder and street machine web sites. They have lots of off the shelf modifications for US autos. You could e-mail Bob Bendsten at Transmission Adapters and ask his advice about adding a lockup feature. He is a decent guy and very helpful.

I once saw a conversion kit from the USA that changed a Torqueflite to a "Clutchflite" as they called it. This added a clutch assembly in lieu of the torque converter and the trans had to be manually shifted.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

That little V8 won't break a Torqueflite. Why not fossick around the USA hot rodder and street machine web sites. They have lots of off the shelf modifications for US autos. You could e-mail Bob Bendsten at Transmission Adapters and ask his advice about adding a lockup feature. He is a decent guy and very helpful.

I once saw a conversion kit from the USA that changed a Torqueflite to a "Clutchflite" as they called it. This added a clutch assembly in lieu of the torque converter and the trans had to be manually shifted.

They do actually ruin them

Not enough hp and the slip all the time, not a good combo

Used to have an 83 model with the Torqueflite, in the first instance behind a 3.5 and later behind a 4.4. It was slow as with the 3.5 but not too bad with the 4.4. Engine braking downhill when off road was very ordinary.

Maybe a manual is the go, if anyone hears of a good 2 door or early 4 door manual in VIC for sale let me know.

How about putting a zf 4 speed out of a disco in. Make sure you get the adaptor parts off the donor motor as the torqueflite parts are different. I have done the conversion pretty easy if you are good with the spanners, much easier than putting in a manual and it an overdrive box. My mate loves his '83 with the zf in it.