I did up a spreadsheet to figure out gear ratios versus speed, and it looks like it will work very well. 1st gear on the Saginaw with a 3.07 falls slightly higher than 2nd gear on the SM420 with a 4.11, which is what I always start out in right now and it is a bit low.
I should be able to stay in the powerband of the 261 all the time, too, with I probably couldn't do with the SM420.
This is the nicest used transmission I have ever seen, and there is no noticable wear anywhere, and the seal on the output yoke looks new. The input shaft bearing feels really good. The shift levers pop right into and out of gear like butter, and the detents all have about the same amount of feel. I'm going to pull the cover and check out the innards before I use it.
I'll probably order a new Hurst shifter from Jeg's and fab a bracket and levers. I am really picky about shifter feel.
Where does the shifter come out in a AD truck if you mount it right where the main housing and tailhousing meet?
Thanks for the heads up about the master cylinder, that was something I was planning on doing.
Anyone got any pictures of the shifter installed?
