Saginaw into a 66

[Paul Y]

Happy Turkey Day everyone, hope you are all enjoying the company of your family and loved ones.

So, through the haze of Turkey and Pumpkin Pie if anyone has any experience of the following I would be interested in your findings.

Looking to change the granny geared 4 speed for a Saginaw 4 speed box. I know they are not the strongest in the world but the small block is only lightly warmed over so, taken easily, should survive.

My question is, can I use the original belhousing, is the prop shaft the same length and do I need a rear gearbox crossmember?

Appreciate your response.

P.

[AcampoDave]

I run a Saginaw in my 66 behind a warmed over 283 and it's great. The bell housing is interchangeable. The driveshaft however, is different. It has a yoke like an automatic. As to a crossmember, the tranny would hang on it's own from a cast iron bell housing but since it does have a provision for a rear mount I decided it was best to make one. I simply flipped my E-brake crossmember upside down to put the hardware on the bottom and welded on a perch that accommodates my tranny mount. I just feel better having the tailshaft secured. Here is some good info on Saginaw gear ratios http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=163984

[hotrod66]

i used the same parts just had to do some work on the drive shaft. the only problem was the shifter was really far back and was hard to put a shift boot on due to where it hit on the trans tunnel. of corse i may have just ben the cheep shifter. i never did put a rear cross-member in, the granny 4 ways 3 times that of a Saginaw and the bell housings did fine.

[AcampoDave]

X2 on the shifter being farther back. I use bucket seats tho so it's not a problem. I also have a low hump floor.

[Paul Y]

I have a high hump so hopefully that will be one problem solved!

Using the old stick from my 56 Chevy which had a bench so hope that will solve the shifter placement.

Thanks for the advice gentlemen, enjoy your Turkey!

P.

[frankslagoon]

Originally Posted by Paul Y

I have a high hump so hopefully that will be one problem solved!

Using the old stick from my 56 Chevy which had a bench so hope that will solve the shifter placement.

Thanks for the advice gentlemen, enjoy your Turkey!

P.

I have done acouple of these and the tranny is to heavy to go without a rear crossmember. We busted the ears that bolt to the bellhousing without the crossmember

[cortcomp]

I run an NP440 without a rear crossmember without issue, it's an aluminum case though so maybe lighter than a saginaw? The saginaw seems light though, the NP440 is pretty beefy around, it's bulky.

Whatever you do, don't run the bellhousing mounts AND a trans mount, you can't have 3 mount points, things will slightly bind leading to a cracked mount, tailshaft, or something to help relieve pressure.

The bench seat stick only solves an issue if the shaft of the shifter hits the seat. if you lay it next to a regular shifter you'll see the ball is in the same place, the shaft just runs out around the seat. With my 4spd conversion, even with making a custom bracket that moved the shifter way up on the trans, it still hit the seat. I found an offset to the right lever that i tweaked forward in the vice, problem solved AND it moved the shifter about 4-5" towards the center of the cab, which was nice.