So I'm trying to stay in budget with my 348 build and want to put a manual trans behind it. I have a 60's saginaw right now and was thinking of looking for a OD unit for it or should I find a 4 speed? It will be going into a 1964 c10 shortbed pickup with a 348 chevy.
Depends what you want to accomplish. The od will drop your rpm at cruise. The four speed is a one to one top gear same as the three speed when not in od, so the difference is an extra gear between second and high. So is relaxed cruising your thing or are you interested in closer ratios for better acceleration?
Spend twice the money. Look up the Saginaw 4sp OD add-on. Best of both, but if money is an object,(when isn't it?), I'd opt for an OD. Set up correctly those become essentially a 5spd, with auto shift in the 2-3 and 4-5 ranges.
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