View attachment 1715430017
View attachment 1715430018 View attachment 1715430019 View attachment 1715430017 View attachment 1715430018 View attachment 1715430019 I see that there's not a whole lot of information in regards to faceplated 833 transmissions.
I am going to share my experience with assembly and results of having a faceplated transmission.
I sent my gear set to Libertys Gears for the faceplating machine work, cryo treatment, and thermal stabilization.
Turnaround time time was about 1 month. When I received the gears, I was very impressed with the welding,machine work, and surface finish.
What Libertys did not tell me, even though I specifically asked them, is that the trans does not go together like a stock gearset. Due to the faceplates on 4th gear, re-assembly requires that the cluster gear lays in the bottom of the case then drop the mainshaft assembly into place, lift the cluster gear in place, then slide the arbor through the cluster gear. Keep in mind that the cluster gear thrust washers have to be held in place during this process.
The next challenge that Libertys did not tell me about, is that a special 3-4 fork needs to be purchased from Libertys, as the stock fork hits the case before engaging 4th gear.
I also have a Libertys modified shift cover, and I radiused and polished the shift selector detents, and shortened the shift levers so that my Hurst RamRod only has about 3" of travel between the gears.
First driving impressions were exactly what I expected, very harsh and loud shifts.
I've been daily driving it to work for about 2 weeks. I've got it to the point that I can down shift as silently and smoothly as a synchro box.
Ive found that if I let the rpm drop to an idle between up shifts, it will silently drop into gear.
I've read numerous posts from people that say that it needs to be slammed into gear regardless of rpm or whether it is being granny shifted or powershifted. My combo of aluminum flywheel, .528" DC solid lifter cam and 3:55's does not require this style of shifting.
As for no lift foot to the floor powershifting at 6500 rpm... it's effing amazing !!!
This is by far the best modification I've ever done to the car. I will never have another syncro'd trans again!
I have another box on the bench that needs rebuilt, and it will be faceplated shortly. In my case the syncro teeth on the speed gears were wiped out anyway, so faceplatingin this case was cheaper than buying a new gearset.
If anyone is considering this, I would encourage them to do it!!
Don't listen to all the horror stories that people post saying that they are not suited for serious street miles. If you take the time to understand your how your combination wants to be shifted, you will be able to shift smoothly and silently under normal driving, and when you want to play some high rpm shifting games, just tap the clutch and pull a gear.
The strangest part was training my left leg to keep up with my right hand, after so many years of shifting with synchros.