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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 93 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 93 | In an effort to improve the drivability of my truck I decided to install a late model (late 60's) Saginaw car transmission in my 58" Apache. Since I am not going to be pulling any cotton trailers or hay wagons I chose a unit with a high first and second gear ratio. (2:54-1st and 1:50-2nd) It was a very easy conversion and only required changing the drive shaft slip yoke and some minor tweaking of the shifter rods. I was amazed at how much quieter and smoother the new transmission is. Also, it is much nicer to drive in stop and go traffic. With the higher ratios I am able to take advantage of the bottom end torque the 235 produces by keeping it in 1st and 2nd gear longer. It has reduced the need to shift gears substantially.
Next I am going to install a gear vendors overdrive. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,102 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,102 | GM offered a Saginaw trans with a B/W OD from 66-69. They work great and you don't have to modify anything from what you now have. They are more difficult to find than the early OD's but still a lot less cost than a Gear vendors.
Fred
1956 3100 Pickup/Red/350/3sp OD/PS/Disc Brakes
1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe/Red/355/TH350/PS/Disc Brakes
2017 Silverado LT Single Cab SB/Black/5.3/6 Speed Trans
1947 Willys CJ2A w/F-Head engine
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 769 | The nice thing about these trannies is the syncro first gear. I had one in a 58 3/4 ton years back. It was nice to drive. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 93 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 93 | If I did not already have a gear vendors unit I would have done as you suggested. The transmission in my 50" Merc has a Borg Warner overdrive and it does work very well. Another reason I want to use the gear vendors is because it is electrically shifted. The plan is to use the torque converter lockup function of the fuel injection ECM to automatically engage the overdrive at a preset mph.
Ron | | |
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