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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 | Okay, I'm on the hunt for a used, 3:11 low Saginaw 4-speed and I have a few leads.
How does one evaluate the condition if it's out of the vehicle? I know how to look for the grooves on the spline, but that's all.
In other words, I want to know what basic things to look for so I don't buy a pig-in-a-poke.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 275 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 275 | Woody - short answer, you can't. You can take off the side cover, everything can look OK there, then you finally take it completely apart & ONLY then can you see the most expensive parts to replace, namely the input & main (output) shafts where they meet with the roller bearing.Here is a pic of a bad one http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL953/3900683/18661857/295676483.jpg Doug
Last edited by desertdog; 01/02/2008 3:49 PM. Reason: still learning
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 275 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 275 | Woody - Hope you have seen the '69 Sag. w/O.D. post Cosmo did yesterday. Reminds me of some I've bought. I've got three A-833 N.P. 4-sp. on the floor now & still need more parts to make one good one. Ha, Ha.
The brass synchro rings are very lightweight compared with B-W or Muncie, you can usually expect to repl. them, & their shift forks likewise, probably a front bearing. Once its built right it''ll be a great trans for a very long time behind a 235, though, & a lot cheaper than the alternatives. Problem is, the age of all these & the fact that very few commercial shops do a thorough rebuild. You can get by with a lot of marginal parts when you're only giving a 90 day guarantee. And that little whine that customers hear in neutral, 'Oh, they all do that'. Yeah, right!
Doug | | | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 147 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 147 | Woody, I have purchased several transmissions " off the floor" where I couldn't test them and have been very lucky.
If the transmission is being sold as in excellent condition, I would not purchase it unless it came with a written money back guarantee.
A transmission is not that difficult to rebuild if you have the book on the unit. You will probably end up with a better transmission because you will install better quality parts than your regular transmission shop, and getting the unit done at a specialty shop will be expensive.
I would suggest that you use a synthetic fluid for your tranny, whether you rebuild or not. It will shift smoother and run cooler. I have been using Amsoil fluids for 28 years, and have always had excellent results.
Bob
55 Cameo 396 TH 400 with overdrive
65 Caliente conv
67 BB Caliente conv
67 Mercury 1 Ton
76 GMC 3/4 ton 454ci
84 Buick Turbo Regal
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,644 |  Man will I be glad once I get past all this mechanical stuff and into territory I'm familiar with like SHEETMETAL! This is like walking through a minefield  | | |
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