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Help I need trans advice!
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22031		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  radarsonwheels [ Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Help I need trans advice!
Hi

I need help deciding what to do! A little background:

I ordered a four speed trans out of a 73 valient from a wrecking yard- I paid three hundred plus one fifty shipping.

Two days later a pallet came with a three speed collumn shift (no 3 hole shifter boss on tailshaft). I think it is an a-230 because the four holes to the BH were in a square arrangement with slightly concave sides on the iron trans body. The are two shift levers are on the side with a third lever that locks out the rear (1-2?) lever. There is a little play in the input shaft, and I didnt open the tail to see the condition of the splines, but I opened the top and the gears are all perfect, and the shifting action on it was smooth and positive. Mebbe needs some freshining up, or is a little radial play at the end of the input shaft acceptable? It spun smooth too. It has an aluminum Bell and tail.

So I called the wrecking yard and told them that even though the transaction was super easy and they sent the trans way faster than I expected, it was totally wrong, and I couldn't use it without spending way more money- plus I paid four speed money for a 3 speed trans! Am I right to think that a half decent 3spd goes for around a hundred dollars and could be found decently locally with not too much patience? (PA)

The yard wants to avoid eating the cost of sending the trans twice to the tune of $150, so they asked if I would keep it if they refund some of the money.

Here are my questions:

How much do they need to refund me to to make it worth keeping the a230 (at a fair price) if I decide to settle for the three speed (bird in the hand)?

How much does an add on shifter kit for a 3tree to 3floor conversion cost versus 3spd that is already set up for floor shift? who makes one? Or would I have to make it myself?

How much more happy would I be If I held out for a 4spd non overdrive trans, versus the longer 2nd gear of the 3 spd? Is the first gear lower on the 4? Is it as hard as I think it is to came across aOD 4spd for less than 500 bucks?

Anybody that read this far- THANK YOU!
same goes for anybody with any advice at all- Im new to this stuff

Kevin in Philly
Author:  icaneat50eggs [ Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:06 am ]
Post subject: 
Its their mistake, let them pay for it. Get what you paid for.
Author:  dakight [ Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:50 am ]
Post subject: 
I couldn't agree more. If they want to let you keep it at no charge that would be fine but they should immediately send you what you paid for or refund your money, including shipping cost. There no way you should pay even a dime for their mistake.
Author:  Jeffc [ Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:31 am ]
Post subject: 
Agree 100% with above.
Get what you paid for or money back.

I think I can get a A833OD castiron case for around $150,
little gear slop on the input, cast rear case, A/F type shifter mount,
saw it yesterday at a truck salvage yard.
don't know what grayhound would want for shipping......
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help I need trans advice!
Quote:
I ordered a four speed trans out of a 73 valient from a wrecking yard
OK, first question: How'd you track down this particular '73 Valiant to order a transmission out of? And did it have a slant-6? Because the only years Valiants were available with a 4-speed behind a slant-6 in North America were '64, '65, '75, and '76. :shock:
Quote:
- I paid three hundred plus one fifty shipping.
That is on the spendy side for a wrecking yard trans, either 3- or 4-speed.
Quote:
Two days later a pallet came with a three speed So I called the wrecking yard and told them that even though the transaction was super easy and they sent the trans way faster than I expected, it was totally wrong, and I couldn't use it without spending way more money- plus I paid four speed money for a 3 speed trans!
Welll...I think you paid what would be a little too much for a 4-speed and a lot too much for a 3-speed.
Quote:
Am I right to think that a half decent 3spd goes for around a hundred dollars and could be found decently locally with not too much patience? (PA)
I show side-cover units going for $60 to $150 in the NY/PA/NJ/DE vicinity, so, yes.
Quote:
The yard wants to avoid eating the cost of sending the trans twice to the tune of $150, so they asked if I would keep it if they refund some of the money.
Bzzt! Wrong part = useless. Full refund and they pay shipping both ways.
Quote:
How much do they need to refund me to to make it worth keeping the a230 (at a fair price) if I decide to settle for the three speed (bird in the hand)?
Don't. You'll wind up regretting it.
Quote:
How much more happy would I be If I held out for a 4spd
Way happier. I have to assume you're converting from an automatic. If you're going to that amount of effort, expense and trouble, do it up right.
Quote:
Is the first gear lower on the 4?
Different 1st-gear ratios for the slant-6 vs. V8 applications.
Quote:
Is it as hard as I think it is to came across aOD 4spd for less than 500 bucks?
Geeze, dude, where are you shopping??? :shock:

www.car-part.com
1976 Dodge Dart
Transmission
MT-4spd

LOTS of results below $200! Remember, this same trans was used in the Aspen/Volare from '76 through '80, too.
Author:  radarsonwheels [ Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Dan

you answered all my questions better than I could have hoped. I called the yard and told them I wanted a refund. They said no problem. They are going to call me when they figure out if they want to ship the trans back to VA or what. I feel a little bad, not because it was my fault, but because they were very nice and fast too, and this definitely won't encourage them to stock the old stuff (since they have no idea what they would be looking at or how to make money off it...)

I didn't know that there wasn't a valiant with that setup, but I do know the difference between a four speed and a three speed thanks to this forum's articles- especially when it doesn't have a boss to bolt up a shifter!

Unconnected gushing:
These parts are all for my 73 swinger daily driver- Im not new to wrenching, but new to the four wheel scene, and the slant six scene that I found here is awesome! Tomorrow I am going to swap my 198 motor for the 225 that I bought with your advice (yes it had an adapter for the input of the pushbutton trans that came with it!). I am going to save the PB trans and run my original trans that I know works great. In the meantime, Im setting up a spare drivetrain to play with, so that by the time summer comes around I can motorcycle to work in order to buy downtime for the old girl. Im collecting manual trans parts, and Im thinking about turboing the 198 (I already have a decent laptop and a nice KKK off a volvo sitting. (efi? megasquirt? hmmm...)) Im gonna have a 198 motor, PB trans, and hopefully a manual trans to play with! No other motor family has as much class or dedicated support for the money! Also good humble people that are in it for the joy of the sport and who seem more than willing to help someone out as long as they try to help themselves first!

So thanks again to dan and to anyone that bothered to read my uninformed ramblings.

Kevin

ps Ill probably want to upgrade my lights this summer too :wink:
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