Hi all,

Can anyone tell me if there was ever a 4 speed automatic gearbox offered with the slant?

If there was such a beast can you list it's part number?

What model cars/trucks did it come out on?

thanks in advance,
Eyman

Eyman,

There was never such a box offered, but there was a factory Mopar adapter to put a smallblock trans behind a Slant. I have used one of these to put an A500 4spd auto into my '68 Dart. Also, www.arengineering.com is tooling up to offer an aluminum version of the factory adapter plate so that you can run smallblock Mopar trannys behind Slants, including the A500 and A518 OD autos.

Cheers,

Lou

_________________
Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Thanks for your reply Lou.

I'm doing some research for an upcoming install and am wanting to convert my 3speed manual to 4 speed auto without the hassle of getting custom bell housings made up here in Australia.

What is the difference between the 500 & 518?

How do the A500/A518 boxes rate compared to the 904/727?

Are they strong?

Are there any electronics/computer involved?

Any idea of how much torque they can handle?

Any idea as to what the boxes are worth over there?

Are they readily available in the US?

When were they released?

What cars/motors did they come out on?

Sorry for the multitude of questions - I do appreciate your assistance.

cheers,
Eyman

I recently made an inquiry about an A-500 out of a 1992 Dodge Dakota Pickup with a 5.2L V-8 for AREngineering to help Andy on the project. They are very desired items, and run locally at $750 out of a wrecked vehicle.....

The one's that will be a thebest are the 1990(89?)-1992(3?) units that have the mechanical governors in them, somewhere around 1993 the A-518's started to get the computer controlled guts, so that;s something to watch for and avoid. The other units, just have to have a switch wired up to activate/deactivate the OD.

I'm surprised you aren't swapping in a 4 speed box, or an OD 4speed manual box, since you already have the clutch and flywheel setup.

-D.Idiot

They are in demand, although there seem to be some brand new units available from Mopar dealers for around $1300. They are pretty heavy - like 50 lbs more than a 904.

The 500 is just a 904 with a widened and lengthened tailhousing and different guts, and the 518 is the 727 version. NO, you cannot swap a tailsection onto an older 904 or 727.

You may want to check out gearvendors.com too since they make 0.78:1 OD units that replace the tailhousing on a 904 or 727 - $2000 but a much easier swap.

DI is right about years. Anything late 80s to 93 is good, but after that it is all computer controlled. You could get the ECU from a vehicle maybe to make a later trans run right. They came in Dakota and Ram trucks and Vans starting in about 1988 and through the present.

Strength: they are not known for really high strength, but should be comparable to a 904/727. The A500 I put in my '68 Dart was a junkyard unit that I just did a homemade shift kit on and installed - no problems 20k later and it shifts hard.

Hope these help,

Lou

_________________
Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Thanks very much for your replies fellas.

I'm going to be converting my Aussie 225 to EFI soon, with a turbo setup to follow in the months after that. Now I don't want to build a fire-breathing strip monster, just a smooth and tractable cruiser with a bit of poke up it's sleeve. For that reason I wish to convert to auto. I figure the car will be easier to drive auto than manual, and I'm pretty certain that the A500 is stronger than my Borg Warner 3 speed manual.

I'll be sure to keep you all posted.

Thanks once again,
Eyman