Who has the older aluminum 3 speed OD transmission and how much power are you putting to it?

[Cranky]

Axeking for a buddy of mine....I think he has one from an 80 model pickup. He also knows how to rebuild 833's and is pretty good at it but has no experience with the factory OD's.

 

[Sinitro]

Depends upon how U drive it??
If light footed 350 hp, if heavy footed 200 hp...
Just my $0.02...

 

[Dave6T4]

The downfall of this design, is the former 3rd. gear idler gear is now O.D., and as such, runs all the time the trans is in O.D. The original A-833 was not designed to have this idler run most of the time. High gear (1:1) happens when the input shaft and the output shaft are mechanically locked together, and can handle the most power in this mode. Unfortunately, this is now 3rd. gear in this application of the transmission.

 

[j-c-c-62]

The downfall of this design, is the former 3rd. gear idler gear is now O.D., and as such, runs all the time the trans is in O.D. The original A-833 was not designed to have this idler run most of the time. High gear (1:1) happens when the input shaft and the output shaft are mechanically locked together, and can handle the most power in this mode. Unfortunately, this is now 3rd. gear in this application of the transmission.

But isn't the actual load on 4th gear (OD) the "kindest" of the four, although it gets the most usage/mileage?

 

[Cranky]

But isn't the actual load on 4th gear (OD) the "kindest" of the four, although it gets the most usage/mileage?

Depends on if you're in town more than on the highway. I used to turn off the OD while in town with my Dakotas until I found out that the dash switch isn't available any longer and when you do find a good one, they are NOT cheap. I finally took the 29" tall rear tires and just let the OD come on by itself. The truck is mostly in town and the shorter tires helps but it does see the freeway from time to time. It's an automatic though but still don't want to be stuck in 3rd when trying to keep up with traffic on the freeway even with the 29's. When the OD switch messes up, the OD reverts to the off position. In my 95, I bypassed the switch so that the OD comes on....so far, the switch still works in my 96.

On the stick OD 833, I'm thinking that going into 3rd with a fast shift with full throttle might not be too kind on the idler gear? Used to help a buddy race a high 10 second road runner that was a stick car. Never had any trouble breaking the 833's though and yeah, it got power shifted.

 

[67plysat]

My car has an 833OD with an aluminum case from a pickup, using with a stockish 5.9 Magnum (325 hp?). It appears to have been holding up okay for around 10k miles. I had a bushing for the countershaft installed in the case by Passon's, he seemed to think it would hold up okay with the bushing installed.

 

[dodgeboy440]

Axeking for a buddy of mine....I think he has one from an 80 model pickup. He also knows how to rebuild 833's and is pretty good at it but has no experience with the factory OD's.

I’ve shifted 833’s From Momma Mopar
For Over Half A Century & Have Yet To Break
A Gear Set . Hemis on down to the alloy cased 4 speed OD ……
Replaced synchros & bearings & seals …..normal wear items .

Sounds to me like some bench racer has gone wild ……Remember those wacko videos
Of “ Girls Gone Wild”….. We could Start a new Thread Title ….. Bubba Bench Racers
Gone Wild ! Wouldn’t That Be A Pile ….. To Sort Thru Eh !

Need Parts ??
Call Brewers . They’re Nice Folks & Will
Be Pleased to Assist !

Carpe Diem ! & Mopar2ya!!

John

 

[Cranky]

I’ve shifted 833’s From Momma Mopar
For Over Half A Century & Have Yet To Break
A Gear Set . Hemis on down to the alloy cased 4 speed OD ……
Replaced synchros & bearings & seals …..normal wear items .

Sounds to me like some bench racer has gone wild ……Remember those wacko videos
Of “ Girls Gone Wild”….. We could Start a new Thread Title ….. Bubba Bench Racers
Gone Wild ! Wouldn’t That Be A Pile ….. To Sort Thru Eh !

Need Parts ??
Call Brewers . They’re Nice Folks & Will
Be Pleased to Assist !

Carpe Diem ! & Mopar2ya!!

John

Yeah, I like Brewers.....done some business with them in the past.

 

[dodgeboy440]

My car has an 833OD with an aluminum case from a pickup, using with a stockish 5.9 Magnum (325 hp?). It appears to have been holding up okay for around 10k miles. I had a bushing for the countershaft installed in the case by Passon's, he seemed to think it would hold up okay with the bushing installed.

Cool ! You’re blessed to have found a scarce
Momma Mopar OD 4 Speed !

If you’re so inclined to worry , why don’t you
Replace it with a cast iron unit ?

In my opinion you’re not going to hurt that
833 with 500 horse . And your combo is not going to do anything to hurt it.

Got proper gear oil ?
Linkage Adjustment in spec?
Good 2 GoJo…….

Want to read up on em ? Get A Factory Service Manual !

Mopar2Ya !

 

[Dave6T4]

Depends on if you're in town more than on the highway. I used to turn off the OD while in town with my Dakotas until I found out that the dash switch isn't available any longer and when you do find a good one, they are NOT cheap. I finally took the 29" tall rear tires and just let the OD come on by itself. The truck is mostly in town and the shorter tires helps but it does see the freeway from time to time. It's an automatic though but still don't want to be stuck in 3rd when trying to keep up with traffic on the freeway even with the 29's. When the OD switch messes up, the OD reverts to the off position. In my 95, I bypassed the switch so that the OD comes on....so far, the switch still works in my 96.

On the stick OD 833, I'm thinking that going into 3rd with a fast shift with full throttle might not be too kind on the idler gear? Used to help a buddy race a high 10 second road runner that was a stick car. Never had any trouble breaking the 833's though and yeah, it got power shifted.

Power shifting into 3rd. with an A-833 O.D. transmission should be fine. 3rd. is now what used to be 4th. (1:1 ratio), which is mechanical lockup of input and output shafts. Chrysler achieved this by flipping the former 3rd./4th. gear transmission lever upside down. Now, when the floor-mounted shifter is moved over and up to 3rd. gear position, it is actually now shifting the transmission to 1:1 lockup. Then, shifting straight back into 4th. gear position, the former 3rd. gear idler is selected. This idler gear has been modified to provide a 0.69:1 overdrive speed. There is quite a ratio (rpm.) drop between gears now. I likely would not try to power shift O.D., however.

 

[67plysat]

Cool ! You’re blessed to have found a scarce
Momma Mopar OD 4 Speed !

If you’re so inclined to worry , why don’t you
Replace it with a cast iron unit ?

In my opinion you’re not going to hurt that
833 with 500 horse . And your combo is not going to do anything to hurt it.

Got proper gear oil ?
Linkage Adjustment in spec?
Good 2 GoJo…….

Want to read up on em ? Get A Factory Service Manual !

Mopar2Ya !

If I ever tear it apart again I would definitely consider an iron case. The transmission was in the car when I got it and bushing the aluminum case seemed the cheapest/easiest at the time.

I've been using 80W90 GL4 oil. Not 100% positive if the linkage is still adjusted to spec, I think I set it per the manual at the time and haven't touched it since. Seems to shift okay.

It seems like a nice combo with the 5.9 Magnum and 3.55 gears.

 

[dodgeboy440]

Power shifting into 3rd. with an A-833 O.D. transmission should be fine. 3rd. is now what used to be 4th. (1:1 ratio), which is mechanical lockup of input and output shafts. Chrysler achieved this by flipping the former 3rd./4th. gear transmission lever upside down. Now, when the floor-mounted shifter is moved over and up to 3rd. gear position, it is actually now shifting the transmission to 1:1 lockup. Then, shifting straight back into 4th. gear position, the former 3rd. gear idler is selected. This idler gear has been modified to provide a 0.69:1 overdrive speed. There is quite a ratio (rpm.) drop between gears now. I likely would not try to power shift O.D., however.

Amazing …. Your Learning how to drive !

I’m proud of you !!


Mopar2ya!!

 

[dodgeboy440]

If I ever tear it apart again I would definitely consider an iron case. The transmission was in the car when I got it and bushing the aluminum case seemed the cheapest/easiest at the time.

I've been using 80W90 GL4 oil. Not 100% positive if the linkage is still adjusted to spec, I think I set it per the manual at the time and haven't touched it since. Seems to shift okay.

It seems like a nice combo with the 5.9 Magnum and 3.55 gears.

It is a nice combo !

 

[Dave6T4]

A friend of mine swapped an aluminium case O.D. transmission into his 1970 Challenger T/A 340 SixPack, for long drives to Mopar Nats, Chryslers at Carlisle, etc., from Ontario. However, for daily driving, he did not like the super-wide gear ratios behind the 340, and he eventually changed it back to its original close ratio 4-speed.

 

[66fs]

The best, I've found is to loose the aluminum case and replace it with a standard iron case and standard countershaft. You may have to clearance the bottom of some cases for the cluster gear. Use the right front bearing retainer for your bellhousing. Plenty strong after that. But I would not power shift into O/D.

 

[Runcharger]

With the ratio split into OD I don't think powershifting it would be very satisfying anyway. I would pretty much drive it like a 3 speed even drag racing it, Just put it into OD on the freeway. The Passon OD 4 speed has better ratios but of course costs a lot more money.

 

[dodgeboy440]

With the ratio split into OD I don't think powershifting it would be very satisfying anyway. I would pretty much drive it like a 3 speed even drag racing it, Just put it into OD on the freeway. The Passon OD 4 speed has better ratios but of course costs a lot more money.

When you research Momma Mopars Reason
YOU WILL READ ….yep …..That due to the EPA ‘s mileage requirements…..CAFE……
Mopar was quite clever in engineering an OD
FOUR SPEED !

Any OD Tranny won’t generate the torque
Multiplication a Standard Or Performance unit will . It’s mechanical engineering & application of the proscribed drivetrain .

Edu…Ma….Cate yo self wiffff summmm
Mo Mechanical Aptitude & maybe it will sink in….

IMO …. Whatchya U smokin updere iNdA woods ?

Is Dave in ?

 

[Runcharger]

Are you stupid? A 3.09 first gear will get out of the hole fine it doesn't matter if it's a "performance trans" or an "EPA trans". Ratios are ratios. The splits between ratios suck on the factory OD trans.
Maybe wrench and drive these cars a bit and watch less You tube. Have you driven one of these OD 833s? My brother had one in a brand new 76 "Road Runner". I know very well how they drive.

 

[dodgeboy440]

Are you stupid? A 3.09 first gear will get out of the hole fine it doesn't matter if it's a "performance trans" or an "EPA trans". Ratios are ratios. The splits between ratios suck on the factory OD trans.
Maybe wrench and drive these cars a bit and watch less You tube. Have you driven one of these OD 833s? My brother had one in a brand new 76 "Road Runner". I know very well how they drive.

Ben Franklin So poignantly relates …..

Common Sense …. ain’t common today !

 

[Dave6T4]

Let's not forget that this transmission was never designed as a performance piece. It was mainly used in pickup trucks, and Volare/Aspen to extend fuel mileage behind relatively low h.p. engines. As such, this was a low cost adaptation to an existing transmission to achieve this result.