A833 versions - how to pick?

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MRGTX

MRGTX

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I’m daydreaming about a conversion kit...Brewer’s performance offers a complete kit and it looks like Passion may have most of the parts too.

I’m really at square one here, hoping for some wisdom regarding the A833.

I’m going for backroads driving fun...which probably would favor closer ratios.

Overdrive seems like a waste with “only” four gears...but it sure would be nice to save a tiny bit of gas...jury is out on that one.

I don’t anticipate running a blown big block at any point but a hot small block is certainly a possibility down the road...so I’d want it to be reliable with ~500hp.

I gather that there are aluminum case versions...are these strong enough for performance applications?

What do I need to know about 18 spline vs 23 spline? Are there other spline count versions?

Thanks for any advice.
 
I am going to take a stab at this, someone can correct me. My friend has an aluminum 18 spline, believe it was for a race Hemi. The 23 spline will be fine for what you are going to throw at it.
 
Passon? I be damned. I'd walk first.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Passon? I be damned. I'd walk first.
Click to expand...
I've got a Passon 4 speed in my car. It's fine.

Can't speak for his 5 speed though.

OP, if it's aluminum case A Body 4 speed, you're sitting on gold. Odds are it's an Overdrive unit.

Otherwise, grab an iron case 4 speed and go. Unless you're drag racing, you won't see enough benefit in hunting down a specific unit, based on your intended application. They'll all do the job and all hold up fine.
 
Backroads you say?
Gear it right at the back, and this is a 1-gear deal; and then it don't matter which one you use.
With big power, forget the OD box, the 1-2 split is outrageous and you just don't need it.
Geared right, second is good from 40 to 80 mph.
The close-ratio box don't mean much in a streeter. Between the two remaining boxes, which one you use depends on your rear gear and your engine torque at about 2000rpm.

Say you chose the standard box; the ratios are 2.66-1.92-1.40-1.00, and say you put 3.55s in the back and say you run 27" tires. This is pretty common stuff.
So then, in second gear; 3500=41mph, and 4500=53, and 5500=65, and 6500=77mph, 7000=83mph.m And your starter gear is
2.66x3.55=9.44..
If you have plenty of bottom end torque, which you likely won't have with a combo that goes to 7000, then this will be weak off the line. So then;
I recommend the Commando ratios which are all very similar to the standard box, except first gear is 3.09, which gives you a starter gear of 3.09x3.55=10.97, much better.
And this ratio works for a tamer engine running 3.23s as well, giving you another option.
So then

Say you chose the Commando box; the ratios are 3.09-1.92-1.40-1.00, and say you put 3.23s in the back and say you run 27" tires.
So then, in second gear; 3500=45mph, and 4500=58, and 5500=71, and 6500=84mph, And the starter gear is
3.09 x3.23=9.98 very nice.

I have run this combo with a 335hp/367, and with a 430hp/367, and they were both a lot of fun. But on gravel, it gets a lil dicey after 50/55 mph.

My trans has the regular 1x23 input, and I bought a Passon aluminum box and sidecover, just cuz. I was running an aluminum box that I pirated from an OD box, and that I had installed a steel bushing into the front cluster pin bore. It was doing fine at 335hp.
I installed a B/E tail on mine, and moved the shifter to the rearmost pad, fabricating my own steel adapter-plate and elevating the shifter high up in the cab to between the buckets. I fabricated new shiftrods from cold-rolled pipes large enough to weld the cut-off ends of the old rods into.
That was 2005 I think, and I have never missed a shift since. Jus saying.
On the street, second gear is where the action is, and you don't need a whole lotta engine to have fun with, in a 3500pound car.
Happy HotRodding

Oh yeah, here are all the boxes, and their ratios, all are 1x23 inputs
2.66-1.92-1.40-1.00 the regular box
3.09-1.92-1.40-1.00 the Commando
3.09-1.67-1.00-.73od... the A/F body overdrive.
2.47-1.77-1.34-1.00 the TA
 
jos51700 said:
I've got a Passon 4 speed in my car. It's fine.

Can't speak for his 5 speed though.

OP, if it's aluminum case A Body 4 speed, you're sitting on gold. Odds are it's an Overdrive unit.

Otherwise, grab an iron case 4 speed and go. Unless you're drag racing, you won't see enough benefit in hunting down a specific unit, based on your intended application. They'll all do the job and all hold up fine.
Click to expand...

I hope you never have need of their customer service. I'm glad somebody got a good one.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I hope you never have need of their customer service. I'm glad somebody got a good one.
Click to expand...
I have heard a lot of horror stories there and especially about their 5 speed box.
 
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