Overdrive Options?

[WingCharger]

Overdrive Transmissions have always stood out to me for some reason. Reduced wear on some parts, and fuel saving for a cruiser.

What I don't understand are the options guys have to retrofit one into a classic MoPar. I know some guys use a GearVendors setup. Outside of that, I really don't know. Don't some late-70's A-833 4spds have a Overdrive? The T-56 6spd tranny does too right?

If you guys have any other info, please post.

[694spdRT]

Here is a thread about the overdrive 833's.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,35972.0.html

[doctorpimp]

www.keislerauto.com

[mauve66]

some people also use the late model mopar auto but the USED to require cutting the crossmember and welding, I don't know if they still do or not, i chose the GV unit but that was 6 years ago when options weren't really available, this was right before Keisler did there 5 spd thing, sorta wished i had waited but............... to late now...................

[Musicman]

I'll take the GV unit over any of them

[flyinlow]

I put a 518 in my 73 Charger using an Ultrabell. Turns my 3.55 into 2.44  on the Interstate.

[WingCharger]

I put a 518 in my 73 Charger using an Ultrabell. Turns my 3.55 into 2.44  on the Interstate.

518?

[flyinlow]

It is a small block 727 with an .69 overdrive and lock up converter. Looks like a 727 trans with a fatter tailshaft and an extra electrical plug.

used in 1990 -1998 pick ups and vans.

[WingCharger]

It is a small block 727 with an .69 overdrive and lock up converter. Looks like a 727 trans with a fatter tailshaft and an extra electrical plug.

used in 1990 -1998 pick ups and vans.

Oh yeah. I am more of a manual tranny guy myself. How hard would it be to adapt a later 833 OD tranny to a street engine like a 383?

[694spdRT]

It is a small block 727 with an .69 overdrive and lock up converter. Looks like a 727 trans with a fatter tailshaft and an extra electrical plug.

used in 1990 -1998 pick ups and vans.

Oh yeah. I am more of a manual tranny guy myself. How hard would it be to adapt a later 833 OD tranny to a street engine like a 383?

Read the thread I posted before. It explains pretty well what you need to do.

[idahogrumpy]

We just modified a 73 swinger to accept the 518 behind a 470 cu in big block. Had to replace the complete transmission cross member and floor brace to make it work. It took a bunch of welding and fabrication work. I wanted it strong to hold up to the 470, might have been able to get by with less fab work. We are running a 4:56 dana, needed the overdrive. Kyle

[Rolling_Thunder]

It is a small block 727 with an .69 overdrive and lock up converter. Looks like a 727 trans with a fatter tailshaft and an extra electrical plug.

used in 1990 -1998 pick ups and vans.

Oh yeah. I am more of a manual tranny guy myself. How hard would it be to adapt a later 833 OD tranny to a street engine like a 383?

ummm   unbolting one and putting the other in its place   

[mauve66]

first the 383 crank has to have the pilot hole/bushing in it.................. not all were drilled for it

[Mike DC]

The factory 4sds were overdriven in trucks after the musclecar era, although they're not the strongest 4spds that Mopar ever made.  (If I was gonna do 4spd overdrive it would be a Passon conversion all the way.)




The automatic options aren't good.  There's a reason we see so many GV overdrives being used.  It's one of the best options even at $2500 or whatever.  The biggest beef I have with the GVOD setup is that it's a lot of money for one gear ratio that's only 22% overdriven. 

Any of the 1980s-2000s factory built torqueflite-based overdive automatics do not fit.  It will demand hacking the trans crossmember/floor to make it happen.  The back end of the tranny just got too much bigger to accomodate that fourth gear.  Throw in the fact that the fourth gears in these things are usually not as strong as you'd ideally like (at least for a Big-block shifting under load), and you see why there isn't much of this swap being done. 



The Keisler (insert "boo" sounds here) automatic tranny option seems quite good if you can pay for it.  They made a bunch of parts to retrofit a GM 4L60E 4spd automatic into a Mopar with little or no hacking.  It's literally about $4000 I hear, but it results in an extremely good situation.  Very low 1st gear, very high OD gear, decent strength, a lockup torque converter.  And the whole basic tranny they're starting with from GM is electronically controlled (read: FULLY programmable shifting characteristics).  When the smoke clears this thing should be on par with the best 4spd automatic setups in a modern sports car.



   

[mauve66]

The factory 4sds were overdriven in trucks after the musclecar era, although they're not the strongest 4spds that Mopar ever made.  (If I was gonna do 4spd overdrive it would be a Passon conversion all the way.)




The automatic options aren't good.  There's a reason we see so many GV overdrives being used.  It's one of the best options even at $2500 or whatever.  The biggest beef I have with the GVOD setup is that it's a lot of money for one gear ratio that's only 22% overdriven. 

Any of the 1980s-2000s factory built torqueflite-based overdive automatics do not fit.  It will demand hacking the trans crossmember/floor to make it happen.  The back end of the tranny just got too much bigger to accomodate that fourth gear.  Throw in the fact that the fourth gears in these things are usually not as strong as you'd ideally like (at least for a Big-block shifting under load), and you see why there isn't much of this swap being done. 



The Keisler (insert "boo" sounds here) automatic tranny option seems quite good if you can pay for it.  They made a bunch of parts to retrofit a GM 4L60E 4spd automatic into a Mopar with little or no hacking.  It's literally about $4000 I hear, but it results in an extremely good situation.  Very low 1st gear, very high OD gear, decent strength, a lockup torque converter.  And the whole basic tranny they're starting with from GM is electronically controlled (read: FULLY programmable shifting characteristics).  When the smoke clears this thing should be on par with the best 4spd automatic setups in a modern sports car.



   

actually you get a gear in between each one also so the RPM's stay higher in the power band THEN you get to the overdrive, my 4.10 will be a 3.23 at highway speed which is what it came with from the factory anyway

[gordo1968charger]

i m happy with gear vendors,so far everything ok.