do i have an OD transmission?

[505challenger]

i just bought a transmission i was told was out of an e-body, it has a long tailhousing (rust color) but the trans looks like aluminum    it only weighs, im, guessing, 80#.   also, i ordered shift levers for an "e-body" trans, will they still work on this trans if its an OD?

[Road_Runner]

Sounds like your tailshaft is iron.  I thought the O/D 833 transmissions were all aluminum, but I either could be wrong about that or yours could have been changed in the last 30 years.  The fact that its body is aluminum would seem to indicated its a later model (not 60's or early 70's), but I myself don't know how to identify a O/D trans externally other than possibly part numbers cast into it.  Even then someone could have changed the internal gears over time.  As far as I know, as long as you mount your shifter in the rearward E-body position on the tailhousing your std. E-body linkage should work fine either way.  That said, there's more experienced people here than I am and I look forward to them confirming or correcting what I've said.

Later, Jim

[505challenger]

also the bearing retainer is about 5.12 inches and wont fit into my bellhousing that i bought seperatly.

[Changin Gears]

You have the truck OD trans.  It can be mae to work, if you want an OD.

[73Chally]

  But the downside to the truck OD is there is a large gap in the gear ratios, particularly the 1-2 shift.  If you have a healthy big block it won't be much of an issue, but will not give you much in the redlight racing category.

[72bluNblu]

Here's a great article on the 833 transmissions, both standard and overdrive...

http://www.slantsix.org/articles/4-speeds/ODA833fourspeed1.htm

Nothing wrong with the OD transmission, its pretty strong (not quite as strong as a non-OD 833 though) and the OD is great for longer drives. Good for a street car. All the OD trans, truck or otherwise, had the same ratio for gears 1-3. 4th, the OD gear, was the only difference, and the truck version had a .71:1 ratio instead of a .73:1 ratio. Gear ratio's were

1975 thru 1987 Overdrive 3.09:1 - 1.67:1 - 1:1 - 0.73:1 (Trucks used a 0.71:1 fourth)

So there is a big gap between first and second. Not a big deal on a street car, not so great for racing. They do have the larger bearing retainer in front, so you'll need to either get a new bell housing or have it opened up. The shift levers you bought will work fine too, you just have to flip one of the shift levers for use on the OD transmission. With the OD you can run 3.91 rear gears, have a great take off in first (12.1 start ratio!), and still cruise easily at freeway speeds (can you say 75 mph at 2600 rpm with 27" tires?)

[505challenger]

thanks for the great info and all youre responses, the only downside is that i got pertty screwed on the price   i paid $650 for it!!

[Chryco Psycho]

Ouch

[72bluNblu]

thanks for the great info and all youre responses, the only downside is that i got pertty screwed on the price   i paid $650 for it!!

Ouch is right! I paid $150 for my last 833OD.

[Aussie Challenger]

      I would want them to install for that price as well.   

[73EStroker]

505 and all other newbies - before you pay for parts ask this forum if the price is right. There is so much talent here you will be advised in a heartbeat if you are about to be screwed. Might save you cash or the fact you could be buying the incorrect part for your application.