Aspen Street Build

[77Aspen]

I have a 77 Dodge Aspen sedan that has the slant six and the A904. I got the car for pretty cheap and once I got it running I made one of the most embarrassing rookie mistakes ever, I didn't verify that the temp gauge worked so I promptly heat seized the engine when I took it for it's maiden voyage. I was already building a 400 horse 318 for my 77 D100 but I think it would do better in the Aspen. The 904 has no reverse and slips horribly but I have another 904 out of a 74 Duster and a 904 lock up style out of a 78 Volare. My dad had a 78 Aspen Wagon with a slant six and A833. He thinks I should put that behind the 318.

So my first question is, would it be worth my time to rebuild and manual valve body a 904? I'm not looking to build some crazy 9 second drag car but I would like it to be decently fast and decently fun. My other question is, 904 or A833? Is the coolness factor of the 833 worth the effort of buying one and hanging the pedals and running the linkages and such or should I stick with a 904? Thanks in advance!

 

[340-4speed]

3 pedals always

 

[Camtron]

How much cash and What do you want to do with the car? Weekend cruiser, track car, garage Queen that’s only getting driven a few times a year? 3 peddles are ALWAYS cool, but some of the fastest (and best Mopar trans builders at that) run reverse manual 904s in their cars.

 

[Oldiron440]

Either way you go your going to need to swap the rear axle assembly for a 8 3/4” from a B body…

 

[77Aspen]

How much cash and What do you want to do with the car? Weekend cruiser, track car, garage Queen that’s only getting driven a few times a year? 3 peddles are ALWAYS cool, but some of the fastest (and best Mopar trans builders at that) run reverse manual 904s in their cars.

I'm looking for something that I can, if necessary, reliably drive but more over I'd like to be somewhat competitive at my local 1/8th mile track. Money really isn't an issue because this is going to be a long term project so I'll build it slowly as time goes on. I have a 3 speed d100 and a 5 speed Toyota pickup so I'm new to "building" an automatic and it interests me quite a bit.

 

[Camtron]

Build the 904. Stage 2 shift kit, performance clutches and steals, performance bands, dual seal billet servo & accumulator with new springs, reverse wound direct clutch spring, 4.2 ratio band apply lever and billet band strut. Think about a billet front drum they really cut down the rotating weight and could potentially save your foot if the trans ever let loose under load. Far as rebuild manuals, there’s a few…get all of them. They’re all similar in that they could be better but all three pair up nicely to give clear and detailed information to get it done correctly.

Most everyone will tell you to go to CRT for trans parts, I’d recommend A&A transmission in Camby Indiana or Mr. Randy (eBay seller)…the latter two are who CRT has been buying and reselling performance parts from so, may as well go straight to the original sources.

 

[Darter6]

Tho not written in stone,way back in the 60's the saying was,, No one can shift faster than a well programed torquefilte.
That saying has stuck with me for over 50 years.
I like Camtron's thinking.

 

[halfafish]

My dad had a 78 Aspen Wagon with a slant six and A833. He thinks I should put that behind the 318.

Here's another vote for going the three-pedal route but then I'm a three-pedal guy. Hanging the pedals is easy-peasy. All the linkages and whatnot are a different story. If it was me, I'd just go with a hydraulic clutch and be done with it. Easy-peasy part II.

However, 904 or 833 is up to you and your personal preference. If you go manual you might want to factor in that the A833 from your Dad's car is quite likely an OD version. I think that's a great thing but opinions on that will differ. Behind a slant the big gap between first and second gears is noticeable. Behind a 318, even a relatively modest one, is less of an issue. The other thing to deal with is finding a correct bellhousing. A V-8 A833OD bell is a pretty scarce item, but they are around. Far simpler is getting a regular one and opening up the hole in the rear to accept the larger snout on the OD trans.