A833 4-Speed on a 4-500hp 440: 18 or 23 Spline Necessary?
I did alot of research on them before I got one, most said the 23 spline will be fine...
23 splines did come behind 383 and 440 cars also
They did not come behind a factory 440 or 426 Hemi car for that matter.
Hemi 4 speeds (18 spline) came behind 440, 440 six pack, and all Hemi cars in conjunction with a Dana 60 rear........
My advice is that if you plan to beat it to hell with sticky tires, you'll be sorry if you stay with the 23 spline transmission.
Think about it, the factory wouldn't have stuck a much more expensive transmission and rear ends in the 440 and better 4 speed cars along with the Dana 60.
It wasn't about hype and promotions, it was to cover their *** on warranties.
The 440 cars were an honest 350 + H.P. and the Hemi cars were about 450 to 475 real H.P. but, the torque is what the extra strength was needed for.
Back in the day, i ran a 440 powered '69 Super Bee with a 23 spline tranny (the original one) and a 3:54 Dana 60 with a good clutch and pretty good traction, (and i ran the hell out of it) and the transmission never gave me a problem. I estimate that it had a bit more than 375 H.P. by the mph it ran in the 1/4 but that was about it.
So really, it's up to you with the abuse you are really going to do to it, and if you are an animal with the way you treat your car!
JMHO as always,
Tom.