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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!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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| | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 | | | | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 | I am considering a 4 speed Saginaw tranny, mainly cuz my 3 in the tree freezes up going into 2nd( at least TRYING to go into 2nd) it wont go into gear. it's a 54 3100 panel truck with the 235-6. Is getting a Saginaw worth the expence, are they pretty dependable? sorry for the "rookie" question but that's what I am .Thank you. John Deurr | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | The gear splits are more pleasant, but you still have a direct final drive, so top speed does not change.
You'll either need to convert to open drive or buy the Patricks kit to convert the Sagninaw to torque tube.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 321 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2007 Posts: 321 | John, I just finished mounting a Saginaw with Patrick's shift kit in my 49 suburban yesterday. If you want to see pics, have a look here and scroll all the way to the bottom. http://gallery.mac.com/patrick.plummer#100287&bgcolor=black&view=gridIf you have power brakes, plan some mods to make the shifter fit depending on how you built your power brake booster unit (or bought). If you have the existing manual brake setup, you should be fine. Welcome!
Last edited by pplummer; 11/12/2009 8:36 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 461 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 461 | Thanks for sharing your installation. I had heard of problems with having to relocate the mastercylinder. Glad to know that only applies if you go with a powerbooster set up and stock is fine.
Hank | | | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 | Thanks for all the help gentlemen, especially pplummer, I looked at your photos and was envious as to how someone can do a body off restoration like that,(I told you I was a rookie) I am fortunate enough to live 50 miles from Patricks so he did a rear end job on my 54 panel 3100.I'd like to find someone in the Phoenix area who is familiar with the chevy bodies to do some work for me. Thanks again, John. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 364 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 364 | I put a Saginaw 4 speed in my 51 1/2 PU mated with a 3.42 open drive rear. After some initial problems with the linkage hanging up it worked very well...with a '54 235 and dual carbs/headers it ran comfortably at 70+ on the highway. The linkage problems were the end problem caused by a bad engine mount and the consequent engine torqing/twisting. I moved the master cylinder to the drivers sideframe rail with no problems. | | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 321 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2007 Posts: 321 | Thanks for all the help gentlemen, especially pplummer, I looked at your photos and was envious as to how someone can do a body off restoration like that,(I told you I was a rookie) I am fortunate enough to live 50 miles from Patricks so he did a rear end job on my 54 panel 3100.I'd like to find someone in the Phoenix area who is familiar with the chevy bodies to do some work for me. Thanks again, John. John, I am envious that you live 50 miles from Patrick's! :-) However, i'd be broke if I lived that close. I'd always be rebuilding old stovebolts! | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | The Saginaw has annular grooves in the input shaft which tells the ratio. See below: Sorry can't figure out how to keep it from eliminating my spaces but you can figure it out. I see "create a list" but don't know how to use it.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
no grooves 2.84 2.01 1.35 1.00
1 groove 2.54 1.80 1.44 1.00
2 grooves 3.11 2.20 1.47 1.00
3 grooves 3.50 2.47 1.65 1.00
Last edited by bartamos; 12/01/2009 5:51 AM.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
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