Passon 855 installed

[biomedtechguy]

Isn't that what I explained?????????

Yes, I think so...

I’m lost. Disappointed that after waiting 4 years, the 855 in my pals ‘Cuda had to make 2 trips back to Pennsylvania for repair.

I'll leave it at this.
Jamie Passon did Mopar owners a solid by coming up with this and getting units out in use. HE is not the reason for any shortcomings with the transmission. Unfortunately he cannot make every single part for it in his own foundry, and mine the ore required to make the metal, or he would do that to to have a flawless product that bears his name. He has sourced what he needs from the best places he can find.
I consider myself fortunate to have one, and if I had ANY Mopar that I wanted a 5 speed in AND didn't want to cut it up, the 855 is the only choice.
Having said that, I would not be opposed to surgery on my car, although I don't relish it, I may mini-tub it even though it's a V-code if I want tires wide enough to require tubs. I chose the Passon a855 because it's the BEST.

 

[Beach Goat]

The driveshaft spins faster w/a .70 OD at 4K RPM vs a 1:1 top gear at 4K RPM. The car would also be going faster, if the R&P was the same.
Beach Goat, you said you had a Passon "3rd gear",

which I assume you mean the Passon 4 speed OD?
There shouldn't be much difference between the OD top gear in the Passon modded 833 vs 5th gear in the 855, right?

I broke 3rd gear in my hemi 833, and replaced it with a Passon Performance 3rd gear. Same gear ratio but made stronger. Sorry for the confusion!

 

[Beach Goat]

Yes, I think so...

I'll leave it at this.
Jamie Passon did Mopar owners a solid by coming up with this and getting units out in use. HE is not the reason for any shortcomings with the transmission. Unfortunately he cannot make every single part for it in his own foundry, and mine the ore required to make the metal, or he would do that to to have a flawless product that bears his name. He has sourced what he needs from the best places he can find.
I consider myself fortunate to have one, and if I had ANY Mopar that I wanted a 5 speed in AND didn't want to cut it up, the 855 is the only choice.
Having said that, I would not be opposed to surgery on my car, although I don't relish it, I may mini-tub it even though it's a V-code if I want tires wide enough to require tubs. I chose the Passon a855 because it's the BEST.

Agree. The problems with availability are not a result of any kind of failure of Passon Performance, but a failure in the American domestic manufacturing industry of the past 50 years. The transmission is 100% made in America of American steel and aluminum, in American foundries and machine shops.

Unfortunately much of this skill is severely diminished from the economic decisions of the past several decades, and frankly I believe Passon Performance has simply asked more of the American manufacturing industry than it can deliver.

We can't build things like transmissions anymore, but that's the way Passon wanted it done. That's why there are less than 500 of these things out there, not because Jamie is a bad guy or a lazy business owner.

 

[matthon]

Just installed mine on the 10th, took it for a test drive and it was fantastic, being a new trans and all.
Then it popped out of 4th.

I adjusted the shifter, the proper way, pin in it, it comes with a plastic pin but I used a steel one, set all the gears to neutral, turn the adjusters. Checked the stops and for any obstructions.

Adjusted the shifter 2 more times, still pops out of 4th.

Half the time it will not pop out no matter what, change in speed, up or down shift, throttle, the amount of clutch, the amount of throttle when first in 4th, nothing.
The other half it pops out, sometimes immediately, most of the time slowly.

If I see the shifter start to move, I push the clutch, put it in neutral, back to 4th, 50/50 chance.

Once it's in 4th and not coming out, you know it. If it goes in to stay right from 3rd, you know it, and nothing will pop it out.

Shifter is always in the same spot, whether it's in and staying, or wants to go to neutral.

Called Passon last week, waiting for reply, will follow up tomorrow if no response by then.

 

[biomedtechguy]

Just installed mine

Did you check the bellhousing runout?

 

[matthon]

No, not personally.
I had the engine built a few years back, and had the pilot bushing, flywheel, and bellhousing installed. Pilot and bell done at machine shop because it wasn't something I was familiar with at the time, flywheel because it was dyno'd.

I put the engine in the car, installed the clutch and the 4 speed.

Fast forward to the 5 speed, I swapped in a new pilot, flywheel and clutch, and left the bellhousing alone.

I'm making a list of things to check, and the order, and will go thru hoping the kiss principle will prevail.

I want to make sure I cover everything and am on the same page as Passon before it has to come out and/or be shipped back.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I swapped in a new pilot, flywheel and clutch, and left the bellhousing alone.

I don't know how you changed out the flywheel and/or clutch without removing the bellhousing.
I had never heard of bellhousing runout before I had a problem with 2nd gear popping out in my 833. Apparently it also caused excessive wear on some new parts I had installed in the 833 by Jamie Passon.
Anyway I bought the offset and zero offset dowel pins, zeroed the runout w/in spec and while that didn't fix the popping out problem, it had to be done.
Since that was a recommended fix, I am passing it along.

 

[matthon]

Easy, took the inspection cover off, removed the fork and bearing, unbolted the pressure plate, then the flywheel.
Spun the engine to remove all the pressure plate bolts.

Same to install, only difference is I marked the pressure plate 1 thru 6 for the bolts so I could torque them correctly.

 

[biomedtechguy]

Easy, took the inspection cover off, removed the fork and bearing, unbolted the pressure plate, then the flywheel.
Spun the engine to remove all the pressure plate bolts.

Same to install, only difference is I marked the pressure plate 1 thru 6 for the bolts so I could torque them correctly.

I have always removed the transmission (obviously) and the bellhousing to change out the flywheel (new billet steel unit) and pressure plate.
I am surprised that the PP fit through the inspection cover hole.

 

[matthon]

Anyway I bought the offset and zero offset dowel pins, zeroed the runout w/in spec and while that didn't fix the popping out problem, it had to be done.

I read this thread a few times, but I'm missing it though - what fixed the popping out problem?
And which gear(s)?

 

[biomedtechguy]

I read this thread a few times, but I'm missing it though - what fixed the popping out problem?
And which gear(s)?

My Passon modded 18 spline 833 started popping out of 2nd gear, ONLY AFTER I had Passon go through it, replacing any parts he deemed should be replaced.
I had him install the slick shift sliders and synchros he offers on his website, because I wanted the fastest, smoothest SPEED shifting capabilities that were still street friendly.
Since that 1st service event, my 833 has popped out of 2nd on light throttle, like when you are driving 25-35 mph and go through a traffic circle, or maybe through a neighborhood at 15-20 mph and lift to make a turn.
I've sent it back THREE TIMES and I haven't got it back yet, and it's been over a year now since the 3rd trip back to Passon...
I installed a Passon 855 5 speed, and THAT'S how I "fixed" the problem with the 4 speed. I'm waiting patiently for him to ship my 833 back, hopefully fixed, so I have a backup if my 855 needs repair or service.

 

[matthon]

My 855 has gone back multiple times, pops out of 4th, has since day one, first drive down my street.
Trans go to GFI for warranty work, that's who I've been dealing with and sending it to for repair.

 

[Fran Blacker]

I did a Lakewood shield around .014 out. If bellhousing weren't married at the factory should be done. There is another thread on this right now.

 

[biomedtechguy]

Yeah, the only thing I can even mention about my 855 is that occasionally when it's cold, in other words I've just left the garage, I may get a very slight "snick" when I shift into 3rd. I'm going to change out the transmission lube to the stuff Passon recommended, Redline MT-90 and I will probably tweak the shift rod/lever adjustments, and check the set of my shift lever travel limiting stops.
It's been great on the street, highway, and power shifting (gas pedal on floor, using the clutch) in the 1/4 mile has been flawless, almost automatic.

 

[Beach Goat]

Still doing great with my overdrive. I just returned to this thread after a while, and saw the recommended oil has been updated.

What viscosity and amount of Redline MT90 is he-recommending?

 

[biomedtechguy]

What viscosity and amount of Redline MT90 is he-recommending?

Redline MT90 only comes in one formulation I believe:
MT-90 75W90 GL-4 GEAR OIL
THREE QUARTS ONLY, in a fully drained Passon 855 5-speed.
As part of the HUGE amount of work being done across many aspects of my car right now, I have included draining the 855 and refilling it with Redline MT90, so this info came from Jamie Passon within the last few weeks.
I got 3 quart bottles from Summit Racing.
https://www.redlineoil.com/mt-90-75w90-gl-4-gear-oil