Depends on the trans, Bill, but most OD tranmissions have a distinctly
separate part that houses several plantary gears and a reducer to lower the
ratio. The Tranmission is usually longer than standard to house this extra
gearing. I have several of the 57-58 Chevy 3-speed OD trannys, and they have
a different rear housing that is longer, to house the extra reduction
gearing. I think the front part is the same, though. At one point in time,
there was an after-market company that produced an add-on OD unit that fit
between the tail shaft of the trans and a cut-down driveshaft. I doubt it's
still available, though. A more modern solution was one written up in Car
Craft mag a few years ago, it used a Mopar A-833 tranmission with OD, it has
the same GM bellhousing bolt housing so it is a virtual bolt-in to a Chevy,
albeit it need a slight machining of the front bearing housing to slip in the
bell housing. I think the early '70s aluminum trans was specified, NOT the
older one which is cast iron.
Anyway, that's all my knowledge I can transfer. Mind meld complete....
Jerry Casper
'55 Chevy Suburban, languising project truck
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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