[bowtieorbust]

I have to deside as to weather or not reuse the saginaw 3 speed tranny that came out of my (76 GMC ) shortbox pickup, or replace it with a TH350 auto because of budgit reason's. The saginaw came off the back of a 250 inline-6, that's getting replaced with a 355 sbc with close to 1 hp per cubic in, and a set of 3.40 gear's. The TH350 need's rebuilt in order to use it, and all the saginaw need's is a clutch and presure plate, and floor shifter. I like to bang the gear's, and i like to churp the tire's while not driveing to hard. The cam that's in the engine is a Lunati grind that does'nt need any stall (#00016) a Braket Master II cam with .218 @50. This truck is a daily driver sport truck, and would like some one's sound advice to ease the pain.

[Steve karch]

Thats a though decision to make but I would go with the Sag cuz I like banging gears too. Actually I'd be looking for a 4 speed Sag before I'd put money into a th350 rebuild.

Steve

[mikeweyman]

unless you do a lot of city driving , i would go with the standard shift.

[11echo]

Hmmm... The world is a small place! I had the very same problem 30 years ago. I had a 65 GTO with a powerglide auto and I wanted to change it out to a manual trans. I wanted a 4-spd but didn't have the money at the time, SO I ended up with a 3-spd. Saginaw trans. I liked the synchronized 1st gear, and it was semi bullet proof, but weighted a ton being made of cast iron. My ONLY major problem with the setup was the shifter. The only shifter I could find was made by ANSON ...not great quality. The mounting bracket broke 3 times and it got so that if you didn't shift from 1st to 2nd a certain way the linkage would lock up. I finally fount a T-10 4-spd trans. I ended up selling the Saginaw to a circle track racer. Good Luck with your project! ...Mark

[Shortstep]

The thought of putting in an automatic crossed my mind...So my wife could drive my truck if she needed to. Then I said nawwww!
I had my 3 speed saginaw rebuilt many years ago and installed a hurst floor shifter in it. It was so much fun I got a 4 speed saginaw. I love it. It might not be the muncie I wish I had but it sure is sweet. And at a fraction of the price some people want for the more popular trannys. I've driven mine hard since I put it in back last summer with no problems. If you have a stock to mild small block you'll have to abuse it to kill it. But bear in mind you can also kill a T10, M21, or M22 if you try hard enough.