« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2013, 11:59:51 PM »
What's happening when you pull the shift lever into the "1" position is that you're engaging the rear band. In other ranges it's handled by an overrunning clutch, and the rear band is not doing anything. When the lever is in "2" or "D" position and the car is moving too slowly to upshift out of first the overrunning clutch allows the engine to return to idle speed when you release the accelerator. Pulling the lever into "1" allows engine compression braking by engaging the rear band.
In fewer words...I don't think you're attaining second or third gear. Shift points are controlled by the governor and the kickdown linkage. You don't say in what condition the 727 was when you put it in, and I'm assuming it sat for a while.
I suspect the governor is stuck. It's located under a round cover at the back of the transmission at the rear of the transmission section. The transfer case and adapter housing must be removed to gain access. It's not necessary to remove the transmission from your car. That's where I would start.
Let us know what you find and we'll go from there.
« Last Edit: May 15, 2013, 11:38:31 PM by eaglebeek »
Logged
1984 Eagle Wagon, 258, auto, 2.73 gears, daily driver
1983 Eagle Limited Wagon, parts; sold
2000 Jeep Cherokee, 4.0, auto
2007 Hyundai Accent, radical downsize from minivan, wife's car and she loves it!
"The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water."--John W. Gardner, in "Excellence: Can We Be Equal and Excellent Too?" (1961)
Air-conditioning is so cool!