New guy 79 factory 4 speed wagon.
- Thread starter Mighty
- Start date
Checking back in. Grabbed one of these retractable lights off of an early 90’s Chevy truck that was about to be scrapped. I’ve always thought these things were super nifty and always wanted one for no particular reason at all. I think I’m going to mount it on the firewall or passenger fender in my wagon and hook it up.
Yep that’s the plan. Haven’t screwed with the wagon much lately, mostly have been sanding down the body on my old dodge dually. I have been doing a ton of reading (mostly car forum stuff) in the evenings when I get into bed about older 4 speed transmissions. Sure does sound like the ford top loaders and Chrysler A833’s were pretty stout. I think I’m going to try to start looking into an emergency brake for my wagon to do over the winter. See if there’s one available for a GM car with a 9inch rearend available
The factory emergency brake assembly should work, unless you have disc brakes in the rear...then you will have to adapt something between the end of the first cable, where the adjuster is, and the rear.
Yes, the Muncie, Toploader, and A833 were the thing to have for strength. The Super T10 is also good. Each type of transmission gets stronger as the numerical ratio of first gear gets lower, for example, a 2.43:1 Super T10 is stronger than a 3:45 Super T10.
Yes, the Muncie, Toploader, and A833 were the thing to have for strength. The Super T10 is also good. Each type of transmission gets stronger as the numerical ratio of first gear gets lower, for example, a 2.43:1 Super T10 is stronger than a 3:45 Super T10.
Right that’s why I chose the 2.43 back when I ordered it. One of my best friends from childhood his dad and uncle started a similar project on a 85 step side c10 2wd truck back around the time we were in high school in the late 90’s-early 2000’s. They took the 305 and factory stick shift out and bought a 383 crate motor from Texas speed and a tremec 5 speed but never completed the project. He and I actually hooked up some fuel lines a couple years ago and started it for the first time ever when he got an itch to finish putting it together and drive it. I told him next time he goes to his parents house to let me know because I’d like to look at the original transmission that was in it that’s still sitting in his barn. From my online searches, and correct me if I’m wrong, GM actually used some of the Chrysler a833’s or something very similar in some of their 2wd 80’s trucks? I think his was a “4 speed with a granny gear” if I remember right? I’m sure it’s probably not as strong as say an iron big block a833 from the 60’s or 70’s though. I think GM called it the np440? I’d like to see if it’s that transmission or the sm465.
Chrysler built some A833s with 4th gear overdriven. Some Ford Toploaders are also the same.
The first Tremec swaps in Mustangs were a Jeep transmission (TR3550). The first time I heard of it was in the mid-to-late 1990s. They were stronger than the T5, but nothing like the TKOs of today. I think after the Mustang swap got popular, those transmissions got a lot of attention and they gradually made them stronger.
According to Wikipedia, the 4 speed would have been a Saginaw SM465 4 speed or a New Process NP833 overdrive 4 speed. The NP833 should be an A833 with an overdrive gearset.
Chevrolet C/K (third generation) - Wikipedia
The bearing retainer hole in the bellhousing was larger than for a car. I see those bellhousings on eBay at times and the sellers think they are for a car with a 168-tooth flywheel. To use it in a car, you need a bushing for the hole.
The first Tremec swaps in Mustangs were a Jeep transmission (TR3550). The first time I heard of it was in the mid-to-late 1990s. They were stronger than the T5, but nothing like the TKOs of today. I think after the Mustang swap got popular, those transmissions got a lot of attention and they gradually made them stronger.
According to Wikipedia, the 4 speed would have been a Saginaw SM465 4 speed or a New Process NP833 overdrive 4 speed. The NP833 should be an A833 with an overdrive gearset.
Chevrolet C/K (third generation) - Wikipedia
The bearing retainer hole in the bellhousing was larger than for a car. I see those bellhousings on eBay at times and the sellers think they are for a car with a 168-tooth flywheel. To use it in a car, you need a bushing for the hole.
Ahh interesting stuff. I was curious to see what the original bellhousing looked like. So if it’s the NP833 is that actually a really good stout transmission like I’ve been reading about from muscle cars back in the day? Other than the gearing obviously? I started reading posts from the early 2000’s on different forums of guys bolting top loaders and Chrysler units to small and big block Chevys and the work that had to be done to complete the task. I had no idea GM used a Chrysler design in the trucks and I think on one of the Pontiac forums I was reading on they mentioned some of the 60’s (I think) Pontiac had 3 speed ford top loader transmissions? I had no idea
The OD transmissions will be weaker because of the different gearing.
The NP833 had a GM bolt pattern. I know someone who put one in their Monte Carlo SS.
1987 Monte Carlo SS - 305/A833
The Toploader used in the Pontiac had GM bolt patterns.
Dearborn 3 speed toploader trans
The Muncie also came in a 3-speed flavor. I have only seen 1 that a friend had on his shelf many years ago. The 3-speed manual was the standard equipment (hence the term "standard"); the 4-speed was an option. I have seen stories about 3-speed muscle cars. I drove a 3-speed 340 Duster once in the late 1970s, that a friend bought, before it was taken apart and the body scrapped.
The NP833 had a GM bolt pattern. I know someone who put one in their Monte Carlo SS.
1987 Monte Carlo SS - 305/A833
The Toploader used in the Pontiac had GM bolt patterns.
Dearborn 3 speed toploader trans
The Muncie also came in a 3-speed flavor. I have only seen 1 that a friend had on his shelf many years ago. The 3-speed manual was the standard equipment (hence the term "standard"); the 4-speed was an option. I have seen stories about 3-speed muscle cars. I drove a 3-speed 340 Duster once in the late 1970s, that a friend bought, before it was taken apart and the body scrapped.
Were the older a833’s and top loaders all iron cases? Sounds like the aluminum cases flexed over time and was a weakness. Obviously there’s other designs differences that helped add strength too on the actual guts. I also read that the t56 is very similar in design to the top loader
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