I am interested in upgrading my 72 Slant 3 speed Challenger to a 4 speed, and was trying to figure out the best way to go about this. I have read the 4 speed article about ten times trying to figure out what all would need to be done to get this to work. I am starting by assuming the 3-speed Z-bar on the frame is in the same location as the 4-speed so that all i need to do is get the right bellhousing, tranny, clutch, linkage, shifter combo (am I wrong here ??) The reason for the swap is that primarily I find the 3-speed a bore to drive and a bit of a pain in the but in town, the challenger is slowly becoming my daily driver, and I like the Slant so a small block won't be sitting under the hood while I own the car.

I figure have a couple of routes to go, which option is possible, easiest and more dependable is where I am looking for assistance.

Option 1, Find OD bellhousing, and OD Tranny, and switch out tailshaft to the B/E body shaft? is this even possible, are the tailshafts interchangable? Would e-body 4 speed linkage and shifter work with the OD transmission, or is the geometry going to be wrong?

Option 2, Find Smallblock bellhousing, small block 4 speed (B/E), Contact AndyF and get his adapter plate to fit the small block to the slant six? This seems like it may be easier, but how does the adpater affect spacing, do I need to switch to the flywheel and go with a larger clutch?

Option 3, Get OD bellhousing, B/E 4 speed and (this is where my concern lies here) find a talented machinist to make the spacer for the bellhousing. Can I switch an OD IBR on the B/E 4 Speed (the 4-Speed article says it has to be the IBR and Front Case.)

Option 4, Learn to enjoy the 3 speed and quit being a baby about it.

Option 5, Call Passon's Transmissions and get him to build me the tranny I want.

Option 6, Call and order the 5 Speed Kaisler and forget the 4 speed. But be prepared to pay for the divorce as well.

Thanks in advance for the advice,
Brian

Do your wife want a 2 1/2 speed tranny?
If not, don´t worry about it.

Or,,,,You could find an early 80's truck or van with the a833 od which has the same case and dimensions and mounting points as a b/e 833 and also came behind alot of slants.This would be a direct bolt in needing only a different driveshaft and possibly some mods to the bellhousing ball stud to locate it in the correct spot.
HyperValiant

_________________
1960 Hyper-Pac Valiant(rolling test-bed)
1963 Valiant V2OO(Son's summer project,- he just turned 15 )
1972 Valiant 4dr(Daughter Kelly's repair in progress)
1974 Valiant (v8) daughter Kelly's work in progress

Also,the shifter from the truck or van will work as they are hurst units but the linkage may have to be modified or pirated from a 4spd e/b car.
HyperValiant

_________________
1960 Hyper-Pac Valiant(rolling test-bed)
1963 Valiant V2OO(Son's summer project,- he just turned 15 )
1972 Valiant 4dr(Daughter Kelly's repair in progress)
1974 Valiant (v8) daughter Kelly's work in progress

Thank you HyperValiant, I was wondering if any of the OD trans had the same mounting points but didn't see anything to indicate that was the case in the 4-speed article. My search now resumes.

Brian

Oddly the A-833OD I pulled from a 1981 slant six Ram pickup had an adaptor plate on the side to put the hurst shifter in the right spot for the truck, I suspect that the mounts would be correct for a B body or E-body or close enough that you could use a 3/8" plate like the truck to mount the shifter in the right spot....you just need some correct length shift rods....

Someone who's 'frankentrannied' a bit might be able to confirm if you can use a B/E tailshaft from an A-833std and replace the OD truck one....

Sadly I'm not at home or I'd snap you some picks of the Truck tranny in my shed...

Good luck,


-D.Idiot

I was under the impression the OD trannies only had a single mounting point and short tail shaft With the shifter mounting point falling inbetween the B and E body locations but behind the tranny crossmember mount.

Does anyone have some pictures of the tailshaft of the Truck OD trans and the shifter mounting plate?

I think I know where a couple truck OD trannies may be in the local yards and I can probably e-bay a rear tailshaft from a b/e body tranny if I can find out about transferring between the two.
Brian

There were two differnt o/d transmissions---an a/f body tailhousing and a truck/van tailhousing,the truck and van trans were the same as the e/b transmissions.I compared my 82 trans to a 72 b body trans and found that every thing was the same but for that the rear mounting lugs(for the e body shifter location ) were present but not drilled or tapped.I had forgot about that. After looking at the trans in my truck I also realized that the shifter can be used but you will need to source a e body mounting plate and the rods and modify the rods for the o/d application.
The tail housing could easily be drilled and tapped by a competent machine shop.
Sorry for the confusion but I was working by my ever failing memory.
HyperValiant

_________________
1960 Hyper-Pac Valiant(rolling test-bed)
1963 Valiant V2OO(Son's summer project,- he just turned 15 )
1972 Valiant 4dr(Daughter Kelly's repair in progress)
1974 Valiant (v8) daughter Kelly's work in progress