Putting Saginaw 3 spd Overdrive unit on Saginaw 4 spd...

[drgnwgn289]

Does anybody have the Hot Rod Magazine Article, I think it was March, April, or May of 1970 that goes through how to adapt the overdrive unit off of a saginaw 3 spd to a saginaw 4 spd? I used to have a copy of the article but I lost it...any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jake

[Model A Vette]

Jake- I have a copy of the article but it is back in Va and I'm in NJ.
The procedure requires duplicating a hole that is in the 3sp case that locks out the OD in reverse.
I looked for years for a 3sp OD and only saw one about 15 years ago and missed buying it at a swap. Even tougher to find now. I think they were only available on new cars until 1969.
I spoke with someone who actually did the conversion and he felt it was not worth it. He said it would be better to just run the 3 sp OD. He thought that there were too many "duplicate" ratios when running the 4sp with OD.
I grew up with my dad's 3sp OD 327 Rambler and I think the best part of the OD was the "downshift" function when you put the accel pedal to the floor. As I remember it would hit 93 mph and simultaneously downshift and flip the vent windows closed!

[Phil1934]

There is a site with the article on one of the chevy boards. I did a search and only found this http://66impalass427.tripod.com/thewateringhole/id34.html
I have the article, though. PM me with your e mail as PM won't allow attachments.

[Phil1934]

Let's see if it's readable here

[Phil1934]

Page 2

[drgnwgn289]

The information is for my dad. He has all the parts and the general knowhow, he just wants to be sure to do it right.
Thanks for all the help guys
Jake

[OldSub]

I had the article and had a shop build the transmission for me back in the fuel shortage days when a buck-and-a-half a gallon seemed outrageous expensive.

I don't think I was ever real happy with how it worked. I had to modify a 4-speed floor shift to clear the OD and it just never worked right.

The 4-speed was out of a '67 or 68 Camaro, and the 3-speed OD was from a '66 El Camino, but I doubt that made any difference.

I actually just sold that transmission last year or the year before. It had sat in my dad's garage for years, and was one of the things I had to move when he gave up his house a couple years ago.

[FLAT-TOP BOB]

i shoud have that mag here in wellington, if i do i will have it in the mail tomorrow. do you want it sent to nv. or tx. i will pm as soon as i know!

[drgnwgn289]

TX por favor...how was the cruise?

[pprather]

For what it is worth several years later, here is the article that was published in the April 1975 Hot Rod:

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

[jrlemke]

If you can find the parts, do it! I've had one in my 52 Chev with a 322 Buick for 15 years. It's great to be able to cruise down the hiway at 70 at around 1500 RPM. The one I have is going into my 61 Stude. Hawk soon, I sold the Chev w/o motor or trans. The hardest part was putting together a shifter. I used a Hurst three speed o.d. mounting bracket and added a block to simulate the mounting on a 4 spd. tailhousing. The Huest rods for the sag. 3 spd/o.d. fit as is. the reverse rod has to be bent specally for the swap. Good luck -Jim