Keisler Overdrive A/T

[72Rdrnner]

Hey Gang,

I just ordered up a Keisler 4 spd automatic to replace the stock 727 unit in my Road Runner. The kit comes with everything from the engine flywheel back to the rear end. Flex late, converter, transmission, cross member, and drive shaft. The manual kick down linkage is replaced with an electronic unit that senses throttle position and the computer takes care of the rest. Even has new lines for the fluid cooler in the radiator.

So the question is...anybody got one of these and if so what is your impression of it?

From all I've read it looks like a really great setup. 1, 2, & 3 gear are lower than stock, so the overdrive (4th) is added to make even more top end that with a stock unit.

Looking forward to getting it and will post some pix when I start putting it in, which should be around the end of the month.

[landon1]

that would be great - i've seen it on the site, but i heard it was a pain to install in an a-body, but never heard about b-body installs yet, as they were only hooking up to small blocks at first - very exciting

would you mind telling how much they quoted you for the kit, since all it says is call for a quote?

[72Rdrnner]

would you mind telling how much they quoted you for the kit, since all it says is call for a quote?

I got the first quote back in June and it was going to be $3960 to my door. That includes everything, even ATF.

A week ago I got an email with some "order before 12-31" promotions. Money off, free shipping and that sort of stuff. When it was all said and done this time it will be $3759. There was a $99 item on the first order that was left off which makes up what I thought would be a $300 savings. The "free shipping" had a caveat and didn't apply to what I was buying. I think it only for Chebby stuff....go figure!

The only "issue" I may have, which I already have a plan for is my exhaust system is a totally welded together unit from the headers back, with a crossover.



Last time I pulled the transmission to replace the front seal I just disconnected it at the headers and let it hang down. Turned out to be a bad move as it was a real pain in the wazoo working around it. (even with a clear floor lift and transmission jack).

This time I'm taking it completely off. Have to pull the rear shocks off to fish it out from under the car, but from what I learned the last time, that will be worth the extra effort.

[landon1]

well, not as bad as i thought - it's about 4K for the auto to 5 speed conversion, so about the same price...sounds like a pretty good deal to me, and using their speed analyzer my rpm's at 70 mph would drop by around 700 or so, as well as helping with acceleration off the line

[72RoadRunnerGTX]

Can’t say much to the automatic conversion, however I can tell you a little about my dealings with Keisler on my 5-speed conversion kit. It was almost 2 years between the time I purchased the complete auto to 5-speed conversion kit and getting the car on the road. During that time, while piecing the car and the kit together, I found a few parts missing or incorrect for my application. Keisler sent me what I needed no questions asked. The drive line was the last part I received after providing measurements some 22 months after the initial purchase.
You will love the overdrive, in my case with 3.73s in the rear, 1800rpms @ 60mph.

[72Rdrnner]

You will love the overdrive, in my case with 3.73s in the rear, 1800rpms @ 60mph.

I've got 3.23 and their "estimate" makes it top out at 180! Yeah, like I need to take a Petty Blue Road Runner down I20 at 180 mph!

Your exhaust system looks welded like mine. How do you go about removing it? I haven't done mine yet but when I pulled the transmission out last time it looked like all I had to do was take the shocks off as they are what kept me from pulling it completely out of the car.

BTW...nice looking underside of your car!

[72RoadRunnerGTX]

That’s TTIs 3” x-pipe exhaust system, pretty much all clamped together. At some point I may do some welding on it but for now I think I’ll leave it as is. I too am a bit concerned about what it would that to remove it if it were all welded together.

[72Rdrnner]

That’s TTIs 3” x-pipe exhaust system, pretty much all clamped together. At some point I may do some welding on it but for now I think I’ll leave it as is. I too am a bit concerned about what it would that to remove it if it were all welded together.

I don't think you would have as much a problem as me since a lot of the front of your system is the headers. I have Schumacher's on my 440 and the exhaust system was built by a local muffler shop that does most of our Mopar Club cars.

[72Rdrnner]

Follow up on "progress".

Got the transmission, minus the drive shaft which is custom made. You install the transmission, then measure from the tail shaft to the rear end and send them the measurement. They make the drive shaft and send it to you.

I did make some modifications to my exhaust system as the Keisler transmission pan is further back, but narrower than the stock 727. Local shop that did the original system modified it to make "room" for the new transmission.

Here's some random pix of the transmission along with the modified exhaust system. Will post some more when I get the installation underway.

Here's the transmission...fresh out of the box.





Here's the "original" exhaust system. Note the bends around the transmission. Shop that made it for me wanted to get close to original more or less. FWIW it was and is a GREAT system!



Here's the "new"system. As you can see the pipes on both sides have been straightened out to make all the room I need for the transmission profile of the Keisler unit. The right hand side pipe will be nearly 2 inches further away from the transmission pan as the Keisler unit is 2 inches narrower on the right side.



This pix shows the collectors I had put in the system so I could take it out of the car without having to take the rear shocks and sway bars to get what was essentially a one piece system out of the car. Now I can disconnect it from the headers, back to the mufflers, leaving the mufflers and tail pipes on the car.



Anyhow...looks like it will be a neat upgrade to the Road Runner.

BTW having that lift in the garage will make is sooooooo easy....not to mention that hydraulic transmission jack!

As I said...more pix to follow.....

[gionni]

Hi, what happened in the meantime? Do you have installed the Keisler-Overdrive A/T?

And do you have any experiences how it works? I would be happy to hear feedbacks from you...

I just ordered one for my Runner...

[Eric]

He hasn't visited the site for several months now. Must be enjoying his new Challenger too much

[gionni]

Ah ok... I trying with a PM...

[72Rdrnner]

He hasn't visited the site for several months now. Must be enjoying his new Challenger too much

"Got busy" with a BUNCH of other stuff...like an addition to the garge for my wife's "Endless Pool" so she can exercise. Not to mention a dozen races a year in the rollin' condo. Then it got HOT, HOT, HOT....

Right now it's on the "schedule" (I'm retired...don't have no STINKIN' schedule) for November. After last Texas Motor Speedway race, nice cool weather, and before the Rolex 24. Already have a second "slap stik" shifter modified for the "exrata gear".

Speaking of the Challenger...just put an "old school" Hurst shifter in it....goes "back in the day" with the chrome lever and the big white ball! Life is GOOD!