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Switching an automatic on the column to a 4 speed.

SteveSS

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I found a car I like but it's weird. It has an AT and I would like a 4 speed. What all does that entail?
 
What kind of car. If it’s a Mopar I’d suggest going to Brewers website and take a look at his conversion package to see what parts are needed. I’ve done two...you can find a lot of the parts used but some you’ll have to buy new.
 
auto on column? Buying a kit would make it easier.
 
Just got done doing it on my 69 Bee. Like stated above, call Brewers. They will give you a list of absolutely everything needed. Options on a few items like clutches and flywheels. They even figure in the new carpet. I got the quote from them, had some stuff, picked up some from friends and swap meets, purchased the rest new.
 
I did one last year.
I pieced mine together from several sources. It’s not hard to figure out what you need.
I bought a lot of my stuff from Jamie Passon.
When it’s all said and done, figure around 5 grand. That’s for a HEMI trans ( 18 spline ) I like to power shift it, so I bought the good stuff.
 
I did one last year.
I pieced mine together from several sources. It’s not hard to figure out what you need.
I bought a lot of my stuff from Jamie Passon.
When it’s all said and done, figure around 5 grand. That’s for a HEMI trans ( 18 spline ) I like to power shift it, so I bought the good stuff.
Yes. It is the trans. Even a solid or newly rebuilt 23 spline is spendy. If I was starting from scratch? I would seriously look at the Passon 855 5 speed. (If you can get one in a reasonable timeline?) It opens up deeper rear gear options and still be very streetable. Since the all numbers matching thing is gone by doing the conversion? Why not? Only about $1k more. And you're assured a new with better warranty than any 833 out there?

I am seriously thinking of updating my 23 spline 833. With the Passon 855 and change Dana rear gear from 3.54 to 4.10. I just put in a new Centerforce clutch about 3000 miles ago. So I believe all I would need is replace clutch disk and rear gears? (And added shifter upgrade.) A whole different performance package for a 400+ horse 440. With no change in motor performance.
 
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Yes. It is the trans. Even a solid or newly rebuilt 23 spline is spendy. If I was starting from scratch? I would seriously look at the Passon 855 5 speed. (If you can get one in a reasonable timeline?) It opens up deeper rear gear options and still be very streetable. Since the all numbers matching thing is gone by doing the conversion? Why not? Only about $1k more. And you're assured a new with better warranty than any 833 out there?

I am seriously thinking of updating my 23 spline 833. With the Passon 855 and change Dana rear gear from 3.54 to 4.10. I just put in a new Centerforce clutch about 3000 miles ago. So I believe all I would need is replace clutch disk and rear gears? (And added shifter upgrade.) A whole different performance package for a 400+ horse 440. With no change in motor performance.

I think you misunderstood Vintage Chromoly when he said around 5 grand. He was not talking about just the Hemi transmission, but rather the total cost of doing an auto to 4 speed conversion. His estimate is about what it cost me to do my auto to 4 speed in my 70 RR a few years ago and that was with Passon doing the installation and using one of his rebuilt date correct 833's ( 23 spline ). The cost of a Passon 855 5 speed is over 5 grand just for the transmission!!!
 
I think you misunderstood Vintage Chromoly when he said around 5 grand. He was not talking about just the Hemi transmission, but rather the total cost of doing an auto to 4 speed conversion. His estimate is about what it cost me to do my auto to 4 speed in my 70 RR a few years ago and that was with Passon doing the installation and using one of his rebuilt date correct 833's ( 23 spline ). The cost of a Passon 855 5 speed is over 5 grand just for the transmission!!!
If you can find an A833 with new gears fresh rebuild for under $3k? I would post. Because it will sell immediately. (Probably $4k if for E-body.) And I suspect the A855 will be going up in price in the near future.it already has since first posted. What I don't know is availability?
 
If you can find an A833 with new gears fresh rebuild for under $3k? I would post. Because it will sell immediately. (Probably $4k if for E-body.) And I suspect the A855 will be going up in price in the near future.it already has since first posted. What I don't know is availability?
My date coded 23 spline 833 rebuilt with a 12 month warranty was $1300 from Passon a few years ago. I don't think prices went up that much.
Brewer's has similar ones for $1300-1500. Looks like they're in stock.

http://www.brewersperformance.com/products.php?cat=88
https://www.passonperformance.com/c...ns/product/179-rebuilt-23-spline-transmission
 
My date coded 23 spline 833 rebuilt with a 12 month warranty was $1300 from Passon a few years ago. I don't think prices went up that much.
Brewer's has similar ones for $1300-1500. Looks like they're in stock.

http://www.brewersperformance.com/products.php?cat=88
https://www.passonperformance.com/c...ns/product/179-rebuilt-23-spline-transmission
You supplied the trans? Junk trans with sound housing go for $1300. Come on. Compare apples to apples. If you are converting from auto? You have no A833 to rebuild. I'm saying A855 is a solid option. (If you can get one. Availability was the issue last time I checked. Hopefully it has improved?)
 
You supplied the trans? Junk trans with sound housing go for $1300. Come on. Compare apples to apples. If you are converting from auto? You have no A833 to rebuild. I'm saying A855 is a solid option. (If you can get one. Availability was the issue last time I checked. Hopefully it has improved?)
Did you go on to the links I provided? You can buy rebuilt units for $1500 with no core charge. I don't know where you're shopping but sounds like you're paying too much.
 
Did you go on to the links I provided? You can buy rebuilt units for $1500 with no core charge. I don't know where you're shopping but sounds like you're paying too much.
I've never bought one. I'm seeing what is being sold right here. Besides, you can't compare A855 with a 23 spline A833. Compare price with 18 spline.
 
brewers trans.png
 
You might want to check the for sale section of this site. Right now there is a rebuilt 23 spline for $1,300 and a rebuilt 18 spline for $2,100.
 
You might want to check the for sale section of this site. Right now there is a rebuilt 23 spline for $1,300 and a rebuilt 18 spline for $2,100.
Oh for christ sakes. And yes I could probably find one for under $1500. But any already rebuilt comes with higher risk. You don't know what is in it. Have you seen the kits you can get? They are all over the place on quality. Passon has no choice but use their stuff. A 5 speed is completely different.

A better argument would be on strength? I'm not convinced that adding another gear set then planting in an aluminum housing can deliver the same or even better strength performance? I would have no issue with any stock build. But what if say at 700+ HP? If someone has the Passon and has opinion? Please chime in. Because price debate is boring?
 
Oh for christ sakes. And yes I could probably find one for under $1500. But any already rebuilt comes with higher risk. You don't know what is in it. Have you seen the kits you can get? They are all over the place on quality. Passon has no choice but use their stuff. A 5 speed is completely different.

A better argument would be on strength? I'm not convinced that adding another gear set then planting in an aluminum housing can deliver the same or even better strength performance? I would have no issue with any stock build. But what if say at 700+ HP? If someone has the Passon and has opinion? Please chime in. Because price debate is boring?

Why so argumentative? Nobody is saying to just go buy from just anyone out there. Brewer's Performance has an excellent reputation for offering 4spd parts and conversion kits, and the guys there are very helpful.

Nobody is arguing that the Passon 5spd is a good transmission, but the original poster specifically asked what was involved in converting his column-shifted auto car to a 4spd. Brewers Performance offers EVERYTHING you will need to do just that, and they have a killer reputation for helping people out. Only thing I had to wait for was for them to build a transmission for me.

I went through them for all the parts I needed to put the 4spd back together on my Barracuda when I bought it. They were extremely helpful, looked over my parts, and told me exactly what I needed without trying to sell me things I didn't need.

Then, when it came time that I was ready to convert my Charger over to 4spd, they set me up with everything I needed to do the job, including the steering column components to change from column shifted auto to floor shift. If I remember right, my cost was about $4500 because I had already purchased the flywheel so the engine shop could confirm neutral balance. If I remember right, 18 spline was about $1000 extra. I went with the 23 spline For my slightly over stock build.

My opinion to the original poster is to start with Wayne at Brewers Performance. I priced both Brewers and Passon when I did mine. Brewers were a little cheaper, closer so I could pick it all up, and they had great customer service. The nice thing, as someone above stated, is Brewers will send you a quote listing all the needed parts. You can either buy it all from them, or just buy what you need if you can find some of them used.
 
Oh for christ sakes. And yes I could probably find one for under $1500. But any already rebuilt comes with higher risk. You don't know what is in it. Have you seen the kits you can get? They are all over the place on quality. Passon has no choice but use their stuff. A 5 speed is completely different.

A better argument would be on strength? I'm not convinced that adding another gear set then planting in an aluminum housing can deliver the same or even better strength performance? I would have no issue with any stock build. But what if say at 700+ HP? If someone has the Passon and has opinion? Please chime in. Because price debate is boring?
I think there are some mixed signals in this thread. What I was linking to you was a standard 833 4 speed rebuilt. I know that Passon rebuilds his own. I've been to his shop. I have no doubt that he inspects all parts thoroughly before rebuilding a transmission that he is giving a 12k miles, 12 month warranty on. He doesn't want it coming back and his reputation is on the line. I also wasn't comparing it to his new 855's. I've seen them in his shop and they are beautiful. If you want to get a personal opinion on one, a member here has one in his 70 RR, biomedtechguy.
@biomedtechguy
 
I have some good reviews. And happy owners. (Once they actually received.) I'm more curious on how much would one actually put to the A855? With today's multi disc clutch options? A 1000 horse might be doable? The reason I ask is because of an E-body 904 CI DOHC monster build I'm playing with. Easily 1100 horse NA on pump gas. The build is targeting what our track's 3 race circuit calls "King Street." So yes, it has to have some road capabilities. I have JW glide for it. With a GV OD unit that can easily handle the power. But that thing will heat up like Hell at high noon in street duty. The car was a modified stock Hemi in its hey day with a A833. So all would line up. But just fear would come apart once a 1000+ ft/lbs of torque hits it. And that's at 2500 RPM.

And yes, I understand the "That's just stupid for a V-Code 70 Cuda." But car is heavily modified. And motor/trans long gone. I bought as rolling body 15 years ago. It has not moved under its own power since 83. So what is a dumbass like me supposed to do?

Schubeck.png Cuda.png Car.jpg
 
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