Chrysler's RARE Aluminum overdrive Short-Tail A-833 Transmission - Ed Smith w BarryT

[@wackowacko8931]

The short tailshaft A-833 transmissions were used in A and E body Mopars (Duster and Cuda, for example). The 3rd gear was replaced with a smaller overdrive gear that you used to be able to get from Direct Connection. The transmission shifted 1-2-4-3 with 3 being overdrive (it had a somewhat big step between 2 and 4, but not much different than the 3 speed manual). They swapped the shift lever on the transmission upside down to swap the 3-4 shift order, so the shift pattern remained the same as a standard 4 speed shifter when you were driving it. The aluminum transmission case came stock in some Feather Dusters (better fuel mileage supposedly) that had a lower torque 6 cylinder in them so you wouldn't blow the case apart.

[@BarryTsGarage]

Excellent, thank you for adding the detail we were looking for!

[@yodawunn6700]

Same transmission used in mid-80's Chevy and GMC light duty trucks and vans. The GM unit obviously had GM bolt pattern, input, and output shafts. It used ATF fluid instead of gear lube. GM RPO code MY6 built by New Process.

[@rodneybyrd9516]

For the Coronet (B-Body) you could use a (D-150 truck, B-150 van) aluminum case, cast iron LONG tail extension housing/shaft with the 727 size yoke. It is literally the same size/fitment as what Chrysler used in 1966 Coronets and Chargers. The short tail, big yoke A833 O/D is what I use in A-bodies, with the aluminum tail. I have also used those cases with the non-O/D guts to save weight. A good machine shop can sleeve the openings in the case for the countershaft to keep the aluminum from pounding out-of-round with high HP and or speed shifting!

[@BarryTsGarage]

Great stuff! Thanks for adding this detail!

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Ed is a walking automotive encyclopedia! He sure knows his stuff.

[@BarryTsGarage]

I’m glad he’s willing to share!

[@larrygreen9100]

I got one of these in a Feather Duster I bought for parts, These 4 speeds work like this > what WAS 4th gear is now 3rd and what WAS 3rd is now 4th overdrive and they worked great, my buddy had one he drove for years. They also did a case iron style w/ long tail shaft for use in some pickups and both used ATF for lube to lower friction, The aluminum ones would start to leak ATF (BAD) out of the front counter shaft hole after many miles (my buddy's did and we just filled it with 90 wt gear lube like the Mopar Dealer told us and it really slowed down A LOT)

[@BarryTsGarage]

Thanks for sharing!

[@perryjensen315]

My dad had that trans in a Dodge van in 77 he ordered it that way sure it must have been cast iron though

[@ejgrant5191]

just read this after my rely....nailed it!

[@ejgrant5191]

That A833 came in a Duster from around 1975-6 called a "Feather Duster"....slant6 for fuel economy.

[@BarryTsGarage]

Very cool

[@davidsawyer1599]

17 year old me bench pressing the cast iron version in a '71 340 Duster. Those were the days. Today's cars are by far superior, as it should be. Yet a Highschool kid can't afford a muscle car working part time at an entry level job.

[@BarryTsGarage]

That’s a really interesting way to put it, good point!

[@geralddrury4829]

That Trans, and a Hurst Ram rod would be serious fun in an A-body BB!

[@RodneyHayes-d3y]

Back in the eighties we would grab these at the salvage yard for scrape price as nobody in our area played with Mopar's other than us, We would gut them and swap over the cast iron case standard internals to run on circle tracks. We ran big blocks and small blocks and never had a transmission problem. but it shaved a lot of weight off

[@BarryTsGarage]

Smart

[@raystevens1458]

I had one from a '76 Dart Lite w/Slant 6, I converted my '71 Duster from automatic to the 4 speed, then a few years later I converted to a small block, found out the tranny wouldn't fit the bell housing, the input bearing retainer was a larger diameter on the Overdrive 4 speed, so traded for a cast iron 833 from a 340 Demon and end of problem.

[@BarryTsGarage]

Good man

[@randysummerhays4168]

That looks like a 392 or a 354 behind Mr Ed I used to have a 354 Iran on the street in Los Angeles what a beautiful old engine

[@leewilliams2094]

The aluminum overdrive 4-speed came from the very rare lightweight Plymouth Feather Duster they also came with aluminum fenders hood and trunk lid to reduce weight they were designed for high gas mileage not performance they only came with the 225 slant 6. Many Feather Dusters later became drag cars because of their lightweight body panels. They were the lightest weight Dusters ever made.

[@BarryTsGarage]

Great info - thanks!

[@misterhipster9509]

Got that arrangement, cast iron case, 84 GM 6.2 diesel, tiny counter gear is weak, easy does it.

[@BarryTsGarage]

Good plan - yes the torque you have ready could be dangerous! 👍😉

[@HillDwellerFeller]

@@misterhipster9509 just picked up a couple of those. Has any issues with yours? I’m going to rebuild both of these.

[@billbertakis744]

Ed Knows

[@leewilliams2094]

Design for use only behind the slant 6 I don't know how it would hold up behind a HP a V8 ?

[@BarryTsGarage]

I guess Ed is trying to find out!