a745 three speed, to a833 overdrive

[vintagetin]

What does everyone know about this convertion. I'm looking to put in an A833 overdriver were the A745 three speed was. My questions are:
Are they the same lengths to were I don't have to modify my transmission cross member or my drivershaft? I know the diameter in the bellhousing is larger on the a833o/d tanny. I've been told that the bolt pattern to the bellhousing is the same. Can I just use the factory 3 speed shifter to shift the four gears and hook up another lever for the reverse. Are the internal speedo gears interchangable? Are the driveshaft splines the same? Does anyone have, or now someone that has an un-abused a833o/d for sale? I need all the help I can get before I get involved in this.

 

[iraqivet01]

Look up Phoenix transmission and ask them. They'll tell you. Good guys.

 

[vintagetin]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[67 B-body]

I'm doing this too, "sort of".
I was going to leave the small block in my car and go to the 4 speed untill my RB was completed. Change of plans.......
I believe my sb bellhousing bolt pattern was different from the 4 speed, the output shaft "yoke" was different, and the length was the same for the mount. The shifter mounting is different because the 4 speed mounts in one of two spots on the trans itself depending if it's a B body or not. I decide to just wait untill the RB engine gets done "not enough time in the day" before making any changes. I now have a Big block bell housing, replace the yoke on the driveshaft "available online" and the 4 speed mounted as it should be onto the trans B body location point. I think thats it for my application to convert from small block 3 speed manual trans configuration to a RB 4 speed setup.

 

[wedgie]

First, make sure that you have a bellhousing with both the 3 speed and 4 speed bolt patterns, or you will have to get a 4 speed bellhousing. You will have to cut the floor and weld in the proper 4 speed shifter tunnel. The correct 4 speed shifter will have to be obtained. Lastly, you will need a new 4 speed carpet set.

 

[YY1]

Yeah...I don't think you're gonna get that column shifter to work with a 4 speed. Kinda a shame to get rid of that (presumably) rare "no shifter" "auto" console look. I can honestly say I've never seen that setup before (and I've seen LOTS of 66-67 B Bodies).

I understand all 66-67 small block manual cars were 3 speed on the tree, but I wonder how many 66 chargers were made that way (67 could have come without the console). Can't be many.

Anyone ever seen another? How about a Satellite or Coronet 500 with column manual and console???


EDIT...OK, I found 15 total cars out of 95 pages (@8-12 per page) at:

http://www.1966-67chargerregistry.com/list/?year=66

 

[67 B-body]

I looked at mine, and I dont know how you would get the column shifter to ever work through 4 gears. Also note the shifter levers on the OD trans pointing in the opposite direction of the 4 speed. As you mentioned, the bearing O.D. on the input of the 4 speed overdrive trans is larger, and will need the bellhousing hole opened up a bit. As for the "3 0r 4 speed pattern bellhousing" I doubt your car has this.... Mine didn't and it was original to the car, and all I could find out about the dual pattern was only in truck applications.
I think your only choice here, is to get yourself the 4 speed OD trans with the correct shifter and linkage, Find a used bellhousing and have the hole opened up to fit the larger bearing or buy a new SFI type bellhousing that already fits the newer OD trans, Mount the shifter towards the rear of the trans location, remove the handle from the shifter and mark the location to open up the floorboard of your car, replace the Yoke on your current driveshaft with one of the correct spline for the OD trans, install everything, adjust the throwout bearing linkage and drive. You can install the 4 speed tunnel after all else has been completed.

 

[vintagetin]

You can install the 4 speed tunnel after all else has been completed.

What do you mean by the four speed tunnel? Can't I just cut a whole in the floor? I'm confused.

 

[vintagetin]

EDIT...OK, I found 15 total cars out of 95 pages (@8-12 per page) at:

http://www.1966-67chargerregistry.com/list/?year=66

This is VERY cool. I wish I could find some way. I don't want to spend $3,000 on some gear vender's kit. And I don't even think they make anything for the three speed.

 

[YY1]

What 67 B-body means is that factory floor shift manual trans cars had different sheet metal on the trans tunnel. I'm sure you can find a pic somewhere. It's a pretty dramatic difference. You can get a repro of the part farly cheaply. ...and he means you can do that part after it's in and working IE after you cut your hole, but to be safe I'd cut as amall a hole as possible if you don't get the tunnel patch first.

If my math is correct..averaging 10 cars on 95 pages is 950 cars registered and only 15 are 3 on the tree...that's about 1.6%.

DANG, I hate to drive a 3 on the tree, though. IMO, not a very positive feel for the gears.

 

[waygun]

Your car definately has character and should not be comprimised.
Changing it to a 4 speed will only make it look like any other 4 speed Charger,IMO>

Given the rarity of your Charger's 3 on the tree,I would leave it alone.
Not to mention that your shifter-delete console is also a rare piece.
It would be a shame to modify that console to fit a stick.

It is your car and I respect whatever decision you make.

As mentioned,you will need to modify your floor pan/add the 4 speed hump to clear the linkage..
IIRC,the driveshaft will fit without modification.
The cluch disc/flywheel was the same size 10.5" IIRC (chime in if I am wrong.)

In Austrailia,the Valiant line did use a 4 speed tranny that used a column shift.
In Asia, some Toyota and Nissan Taxi models used 4 and 5 speed column shift.
Not sure how well it will adapt to be used on the left side of the firewall.

In the late 30's getting the shifter off the floor and on the column was a big engineering feat.
The last North American three on the tree was built in 1987 in a Chevy pick-up with a 4.3L V6.
As an owner of a 3 speed manual B body wagon,I pondered the idea like yourself to go 4 speed.
I decided not to go that route since there is a whole generation that never seen such a beast with manual shift on the column.

I am having a blast driving my 3 on da tree and get lots of looks and questions,for sure--and I bet you do too when people need to take a second look inside.
I know I had to take a second look at your pic.
Cheers!

 

[YY1]

I think the console is an auto console with a trim "blank" where the selector would be. The rare part would be the blank.

I agree that there is a certain "HUH?!" factor that is appealing, especially in the Mopar crowd.

Sure would be nice to bang that AOD on the floor, though. I'd even put in 3:55s and get 2:59 final, which is better MPG than the stock gear with WAY better launches. Even a relatively cheap and easy to find 3:23 would be a performance improvement and net a 2:35 final drive.

 

[YY1]

FYI, here's a pic of a 66 with a factory 4 speed shifter. Note how the tunnel is almost vertical and the console is trimmed almost to the chrome strip.

There's another thread that shows both consoles stripped down with no carpet, etc.

 

[vintagetin]

I REALLY want to keep the column shift. The last two cars I had had the column shift three speed. And yes, it confused a lot of people..."A Dodge Charger with a column shift manual???" YES! The only think is, this is my ONLY car. And the overdrive would save my pocket book tremendously. With all the traveling and highway miles this car sees, the extra .73 overdrive, and the synchronized first gear would totally save me. I wish there was a way to save the column shift. I think the center consoles are the same. There is a delete plate that I can simply unbolt and remove to intall the floor shifter. I could simply modify the tunnel with a welder and some sheet medal. AMC made many three speed transmissions with a mechanical overdrive on the tail shaft. Ford even made a few in the early 60's. It pisses me off that Chrysler never did the same, because I would totally go that route. Unless I the ford tranny would bolt in.

 

[YY1]

I've thought about trying to find an AMC overdrive. Didn't they use Chrysler transmissions? There's also the "P" type Gearvendors that may be generic. I think it's Volvo derived. Might be cheaper.

 

[vintagetin]

Interesting. I'll have to look into that.