The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 60 chevy tranny swap

Okay I just picked up a 60 swb with a straight six (i think 235) Its equiped with the three speed tranny that was on the column but has been moved to the floor. I want to install a saginaw (due to being plenty avaible at a cheap price) but I'm concerned with the hydrolic clutch operation. Will there need to be any modifications needed to accept the hydrolic clutch slave cylinder, will I need a different clutch kit or with the throw bearing arm? Or is it more economical to intall a t-350; But that will need a new driveline, crossmember, and shifter. What to do??????????

Bigblackcat,
The only modification you need to do is cut and hammer your transmission cover to make room for the shifter that sits atop the tranny.
I have a '61 with that tranny and Patrick's shifter.
Everything else stays just where it is and nothing interferes with your with your clutch linkage.
Same throw out bearing, disk etc...
The Saginaw 4 speed was the same length as the 3 speed I removed and I didn't have to cut my driveshaft.
The yoke for the output shaft was specific to the 4 speed so make sure you get te right one

Hey Bremerton welcome to the 'bolt.

You'll find a number of Washington neighbors here. Though my signature says Seattle, that's only because I get tired of explaining where Bainbridge is.

RustedNuts is over in Kingston. Others are a little further away, but lots of us around.

Saginaw made a number of different transmissions. Are you planing to install a Saginaw 4-speed in your truck?

Can you show us some pictures?

Thanks for the welcome and replies from "oldsub" and "truckasaurus"! So It looks like this ia a simple swap out!!! Cool!!!! Dont have pics yet. I have a buddy driving it around and cant seem to get him out of it!!!!!! lol!!! Looking for an old school look on this one; sorry all of you purist! I plan on keeping the 235 and put an offy dual carb intake on it; already has split manifold. put it in black suede, red rims, and some Von dutch style pin stripe. Ant advice on where to find some old one barrel carbs for the offy?

Just look on e-bay, there seems to be a constant stream of Rochester B carbs there. I just bought 2 of them from a guy in CA. Set up an alert for rochester b and you'll get an e-mail when they come up for sale. Also, the early-bird swap meet in Puyallup will be coming up soon. Good luck.

On my truck a 54 with 55 235 drive line and a OD transmission. They took the three from the tree off and bought a shifter mounted it on the side of the tranny on a piece of channel supported at the ends. This does two things one it puts the shifter closer to your leg so if you have short arms it helps and two it allows for three people in the cab....who would of ever thought weird would be cool! Steve

I used the yoke for a T-350 on my Saginaw 4 speed;they're easy to get.
The Saginaws came with more than one first gear ratio-there's information on how to identify the different ratios on Stovebolt;you should be able to find it by doing a search.
I also discovered you need to watch the tailshaft housings on the Saginaws;I have one set up with a shifter,and two of 'em that don't have the bolt holes to mount a shifter. Apparently,these were used in GM cars with the shifters bolted to the floor,instead of the tranny. If you get the tranny and the shifter that goes with it,you should have no trouble making it work. It's a good choice.
Speed

With regard to the Saginaw trans swap. The center hole in your 60 bellhousing is a little under 5" which is standard for most of the early transmissions. The later Saginaw's (about 69 & up) have a larger front bearing retainer and use a bellhousing that has a hole that is a little over 5". Just a heads up so you don't end up with something that requires more parts & modifications. Fred

so what do I do with the hydrolic clutch slave cylinder? There is no z-bar or linkage on this truck; plus the throw out arm is on the passengers side.

Try to find an early Saginaw transmission with the small bearing retainer. It will fit your bellhousing and there won't be any difference in the throughout arrangement. Before you purchase the new trans, verify the dimensions. Fred

Your hydraulics will work fine with whatever tranny you use. Just get a new line for your clutch and make a bracket from 2 inch angle iron and mount your slave cylinder to it. It'll attach to the two bolt holes on the front facing of the V-8 beellhousing right behind the oil filter.it'll put the slave cylinder in line with the clutch fork,so you can use your original pushrod. On mine,I didn't even replace the hydraulic line-I just bent the metal part of the six cylinder one into loops until it was the right length.I never even had to open the system. The rest of your clutch will work as is.
Speed

so I use the same clutch assembley?