The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop SAGINAW 4 SPEED

I'm still confused about the different transmissions. I have a standard 3 speed in my 51 chevy p/u. Does the saginaw 4-speed look like the 3-speed I have now? I would like to go with a 4-speed and change the gears in the rearend. I have a open driveshaft and a 235 eng. I have read all the topics on the T-5 etc. but am still confused. Any additional info or some pictures would help me locate a 4-speed transmission at a junk yard.
Thank you .

Pilot--

A good place to start would be to go to Patricks web site in the links section of this board and get a free catalogue from Patrick. He sells a shifter for the four speed and his catalogue lists the different sag four speeds which will bolt up to your engine and importantly the ratios of these trannies. If you are not aware, the 3 sp is a column shift and all 4 speeds are floor shift. Accordingly, your existing linkage wont work and you will need a shifter. Good luk.

I just picked up a 4 speed saginaw at a local junkyard here. It does not look the same as the stock 3 speeds. The side cover is different and a couple other identifying marks. I looked up Saginaw transmissions on a search engine and pulled down some ID info on them along with some pictures of the differences between saginaws and muncies during that era. They are easily confused. I got mine out of a Vega. The number of rings on the input shaft shows the 1st gear ratio. Patrick's catalog states that the 3.11 low is the preferable one and it is identified by 2 grooves on the shaft. That is what I found in the Vega (Lucky I guess). I hear they can also be found in some Novas and later model Corvairs.
Shop around with the junkyard and wheel and deal to get a good price. I had heard prices up to $225 for one (with core) from a junkyard and ended up finding one for much less. Just need to be persistent.

Good Luck.

Here's another way to go...

http://www.chevytrucks.org/tech/s10t5.htm