3 Speed Transmission
 

Allright so i sent my 1970 Chevrolet C/10 with the stock 3 speed into AAMCO on burnet in austin texas today. tranny locked up on me while out at a car show last weekend couldnt even press the clutch to the floor, it was like pressing up against a brick wall. Not sure if it was the throw out bearing or if my gears are blocking the clutch, im no tranny professional so i wont try and diagnose my problem. My question is while im having it rebuilt, which is what i should have done right....i wanted a performance clutch, one of the cavilar coated clutch kits installed, ive heard they can stand things like dumping the clutch more so than a stock clutch can. whats the benefits of having a performance clutch and having this tranny that hasnt been rebuilt in 36 years rebuilt the thing i need to be doing?? thanks

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

fwiw, I had my Muncie 3speed rebuilt many years ago and it cost me about $700. Yeah, I got screwed. They didn't even ask if I wanted KY Jelly or not. At the time, I didn't know they're a dime a dozen. I had never worked on a transmission or even pulled one out. Don't let this happen to you. Ask on the parts board for one if you can't find one in your local yard. Take it to the local high school or college auto shop and have them repair it.

Btw, don't waste your time on a high performance clutch. The trans will probably break before the clutch will.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

If there is a race track anywhere near you, you can find another saginaw. They are popular for racing, and racers are always selling parts, and they are not worth the cost of having someone else rebuild it for you. trade up and get a saginaw 4sp. I agree on the clutch thing. the weakest link will always be the one to fail. don't waste your money on a big money clutch.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

i had the same problem my 3 speed saginaw locked up in frist gear i had a clucth though it hadn't been rebuilt in 34 years turcks a 71 i called around 800 buxs was the cheapest i found i was like you can go screw yourself for 800 buxs i found one for 75 buxs had 20k miles on it installed a new dino pak clucth from orielys new u joints in the driveshaft and a new carrier bearling for under 230 buxs!( i could drive in 1st but 15 mph it took a long time to get places lol)

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

I have a spare 3spd saginaw in exceptional shape, I love it but don't need it anymore. Shoot me a PM if you want it...

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

I burried my truck in mud a few years ago and tried to rock it back and forth to get it out. I was in reverse and almost had it out and it sounded like a shotgun went off inside the cab. I revved it so high that I blew out reverse and first gear. Got one from a local yard for $75. I probably put 20K on it and it still worked fine when I pulled it for a v-8 auto combo.

What is your tranny doing? Is the clutch just not engading/disengadging? I had a similar problem many years ago. I was driving along and all of a sudden I couldn't push the cluth in anymore. I was baffled. I was only a mile from home so I limped it home. Turns out that a pressure plate bolt had gotten loose and wouldn't allow the clutch to be pushed in.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

No way would I pay to have one rebuilt. If you were closer I'd help you find one for little or nothing.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

i've got a three speed here in jax fl if ya want it come and get it.theres nothing wrong with it just an extra one.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

Sounds like you just have a clutch problem, don't let them touch the trans, fix the clutch and go, else be ready to get the vaseline out !!!

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

ok so local AAMCO says a bolt from the pressure plot got knocked off and landed between my clutch and 2nd gear....wouldnt allow the clutch to move, so i am having a Luke (spelling?) clutch -german engineered installed and towing expenses included for 583 bucks....ill get over the heart ache once my baby is in the drive way and runnin fine thanx alot for the help...-mark-

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

Yeah, it's an expensive learning lesson. But, not as expensive as some. :whine:

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

Let's see, the clutch is outside the transmission, 2nd gear is inside the transmission, a good 6" aft of the clutch. Talented bolt, I guess, and large. I smell bamboozlage.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

...not to mention the plate cover surrounding the input shaft would have to be completely busted up and gone for that to happen.
Hmmm, let's hope he was talking about the 2nd gear linkage or something, but still $$$ ??? :crazy:

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

Rebuild kit is about $80, its easy to do yourself. Removed, rebuilt, installed in about 4 hours. Next time it should go quicker, this was my first. You will need a good set of split ring pliers, $10 at sears.
That just FYI for the future.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

I rebuilt another one last week in my shop at home. All parts were about 75 bucks, including new synthetic fluid.

No real special tools required, other than an 11 inch piece of 7/8 inch dowel rod to load the needle bearings into the idler shaft with. You can get the dowel rod at Home Depot for 3 bucks.

The GM service manual walks you straight through it. A first timer could easy do it without any outside help.

I took lots of pictures during the process. I'll bring them to work next time and post them if anyone has questions.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

Hey tex, write up a FAQ on that for us if you don't mind. Maybe even submit to the articles contest.:D

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

Will do. It will be a few days though. I'm off work two days, so I won't work again till the 22nd of this month. I have no internet access at home.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

No hurry and I appreciate it.:D

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

Hey Shifty, what do you want for the tranny? I could sure use one.

Re: 3 Speed Transmission
 

dad had a budy that was hot rodding it down his street, long story short his engine pumped out a good 400hp on a stock cluch.... friction plates fused togeather, same thing, no pushing the cluch in, finally after letting it cool down he pressed as hard as he could and it broke free, he had major cluch chatter the whole way home.