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4 speeds

Jhn824

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Hey all...I'm a newbie with a 65 Belvedere that I just purchased....it's a project with a long way to go...so a 4 speed question ( the first of many I'm sure) I understand the tailshaft difference between an A and B body 833.. .but if I'm going to have to have a driveshaft built anyway...could I use either or are there other issues? Also ..will the smaller splined trans work with a BB?
 
The A body transmission has the shifter mounting hole several inches farther back than a B body trans. You could possibly make it work but not sure. As for your other question, yes you can use a 23 spline trans with a big block. All the 383 cars came with them.
 
Do you already have an A body 4 speed?
No I dont....just trying to get some education so that when I get to that point I will know what to look for.. .most of my experience has been with Chevy...but have always loved the old Mopars...finally had an opportunity to get one...so I have a lot to learn....just don't want to jump out here and buy a bunch of parts...and regret it!
 
Check out brewers website, or call passion performance. Both great people and full of knowledge. I have some 4 speed stuff that will fit your car as well.
 
Many moons ago a buddy built a custom shift bracket to put an 'A' body trans into a B body.....
 
Save yourself the trouble and find a b/e-body 833 66 up. 64-65 have a ball and trunion slip yoke and it is harder to find replacement parts for them. If you get a later model B/E body long shaft it will have 2 mounts for the shifter, for your car you would use the one closer to the front of the trans. Is the car you are looking at already a 4spd car or auto that you plan to convert?
 
aeon280 is spot on....if are starting from scratch I also STRONGLY encourage you to find a 66-70 4 speed....I used an 883 from a 67 when I did the conversion to my 64 Sport Fury. Has the slip yoke and the transmission mount is in the right location.

I'm also at the present time doing a 65 conversion using the earlier ball and trunnion transmission ONLY because I had the trans and all the necessary parts.

If you're converting from an automatic it can become a challenge finding the correct shifter mechanism, shifter linkage and the shifter arm (console or no console). As others have posted use Brewer's website it a wealth of information and they have a page specifically for shifter identification and linkage arms.

Other things you'll need is the z-bar linkage bracket that bolts to the frame rail, the z-bar and linkage to clutch , pedals and linkage to z-bar, flywheel, the correct bell housing (per casting number and clutch size) the z-bar bracket for the bell housing, clutch fork (not all the same, different angles and lengths). Shifter mounting plate (A body plate will not work).

I found a lot of the things I needed used (mostly from members of this forum) but some things I had to buy new (mostly from Brewers). Again...use the Brewer website it will help you a great deal.

One final comment...if you find any of the parts you need for sale don't procrastinate these parts sell quickly.
 
Save yourself the trouble and find a b/e-body 833 66 up. 64-65 have a ball and trunion slip yoke and it is harder to find replacement parts for them. If you get a later model B/E body long shaft it will have 2 mounts for the shifter, for your car you would use the one closer to the front of the trans. Is the car you are looking at already a 4spd car or auto that you plan to convert?
Thanks so much for info...the car is auto right now...I plan to convert it...do you know what I'm going to need to do to the tunnel?
 
Check out brewers website, or call passion performance. Both great people and full of knowledge. I have some 4 speed stuff that will fit your car as well.
Thanks for the info..what 4 sp stuff do you have?
 
aeon280 is spot on....if are starting from scratch I also STRONGLY encourage you to find a 66-70 4 speed....I used an 883 from a 67 when I did the conversion to my 64 Sport Fury. Has the slip yoke and the transmission mount is in the right location.

I'm also at the present time doing a 65 conversion using the earlier ball and trunnion transmission ONLY because I had the trans and all the necessary parts.

If you're converting from an automatic it can become a challenge finding the correct shifter mechanism, shifter linkage and the shifter arm (console or no console). As others have posted use Brewer's website it a wealth of information and they have a page specifically for shifter identification and linkage arms.

Other things you'll need is the z-bar linkage bracket that bolts to the frame rail, the z-bar and linkage to clutch , pedals and linkage to z-bar, flywheel, the correct bell housing (per casting number and clutch size) the z-bar bracket for the bell housing, clutch fork (not all the same, different angles and lengths). Shifter mounting plate (A body plate will not work).

I found a lot of the things I needed used (mostly from members of this forum) but some things I had to buy new (mostly from Brewers). Again...use the Brewer website it will help you a great deal.

One final comment...if you find any of the parts you need for sale don't procrastinate these parts sell quickly.
Wow...thanks so much for info! Appreciate it greatly... I guess I need to look for a service manual so I can see all these parts that I will need
 
Thanks so much for info...the car is auto right now...I plan to convert it...do you know what I'm going to need to do to the tunnel?
1 piece of sheet metal. It would be pretty easy to place on the floor in the proper spot. Just market, cut within the mark so you can tack weld the tub for the four-speed to the automatic floor, presto, Bam you’re good to go on that end. That particular part of getting the transmission tunnel to tack on should be the last thing you do in the conversion. When you get the Transmission in The car you can see with the Shifter goes through the floor.
That will help properly place the sheet metal inside the car.
 
stay away from a body a833's , unless your looking for gears , a bodies offered a 3.09 first in it 1 to 1 type , but the tail outputs are smaller in some cases . and the b , c or e body tranny's will be the same length as an 727 auto trans . and there is three types of them , 64-65 flange type output , 66-69 , 70-74 different mount location , all 23 spline inputs , the 18 into was 426 hemi . and 440 4spd's n 6 pck if ordering the drag package with a dana r/e . and the od one , junk for horse power , great for fuel mileage , different type gears , but also a 3.09 first . but not nearly as strong as the earlier type a833 .
 
As mentioned above, call Jamie at Passon. He's finishing up Drag Week right now. He walked me through everything I needed to convert my '64 Fury to 4-speed. I bought everything from him, including the clutch. Brewer's has a much better website, but if you're not sure what you need, Jamie is a big help. He's the owner. Good luck, and how 'bout a photo of the car?? ; )
 
As mentioned above, call Jamie at Passon. He's finishing up Drag Week right now. He walked me through everything I needed to convert my '64 Fury to 4-speed. I bought everything from him, including the clutch. Brewer's has a much better website, but if you're not sure what you need, Jamie is a big help. He's the owner. Good luck, and how 'bout a photo of the car?? ; )
Ok...thanks...I will give Jamie a call...appreciate the help!
 
IMG_20190907_130943327.jpg
 
The early B body transmission is unique. And not in a good way. Here is a picture of the original one out of my '65 Coronet 500. I pulled it out 30 years ago and put a Doug Nash 5 speed in the car.
DSC_1139 (Large).JPG
 
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