73 dart swinger project

-
Lazares81

Lazares81

"Mopar: You're either with us, or behind us!"
Joined
Oct 21, 2010
Messages
86
Reaction score
3
Location
Los Angeles
hey everyone, i recently pulled the stock 318 out of this car, to be replaced with a custom 360 pushing round 400hp and 430 ft lbs i have not researched the tranny yet, i know i have a stock 904 automatic 3 spd. Will this work with the 360? honestly while i have everything apart anyways i dont mind waiting to find something better i just dont know what that would be yet.....i would like to have a automatic 4 spd with an overdrive any suggestions?
 
The 904 will do just fine if it's properly rebuilt and a good shift improver kit such as a Trans-go TF-2 kit is installed. If you want overdrive IMO your best bet is the Gear Vendors add on unit. It bolts onto the back of your trans. converting it to an over drive trans. There are several other options but the Gear Vendors is one of the easiest ways to do it and doesn't require any floor pan or crossmember modifications. It's not cheap but then again no overdrive conversion is cheap.
 
thanks for the info fishy. Do you by any chance know of any 4 or 5 speeds (manual is okay) that would fit with that engine?
 
Lazares81 said:
thanks for the info fishy. Do you by any chance know of any 4 or 5 speeds (manual is okay) that would fit with that engine?
Click to expand...

Your welcome. Since it's a standard LA small block the old reliable 833 4 spd. will work. I'm know very little about manual transmissions so I don't know if there is anything else out there that'll fit. You might post a question in the manual trans. section to see what the guys that know them say.

As for automatics, if you don't mind doing some surgery on the crossmember you can put in a newer A500 or A518 out of a Dakota or Ram made before 96. There will be a little wiring to do also to install the stuff to make the o.d. work. But for what you'll spend on building an A500 or a518 (both are pretty costly) and considering the work to make them fit you might as well go with a Gear Vendors. Just my opinion.
 
thanks again, hopefully with some research i can find one close or like you said go with a gear vendors :)
 
The overdrive A833 would be perfect. Its pretty much a 3 speed with 4th being the over drive gear. There pretty common & cheap, just look for an aluminum trans. They were made from '75- the mid '80s. The later ones I don't recommend being that they have longer tail shafts and come from trucks, these can be used for B & E body purposes. Just get one out of a late A-body or an F-body. those are just bolt in (minus all the stuff required to convert to a manual trans)
 
cool thanks! at this point i have to make a decision because the engine is about to be sent in for balancing, so im not sure what i am going to do, i might just stay with my 904 and rebuild it put a shift kit in it for now to get me by till i have the extra cash.

another question and i apologize if its a dumb one, basically wondering what gears to run in the rear end, i am definately going with a 8 3/4 found a sure grip model for 650 gonna have it spruced up and right now it has 323 in it, not sure what that means or if im right but what would be good for an around town car, i do want good low end but it will need to be able to push on 80 or so on the freeway
 
Lazares81 said:
cool thanks! at this point i have to make a decision because the engine is about to be sent in for balancing, so im not sure what i am going to do, i might just stay with my 904 and rebuild it put a shift kit in it for now to get me by till i have the extra cash.

a good rebuild with a good shift kit such as the Trans-go TF-2 will last a long time.
Click to expand...

another question and i apologize if its a dumb one, basically wondering what gears to run in the rear end, i am definately going with a 8 3/4 found a sure grip model for 650 gonna have it spruced up and right now it has 323 in it, not sure what that means or if im right but what would be good for an around town car, i do want good low end but it will need to be able to push on 80 or so on the freeway
Click to expand...

3.23 gears are probably about right for you if you want to run 80 down the hwy. Anything lower than that and your engine will be screamin at that speed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top