Hello all
I came upon your web site when looking for information about 833 overdrives. First I'm sorry but I have a big block b body, sorry. I was reading the article from Rob Armstrong (Dusteridiot) and saw his special tip below:
Special tip: On an OD 833, never slide the front synchro clutch sleeve (shift fork collar) "rearward" to engage the OD synchro and gear. The OD gear is so small that it will not stop the sleeve's travel so it will overextend and allow the spring loaded clutch struts to pop out of position. (These struts can be reinserted but it is a lot of extra work, especially on an assembled tranny.

Here is my problem, I installed one of these transmission in my car and on the test drive....it got stuck in 4th gear, and I mean stuck! We pulled the tranny and then the cover and found one strut popped up. Any ideas or tips you could give would be helpful. Should I have it rebuilt (it is used). AND WHY DID THIS HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING?

Thanks for your time

Great site

Roadrunnerdoug
dburkhalter@yahoo.com

My guess whould be the linkage may have not been adjusted right and allowed some 'over travel', just allowing the sleeve to move forward enough to let one of the toggles wedge out (been there...didn't like it).

If this is the case, you'll have to pull the box, pull the mainshaft, pull the sleeve, have a buddy help you get the toggles back into place and get the sleeve centered on the toggles, then put it all back together...that would be the 'easiest' (it can be done in the case, but if you have big hands it makes it harder due to close quarters). Recheck the linkage and make sure the shift rods are in the correct postion when the shift mechanism is 'pinned' (1/4" thick nail) into neutral.

If you get frustrated and have a shop rebuild it, and you tranny is an aluminum case unit, have them 'sleeve/bush' the countershaft holes at the bottom of the main casing, it will take your massive torque better and not oval out those holes it sits into.

Hope that helps somewhat, welcome to the board...now you'll have to pick up an A-body to tinker with!

Others may have some other tricks or advice on this subject. Best of luck to you, let us know how you turn out!.

I think I will give a try to fixing it myself. Maybe I would stop kicking it if I could get it on a bench instead of the garage floor. I really appreciate your help. To be honest I didn't even know that it was an overdrive transmission, I kind of thought all the 70-74 tranny's were the same for e/b bodys. I just checked the bearing retainer and made sure that it was the same as the bellhousing I bought. We didn't even start running numbers on it until after the problem. It's not the aluminum case so I shouldn't have to worry about torque (440 monsters will do that - thanks). I'll pull it apart and see what I can do, are those three toggles in a regular 4 speed? The reason I ask is the 70 shop manual is pretty detailed to the point were I can get the main shaft out and try to fix it (if the regular four speeds have them.)

It should be interesting, I've been driving with a borrowed four speed for two weeks now and the car is more exciting to drive every day. Of course I've owned it for more than 6 years and have been planning the 4 speed change over for about .... more than 6 years.

I see your down in Oregon, I'm just up north in Seattle. Ever see a 70 roadrunner bangin gears on I-5 honk, its probably me. For she is my one and only daily driver.


Oh and by the way, my buddy and I just bought a 68 barracuda fastback, of course I've already talked him into pulling the 318 and putting in the 383 from my roadrunner.....sorry. We just put in a 8 3/4 this weekend, now of any good deals on A-body 8 3/4 large bolt pattern axles?

Thanks Again
Bigblock B body again
Doug

The dis/re-assembly of the A-833 is the same for all models, I'd even print out a copy of our article to supplement what you may not have.
All of the manual trannies I've worked with A-833, recently the A-230 have those things. The only difference in the OD is the 3/4 gearing is backwards on the mainshaft (the 'tiny' gear is overdrive, and 3rd/'direct' locks the input shaft to the mainshaft). So if you have a manual and just keep in mind that there is a 'small' difference in the gear box you should have no problems getting it pulled apart fixed and back together again in an afternoon.

Some things to note: Some tech articles in Hot Rod (back in the 80's), etc say you can use RTV instead of gaskets: It works, especially if the side plate doesn't want to sit flush due to warpage, but it may look a bit ugly with all the goo smunching out.
Make sure to get a couple of replacement dormann plugs for the countershaft, you may have to drill and 'destroy' them to get the mainshaft out.
When reassembling, make sure to 'goop' those same plugs with RTV/silicone or they will bleed the tranny dry in a week or less.
Depending on your 'stance' or what advice you've received from others, decide what you'll run in the box for oil/fluid....Mopar specified Dexron/Mercon in their service manuals...some guys run it and say it shifts better, I run 90wt in my box...it makes for some stiff shifts on cold mornings, but it tends to lube the gears better and keep the coated when it's idle (parked). It's your choice.
Take some notes, I'd hate for you to get the shift levers in the wrong position and wonder why OD revs higher than 3rd (lever flipped the wrong way).

You can PM me via this board, and if you're heading down this way, give me a heads up, I always like to hook up with guys passing through the area.

good luck,

-D.Idiot

There is a chance that the spring(s) behind the strut is weak or broken.
There are two springs which hold-up each side of the struts, if both sides of the strut are not supported they can cock and jam as yours did.
See the exploded view of the 833 trans, the springs are more like wire "C" clips, items #37 & 39 in the diagram.
http://www.dutra.org/photos/833-4-speed.jpg

You can "fiddle" the strut back into place with-out disassembling the trans but there is a good chance that that the problem will re-occur. It is best to pull the trans apart and carefullly inspect everything, especially the struts and spring clips that support them.

While the tranny is apart you may want to put new bearings and syncrows into the unit just so you know you are starting with new stuff. (these are the 'high wear" items)
DD

Because you say you didn't even know it was an OD unit, just to make absolutely sure you are aware of it, I'll remind you that the 3/4 lever on the outside of the trans is reversed from normal 4spd orientation. Good luck.

_________________
'66 Cuda 225/4spd
'66 Dart GT convertible 225/auto
'64 Dart GT 340/4spd

Thanks Bud, I hate to admit it but the first test drive I shifted from 2nd to 3rd and my car almost died....thats when we decided.....oh we have something different here. We turned over the shift lever and then had the major problem.

Thanks