Saginaw 3 speeds...info needed

[Greezy]

Ok I got this Sag 3 speed at a swap a while back. Never have messed with them before but i bought it because the price was right. This is the trans im running in my A, with a healthy 283. Now heres the question it seems to be heavy duty, possibly truck unit, it has 5 mounting points to the bell housing and the diamiter of the input bearing housing is larger 4 5/8. I opened it up and it is real clean inside and the gears have almost no wear. Is this a Jimmy unit? Is it worth using? Or should I scrap the whole idea and go with a 4 gear...Im trying to use what I have because im tired of spending money on this heap.

[Rocky]

Came in van's and pickups from the mid 70's and early 80's. Don't know if they're any heavier than a regular car Saginaw but the basic Saginaw all synchro 3 speed was pretty stout. I believe they're the same inside.

[Assdragger]

Yeah right, you NEVER get tired of spending money! Now quit your snivelin and order that Nash 5 speed!!

[Greezy]

Thanks Rocky...now i got to take the scattershield and have the center machined out to fit the larger bearing housing. Assdragger your right but Im trying to contain myself. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Rocky]

Hey Greezy....before you start countin out twentys to have machine work done, check the salvage yards for a smaller bearing retainer. Those trannys were used on all G.M. cars for many years. A 4 speed saginaw retainer will bolt on. I used a saginaw 4 speed behind my lakewood scattershield with no problems. Prolly cheaper to buy a retainer...even a new one.
My guess is a standard passenger car bearing retainer may be the correct diameter too.

[Greezy]

Rocky I already thought of that, but the bolt holes are spread further too so the smaller retainer wont bolt to the trans. This car has fought me all the way. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Reverendcolin]

Shift it slowly. A miss is as good as a blown transmission.

[Greezy]

Well i tried one from an earlier car 3 speed, maybe the 4 speed retainer might work.

[choprods]

I did this swap in 1970's on my 39 chevy-I took off the large input collar and took a std [smaller] input cover and slotted the holes out and bolted it onto the one ton trans you have.That cured the trans to bellhousing fit problem. It was by the way a slick shifting and virtually bulletproof tranny. I still have one of them now. they had a "low" 1st and second gear.......

[Greezy]

Hey Kenny Im running 4:56 rears, thats what i was afraid off really low trans gears.

[atch]

isn't there a factory saginaw overdrive that bolts right up to that tranny?

semi-cheap at the boneyards?

[Rocky]

Yeah, there was an overdrive made for this tranny but they're pretty scarce. I got a buddy savin one for me in the trunk of his parts car---66 Impala. Haven't seen it yet. It'd be my luck it's an old style 3 speed non-synchro but he insists it's a full synchro 3 speed.
Greezy, a collar from a passenger car FULL SYNCHRO 3 speed or a 4 speed should do ya ok. I know the earlier 3 speed non-synchro retainer is different.