[Adrian Worman]

I got an old A833 overdrive box kicking about and I been thinking about making a low cost alternative to a proper O/D box , like a 5 speed for example. Had a look on Brewers etc, any thoughts or experiences you can share with me

[Eddie]

Adrian, I have no experience with them, only what I have read about the specifications of the internal mechanisms. The O/D unit of the A-833 was designed for economy usage. The countershaft has a 'weak' point. It's ridden directly on the soft alloy case. To make a performance unit, the countershaft can be installed with custom made steel bushings made on a Lathe which are then pressed into the case ends. Of course the bushing hole must be installed with a precision machine, like a jig bore or a Bridgeport Mill with a Rotary Attacehment. In other words, just drilling into the case and pounding in bushings aint gonna cut it. The bushings must be installed&staked with a precise press fit and be concentric to both the case and the shaft and made a slight bit 'softer' then the shaft steel for longevity. Also the size of the gear face is pretty small compared to the 18 spline unit and wont take a lot of torque. Maybe around 350 Ft. Lbs. sustained. A lot of work and money for a light duty unit. I also think this is why Jamie Passon is devoloping his O/D unit, and if this WAS a popular mod many MoPar dudes would have done it. Hope this helps.

[Adrian Worman]

This one I got is a cast iron cased item from a van or truck, that may take care of the case strength question. I think that you are dead right about the popularity of the unit tho Eddie......we'd all be using it right? The pattern that the drive takes is probably a limiting factor too. Thanks for the feedback

[Adrian Worman]

http://www.passonperformance.com/
Overdrive 4 speed and the official picture of the new 5 speed. Stopped dribbling yet Eddie

[Eddie]

http://www.passonperformance.com/
Overdrive 4 speed and the official picture of the new 5 speed. Stopped dribbling yet Eddie

It's sweet, but I also like the Keisler/Tremec's internal rail shifter over the old linkage/fork type. I am going to eventually buy one of those manual boxes,,it's gonna be a tough decision. I also like the Keisler's complete kit, dont know if Passon will have the same type of kit?

[Adrian Worman]

I like thePasson boxes just for the fact that they look like and are based on the factory box. The shifter mechanism is it's only shortfall that I can see. The new Keisler/Hurst 5 speed will be good choice because of it's smaller size, you dead right Eddie, it's a tough choice, Have to wait and see the tech articles in the muscle magazines when the Passon box gets released

[dave-r]

I don't think the tech articles in Muscle magazines are completely unbiased as they rely heavily on the advertising revenue being paid by the very companies whose products are being "tested".

[Eddie]

Dave's right, I E-Mailed R. Erenberg from mopar action. I asked him what he would choose,,the Keisler or the Passon for my upcoming '73' project. He wrote back saying I should wait till the Passon comes out! However, his crew installed the Keisler/Tremec in their A-Body and competed in the One Lap with it and encountered no problems and gave it high praise in their magazine. It will be while before I can save the money for it anyway,,but soon I will have to decide. On our trip I rode in AMC Bob's 5-Speed Tremec equipped Rebel,,it shifted hard, loose, and clean. I was very impressed with his powertrain set up.

[dave-r]

Yeah that Reble was well sorted and tight. I was well impressed by it.