Soon i am going to want to pull the 904 out of my 65 valiant. The thing leaks like a siv at every possible crevice, also has trouble getting out of gear when switched to nuetral. I'd like to get a 2nd trans to either swap or rebuild first then swap. My question is is there any trans i would prefer over another, as far as years go? I know later ones have wider range of gear. I have a super mild 225 with a 2.93 rear end. Will anything else work better for a stock driver?

Interchange (without vehicle and/or transmission modifications that can grow complicated and costly) is 1965-only. Unless you happen to stumble upon another '65 transmission, it is probably going to be best and most cost-effective to rebuild the one you have, or have it rebuilt.

The wide-ratio '80-up gearset can be swapped into the early transmission (more complicated and costly to do than it might sound). My bank account and I both have the scars to prove it. I disliked that setup and wished I hadn't done it; it's just not a very good match on the street with the 2.76-2.93-3.23 (or numerically higher) rear axle ratios our cars tend to have.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Thank you didnt know its a one year omly deal, figured since its not push button I'd have some room to play with years wise. Guess not

That wiggle room starts a little in '66 (direct interchange '66-'67) but really opens up in '68 (direct interchange '68 through '87).

The '65s used a lever shifter on the floor or steering column, but still had the two cables (one gear select, one park) of the former pushbutton setup. There were changes made to the valve body for '65 to allow lever rather than pushbutton actuation of the cables.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I really would like to build my own, i have a manual from a member here, but seems so overwhelming and if i do build the current one I'd need to make sure i got a spare car worthy of driving everywhere. A 11sec vw isnt the funnest thing daily. Its still in peices too. A auto trans might take me a while to get finished.

As already noted, it's the 65 only valve body that makes this year "special".
It is possible to use eariler "cable shift" 904s and get them to interchange by swapping valve bodies.
DD

If you want it rebuilt right contact Woody B. If you have trouble PM me and Ill get you 2 together. He REALLY can do a 904 right:)
Frank
PS he is up in Northern CA.

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Scrapple: Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
73 Duster - Race Car
66 Dart Wagon - DD
178" FED
82 D150
All Slant powered

Hey Dan, how'd you accomplish the wide ratio gear swap? I tried it years ago & ended up with a trans full of metal shavings. Mixed & matched stock parts- Looked-felt pretty good on assembly. Fired it up & hit the button- GROWWWLLL! (no go ) The early output shaft I found out has 23(?) splines while the later front planetary cage has 24(!!) splines.
Did you have a custom gearset made?

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63 Valiant Wagon
225 - 4 bbl

Yep, I found that out, also. I was lucky, I found it while it was still on the bench. As far as I know, the earliest year that will take the low gearset is 1966. But you also have to change the output shaft, to the late style. 1965 and down, the output cannot be swapped (without machineing work) due to the flange on the end.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225