Opinions and experience with Passon 4 speed overdrive setup

[KillerBee]

Going to do some 4 speed transmission work over the winter on my Challenger.

The setup is a strong street/strip 440 powered 1971 R/T Challenger.
The 440 engine will be getting freshened up and Edelbrock aluminum heads installed

Rear end is a Dana 60 with 3.73 gear.

Current transmission is the numbers matching 23 spline 4 speed that's getting tired and needs to be gone through.

*Option one is to store the original transmission and install a fresh E body 18 spline Hemi 4 speed I also have.

*Option two is to buy the 4 speed overdrive gear set from Passon and have it installed in the numbers matching 23 spline 4 speed when I have it gone through.

The Challenger is street driven 80% of the time and it would be nice to be able to drive on the highway longer distances to car shows/cruise ins etc.

BUT I also enjoy taking the car to the strip and also occasionally running the car hard on the street against some of my Chebbie and Furd buddies and really don't want to sacrifice performance.
I know what my Hemi 4 speed is capable of behind a strong big block but the 18 spline Passon setup is equally as strong as long as the overdrive gear set ratios aren't an expen$ive disappointment.

So for those who have (or know people who do) the 4 speed overdrive from Passon how do you like it?
Will the 3.73 gear in the Dana work OK?
How does setup work when driving the car hard on the street or at the strip?
How much of a RPM drop off is there when shifting hard through the gears?
How much performance or 1/4 mile ET will I be giving up?
I'm assuming you obviously only use 1st through 3rd gear when racing or running he car hard.

Thanks for any info and advice.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Did passion ever get their lead times sorted out?

What about a gear vendors?


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[KillerBee]

Did passion ever get their lead times sorted out?

What about a gear vendors?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You might be thinking of Passon's completely new 5 speed transmission that has a 4 year plus waiting list.

I'm considering his 4 speed 18 spline overdrive gear set that installs in a factory 4 speed transmission case.
https://www.passonperformance.com/images/stories/passon_documents/Passon_Overdrive_Flyer_20091109.pdf

It was available that last time I talked to Passon.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

You might be thinking of Passon's completely new 5 speed transmission that has a 4 year plus waiting list.

I'm considering his 4 speed 18 spline overdrive gear set that installs in a factory 4 speed transmission case.
https://www.passonperformance.com/images/stories/passon_documents/Passon_Overdrive_Flyer_20091109.pdf

It was available that last time I talked to Passon.

That's right, the 5 speed had the intergalactic backlog. I think the 3+OD ratios are too steep when driving for performance.


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[Finoke]

I love mine. 70 Barracuda with 426 hemi, Passon 18 spline 4 speed overdrive, Dr Diff 4:10 Dana rear.

Lots of grunt and tame on the highway in 4th. In 4th gear my rear ratio is more like 3:23.

I had an 18 spline with a Liberty gear set that I had Passon convert for me. Jamie gave me credit on the Liberty gear set because it was perfect.

Tom

[Rolling_Thunder]

Honestly...    why not just run a factory OD 4-speed?     I know the gear ratios are wide but if you're driving mostly on the street it would be completely fine.  Some will say they are wear - my buddy has run one for years in a blown 55 Dodge pickup with 18" wide rubber....   

If you want to strengthen the OD trans just swap the guys into a iron case and the vast majority of weakness goes away   

[67vertman]

I too am running a Passon 4 sp OD unit.  I have been running it for two years now and absolutely love it.  My combo is a 440 EFI 6pac, OD 4sp and Dana 60 with 4:10 gears.  One thing you will notice right off is the drop in RPM in 4th (now OD) gear. I went from 3400 rpm at 65 MPH to 2200/2300, makes driving on the highway a pleasure now. The other thing is the run out between gears, by that I mean the time between having to shift gears.  With the overdrive there is a bigger drop in RPM between 1/2, 2/3 and 3/4 than the stock 4sp. 

[Travis Blake]

You might be thinking of Passon's completely new 5 speed transmission that has a 4 year plus waiting list.

I'm considering his 4 speed 18 spline overdrive gear set that installs in a factory 4 speed transmission case.
https://www.passonperformance.com/images/stories/passon_documents/Passon_Overdrive_Flyer_20091109.pdf

It was available that last time I talked to Passon.

Four years for the 5 speed!!!??? Damn! There goes that idea.

[Road_Runner]

I too am running a Passon 4 sp OD unit.  I have been running it for two years now and absolutely love it.  My combo is a 440 EFI 6pac, OD 4sp and Dana 60 with 4:10 gears.  One thing you will notice right off is the drop in RPM in 4th (now OD) gear. I went from 3400 rpm at 65 MPH to 2200/2300, makes driving on the highway a pleasure now. The other thing is the run out between gears, by that I mean the time between having to shift gears.  With the overdrive there is a bigger drop in RPM between 1/2, 2/3 and 3/4 than the stock 4sp.

Is the drop in rpm between gears in any way a negative?  How much do you think it affects max acceleration vs a close ratio box?  I'm looking at stroking the 383 to either 450 or 489 with a carb six pack setup at least initially, have a 4.10 dana ready to go in so my setup could be very similar to yours.  I can't see paying the price for the 5 speed at least not with the waiting time such as it is.  Any more specific feedback you can provide would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks, Jim

Thanks, Jim

[67vertman]

Is the drop in rpm between gears in any way a negative?  How much do you think it affects max acceleration vs a close ratio box?  I'm looking at stroking the 383 to either 450 or 489 with a carb six pack setup at least initially, have a 4.10 dana ready to go in so my setup could be very similar to yours.  I can't see paying the price for the 5 speed at least not with the waiting time such as it is.  Any more specific feedback you can provide would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks, Jim

Thanks, Jim

Not really, as I have plenty of torque and HP to overcome the drop, and you should too.  If it was a stock 318/340/383, I think it would be pretty noticeable unless you had some pretty stout gears in it. I do miss the closeness of the close ratio 4sp at times, otherwise it is a great driving trans.  I have been on the list for the 5sp for almost 4 years, and last I talked to Jamie, over six months ago, I am still a year away from getting mine.  I will still purchase and install it when my time comes, that way I get the best of both worlds. Until then I am extremely happy with the 4sp OD.

[Road_Runner]

Not really, as I have plenty of torque and HP to overcome the drop, and you should too.  If it was a stock 318/340/383, I think it would be pretty noticeable unless you had some pretty stout gears in it. I do miss the closeness of the close ratio 4sp at times, otherwise it is a great driving trans.  I have been on the list for the 5sp for almost 4 years, and last I talked to Jamie, over six months ago, I am still a year away from getting mine.  I will still purchase and install it when my time comes, that way I get the best of both worlds. Until then I am extremely happy with the 4sp OD.

I kind of thought a big block stroker would have enough torque to power through the rpm drops.  Heck, if you get your 5 speed before I pull the trigger on the o/d trans and you're looking to sell, let me know at the time.

Thanks, Jim

[67vertman]

I kind of thought a big block stroker would have enough torque to power through the rpm drops.  Heck, if you get your 5 speed before I pull the trigger on the o/d trans and you're looking to sell, let me know at the time.

Thanks, Jim

I will add you to the list  ....I think you are number 4 now.     everyone want to buy my used one and not order a new one.

[Fern]

As someone suggested, why not look at the gear venders unit.
You keep the 4 speed and add the overdrive.
Best of both worlds.

[60K T/A]

Just might have to.

[EbodyMod]

FWIW I plan on keeping my 727 manual valve body using a gear vendors unit and some kilduff lightning rod shifters.