slant six 3sp. to 4 sp. conversion

2 Darts said

Whoa guys! The 4-speed was available behind the 64-65 /6. It had a lower first gear than the V-8 transmissions. It would fit the same bell housing as the 3-speed manuals.

The 4-speed didn't show up behind the /6 until 75 or 76, and then in OD form. The 833 OD has a larger front bearing that requires the newer bellhousing to go along with it.

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My 68 Barracuda was orignally a \6 3pd manual car. The bell housing definately would NOT accept a 4spd tranny. The bell housing only had one bolt pattern and there was not even enough surface area to drill and tap for the larger bolt pattern of the A833.

The bell housing I wound up using (along with the A833OD) was from an 81 D100 pick-up that was a \6 and A833OD. This bell housing had both bolt patterns.

I can't speak for the early a-bodies or the later cars but my car had a bell housing that was definately only for the 3spd manual tranny.

There are a couple of approaches to fitting an A833OD to a car that didn't have one with out getting the later bell housing with the larger 5.125 hole.

1. If the bell you have has the 4.180 opening you can replace the retainer on the front of the A833OD with a 4.180 one or machine the one you have.
2. Have the opening on the bell housing machined to 5.125.