How to identify my 4 speed transmission

[Loa]

Hello,

I have a 4 speed automatic transmission in my 68 charger, but I'm not at all convinced that it's the one that came with the car.

I can't see to find any serial numbers on the transmission. Can anyone post a pic of where to look?

Thanks

[birdsandbees]

Passenger side stamp pad.

[Alaskan_TA]

I have a 4 speed automatic transmission in my 68 charger.

3 speed automatic or 4 speed manual back then, no such thing as a 4-speed automatic at the time.

[Loa]

Passenger side stamp pad.

Thanks! I'll have a look!

3 speed automatic or 4 speed manual back then, no such thing as a 4-speed automatic at the time.

Ok, then it confirms that it's not the original transmission.

Just hope it's one with an overdrive, so I can put a better gear in the back later on.

[John_Kunkel]

What makes you think it's a 4-speed automatic? Could be a 3-speed with a lockup converter.

A pic from underneath would help.

[Loa]

What makes you think it's a 4-speed automatic? Could be a 3-speed with a lockup converter.

A pic from underneath would help.

That's a good question. I'm afraid I don't know enough about converters to answer it. Originally I thought it was a typical 3 speed, but the engine and carb were so bad that I didn't pay much attention. Since switching the engine and getting a good carb, it's been very easy to hear 4 distinct speeds (or 3 distinct shifts).

As for the pic, it will have to wait a while. The car is currently in my small garage and the average maximum temperatures these days is around 16*F with a few feet of snow. I'm not going to pull it out of there and lift it with a jack resting on ice! :-)

Edit: on the other hand, I  still have pics from underneath on my phone (from last summer when I had the exhausts redone). Maybe not the best angles, but who knows? Here they are: http://photo.solstices.ca/autres/68charger/tranny/

[birdsandbees]

Ha.. I missed that, saw 4 speed and concluded an 833...

[Kern Dog]

That is a 904 3 speed automatic.

[Loa]

That is a 904 3 speed automatic.

Why are you so sure? I do hear 3 shifting points consistently.

[BLK 68 R/T]

That is a 904 3 speed automatic.

Transmission pan sure does look like a 904.

Maybe this will help?

[John_Kunkel]

On a 904 with a lockup converter, the converter locks up after the 2-3 upshift so it feels like a fourth gear.

If you clean off the crud in the circled area you'll find the trans part number, post it here and maybe we can ID the year/application.

[Loa]

If you clean off the crud in the circled area you'll find the trans part number, post it here and maybe we can ID the year/application.

Here's the pic with the numbers.

[John_Kunkel]

4058398 is a lockup A-999 (heavy duty 904) used behind '81-'85 318's in cars and trucks. 8644 is the build date March 28, 1985 so it's an '85 model year unit.

[Loa]

Thanks for the info. Is that a good transmission?

[John_Kunkel]

Good compared to what? In the 904 family it's as good you'll find except maybe the later units with the low gearset.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Good enough for a 160 hp 318 to cruise with.

[Loa]

Right now it has a stock 340 in it, but I'm planning on upgrading the heads and cam in a few years. Nothing crazy though, aiming for something between 300-350hp. The transmission should handle it.

[BSB67]

Curious.  How do you know its a 340?

[John_Kunkel]

In stock form, the most powerful motor mated to the A999 was the E58 360 but the trans can easily be built to handle lots more.

[Loa]

Curious.  How do you know its a 340?

I worked on it extensively before putting it in the Charger. It was in a 1974 Charger before and I found the numbers on the block a few years ago.

[BSB67]

Curious.  How do you know its a 340?

I worked on it extensively before putting it in the Charger. It was in a 1974 Charger before and I found the numbers on the block a few years ago.

Good.  Someone must have put it in the 74, as 340s were not installed in any 1974 models.

[Loa]

Someone must have put it in the 74, as 340s were not installed in any 1974 models.

I think you mean the 68 models!

[BSB67]

Someone must have put it in the 74, as 340s were not installed in any 1974 models.

I think you mean the 68 models!

I thought you said the 340 came from a 1974 Charger.  My mistake.  Of course they were installed in performance 68 A Bodies

[Loa]

Hello,

From what I could find on the net, there were 74 chargers with a 340, but, to my surprise, no 68 chargers with 340.

For the 68 model year, there were only 318, then 383 and up. For some reason they skipped the 340 for 68.

[BSB67]

Hello,

From what I could find on the net, there were 74 chargers with a 340, but, to my surprise, no 68 chargers with 340.

For the 68 model year, there were only 318, then 383 and up. For some reason they skipped the 340 for 68.

Interesting.  My internet, my Factory Service Manual, My Chiltons Manual, My Motors Manual, and my small library of literature collected over the past 45 years suggests that 340s were not installed in 1974 cars by the factory.  However, factory exceptions can always be found, motor swapping is possible, and I really never focused on 1974 Chargers.

If you want to know for sure take a picture of the casting number and post it.