Old Hot Rod Article about converting a std 4 speed to OD

ironracer1 said

I don't know much, but i do know the a-833 O.D. Trans has a bigger input shaft bearing retainer, i do not know if the internals are compatible. Just if you change to a O.D trans. you need the larger diameter bell housing, or you need to have the main pinion opening bored larger. (I used to know the specs, but I can't remember)........

Click to expand...

That's one nice thing about this info, if you swap the parts you can use the earlier bellhousing. Just make sure you swap the bearing to match the bearing retainer, and it is all good.

ironracer1 said

Also the O.D trans has a weaker case.

Click to expand...

It's not that the case is necessarily weaker, it's that it uses a floating countershaft which can pound the bore out and create issues. The cases are the same, just machined differently.

BTW, I'm not advocating for doing this or anything. I just thought I would share some info I tripped over.