The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Another Saginaw 4 Speed

I can hear everyone groan over the thought of another Saginaw thread..... I am in the process of building a 1959 chev 1/2 ton, short box, step side. I have a rebuilt 235 cu engine and replaced the old 3 speed trans with a Saginaw 4 speed that I was told was out of a Vega. When I bought the transmission I also scooped up the original shifter and linkage.

My original plan was to install Patrick’s Hurst shifter and linkage kit however that appears to no longer be an option. I would like to discuss my options going forward....

1. Is anyone aware of a supplier who offers the same product as Patrick’s once did?
2. Or does anyone have one of those Hurst’s shifter and linkage of Patrick’s that they would part with?
3. Is it an option to modify the original shifter and linkage? If so has anyone done so?
4. Other considerations would be cutting into the trans cover for the shifter lever and manufacturing something for that and boot....
5. I did not install an additional cross member transmission support. I have read that an additional support is not required.....

I welcome your discussion.

By the way I am located in Alberta Canada.

I installed a T&F Shifter in my '56 3100 with a Saginaw 4-speed. It mounts on top of the trans and puts the shifter in the factory location. I'm not sure if they are still in business...

Mike B

There is no easy answer. Patrick's out of business. Seems like T&F is also. You will have to fab a bracket and shorten the linkage. Would be nice to have good pics of Patricks or T&F to copy. The shifter may need no mods.
If you want to find someone that has something for sale you must use the Swap Meet wanted here. If you are like many newbies, we will never hear from you again.

Patrick simply bought Hurst shifters and sold them with a special handle, boot and retaining plate. As I recall the model he used was called (among other things) Competition Plus. I remember he had some problem with the reverse linkage rod. I want to say Hurst sold him a bunch of them for a different shifter. Good luck.

Thanks for the insight. I had an idea that it wasn’t going to be an easy process but when is anything ever easy.

Thank you Mike B for the T&F shifter reply. I had not heard of them. Although they are no longer making them, some google searching lead me to some pretty interesting sites of those making similar builds.

Jon G. I pulled the linkage and shifter body I had laying around that is out of an old Vega.... With the exception of the linkage there is not a lot useable. I have found some fairly detailed photographs on the web of others who have installed Patrick’s kit and my plan is to replicate that.

1. Would anyone recall or know of the correct part number for the hurst competition plus shifter? I have seen a pile on the web with all sorts of different part numbers and pricing.

2. Would anyone recall or know the dimensions of the offset bracket for the gear shifter arm?

3. I have a regular trans cover in the floor of my cab. Some people on the web mentioned a plate and boot that came with the kit? Would anyone have photos or some other information about this?

4. I believe that the offset bracket for the shifter mech should be fairly straight forward however if anyone has any photos or dimensions it would be appreciated.

Thanks

I know Hurst had several models under the "Competition Plus" banner...different models for Saginaw, Muncie, different models for Mustang, Firebird, etc, etc. I also know from visiting with Patrick when he was in the midst of working on his 3.55 gears, trans modification, etc that Hurst told Patrick sales of their 4 speed units had been declining steadily and I believe they were only making limited production runs. So I imagine this was the root of his linkage parts problems. I'd say a search on Craigslist or eBay ought to be your best avenue for finding one of these, but as you probably know the prices are pretty stiff. Good luck.

G-Town. I had a Saginaw 4 spd in my 54 3100 for a few years.took it out to put a t5 in. I still have it. It came out of a monza,i used the monza shifter , bolted to the top of the rear of the trans. I modified it and the linkage a fair amount.it works very well. If i could figure out how post pics id do that. If you are interested to see what i have PM me with an email that i can send pics to. Im not to far from you, in Prince George B,C.

Hey Quindel54. I would love to see some pics. Unfortunately my account does not allow for private messages at this point as I am a new member. I am unsure if you are able to pm me and I can respond.

Making the linkage would be trial and error but it could be done.
They are hardened steel.

Ill go into my garage today and dig it out of whereever i put it and take some pics. Ill pm later and see if that works. Can always wait until you can pm.

I forgot that ebay links are "verboten" in this forum.

But what is it? The Patrick's or home made? Are all the pics from the same Ebay sale ? or do you own this? Where did the pics come from?

No problems!

First pic (far left) is from a current ebay seller. No rods, bracket or stick.
I question the newer Hurst logo on the shifter housing.
The seller says this was a purchase from Hurst. A stock sell-off (Hurst part number 3915402).

Next 2 pics are of Patrick's shifter before installation (pics sent me by purchaser).

Next pic is Patrick's shifter with Patrick's torque tube adapter (this or another forum).

Last pic is a correction with the shift arm positions.

The shifter is moved forward with the custom very short shift rods and custom bracket at the tail housing bolts.
The shifter offset is to center to the existing transmission cover hole.

Excellent. Thank you very much.

Thanks for the input thus far. Still learning the site here. Lots of great information! I have plan going forward. May take some time to acquire the parts but I am hoping to replicate the same design as Patrick’s but modify it to the point that with a parts list and instructions anyone can make it.

Wow, Looks like finding a Saginaw shifter for my 54 pickup is all up in smoke.
Ray

Hello Quindel54

Sent you a PM with my details if you have a moment.

Thank you

G-Town Didn't grown about the Saginaw thread in fact have several in my arsenal. I assume you know it's easy to make a saginaw 4-speed with overdrive. It is a bolt up ,about the time I got one put together Hot Rod magazine came out with an article on it. Nothing wrong with Saginaws outside of being heavy,found an outfit in Shelbyville Indiana that had repairs for Saginaw,Muncie,Warner. Anyway on linkage just make your own out of 1/2 inch cold rolled rod,drill and tap for 3/8 heim joints bend to fit,on reverse can use 1/4 inch or 5/16 where it is close quarters. Made my own 50 years ago is still better than sloppy Hurst bushings no slack just smooth and quiet. Patrick's little catalog taught more about Saginaws (ratios) going by the rings on the input shaft than I saw anywhere else.

buoymaker Not hard to make linkage,havve made several since about 70 ,buy a hurst shifter at any swap meet mount it up bend linkage to fit. make your own arms to get any throw you want. same ones on my corvette for 52 years still slick and smooth.

buoymaker Just saw those pictures of that rattly hurst linkage,you can make linkage a lot better than that. Have made my own shifters too since the first truck in 67,have one inline using handle from big truck park brake lever--squeeze for 1and 2 release for 3and4 another lever for revverse works fine.

Commanderay No it's not make you one,mount it anywhere it needs to be,build linkage to fit. Every time you shift it you'll be like biden I done that LOL LOL. not funny !! Seriously though you'll be proud to use your shifter and show it to your pals

Wow! A 2 year old thread.

Here is a challenge. Anyone who has created a shifter that works as well or hopefully better than the Patrick's shifter (which some say had problems to begin with) please step forward. The reward is bragging rights, naming rights by the creator and kudos from this forum.

Criteria:

The shifter will be used on a 4 speed Saginaw transmission, installed in a Chevrolet AD truck, where the shifter stick comes through the floorboard at or near the original 4 speed opening, that implements the Hurst Competition Plus shifter, where the shift stick doesn't hit the dash and mash knuckles, where the shift stick doesn't hit the stock bench seat and is tolerant of short legged and long legged human beings. Absolutely required are drawings, measurements, pictures, parts list and a description of how this shifter was created.