Newbie and a 3 tree tranny help? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

daddybooz · 05-25-2010, 01:48 PM

Hi guys,

Great site, been reading for months time to get dirty now!

Have a 3 speed, 3 on tree tranny converted to a Hurst Floor Shifter. It has a leak along with motor and rear pinion seal and in process of fixing so I can drive it some this summer!

Anyway, been reading, etc. but just cant get my finger on what kind of tranny it is? I would like to get a pic of the parts, manual, whatever before I tackle it.

Assuming that if I can find out what kind it is, I then can google a parts lists, pic or whatever, maybe or not?

Any help will be appreciated, thanks!

Robert

Tx Firefighter · 05-25-2010, 04:50 PM

If it's a synchronized 1st gear trans it's a Saginaw.

To answer the synchro issue, you'll know if it's synchro or not the first time you have to downshift into 1st. Non synchro boxes require you to come to a complete stop prior to dropping into 1st to avoid grinding.

frog trucker · 05-25-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daddybooz

. . . but just cant get my finger on what kind of tranny it is? I would like to get a pic of the parts, manual, whatever before I tackle it.

Any help will be appreciated, thanks!

Robert

Hello Robert and welcome! Check this link and click on the page that says "Transmission I.D." http://www.hurst-shifters.com/faq/Information-Diagrams
Hope this helps!

daddybooz · 05-25-2010, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the info!

Tx, with the little that I've driven it I havent had to come to a stop to get it into 1st so I'll compare it to the pic on Frog's link. I'll print that out and compare the next time I'm in the shop! Coaching out two boys in baseball hasnt left me much shop time lately!!

Regardless, this is more info than what I've found so far.

Thanks again guys, awesome!

frog trucker · 05-26-2010, 01:12 AM

FYI, I just replaced the front bearing retainer, seals, and gaskets in my Saginaw 3-speed trans . . . I purchased the parts from http://www.garagemotorsports.com/
Scott is very helpful, had the parts in stock, shipped FAST, and gave me a better deal than my local transmission shops!

daddybooz · 06-07-2010, 04:02 PM

Hi guys, again.

I got to cleaning my tranny up, and was looking at the info Tx and Frog offered. I took some photos and hopefully they load up, but I dont think this is a sag. The PO installed a 305 from a late 80's camaro/impala, is this possibly that tranny and not the original? Take a look and tell me your thoughts?

Thanks again, Robert

jhwkns · 06-07-2010, 04:33 PM

looks like a muncie

raycow · 06-07-2010, 06:07 PM

You got a good one there. That's a SM330 heavy duty 3 speed. It was the standard 3 speed that came behind a big block and it was optional with smaller engines in some of the trucks. I don't think it was ever offered with a 305 in a car though.

Ray

frog trucker · 06-08-2010, 03:17 AM

It sure looks different than my Saginaw three-speed! I found out that mine WAS from a car . . . the front bearing retainer measured 4 5/8" . . . that's too small for a truck bellhousing! Check your bellhousing . . . a truck b/h should be 5 1/8" and the trans should match. That keeps the input shaft, clutch, and everything centered.

05-25-2010, 01:48 PM	#1
daddybooz Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fort Atkinson, WI Posts: 39	Newbie and a 3 tree tranny help? Hi guys, Great site, been reading for months time to get dirty now! Have a 3 speed, 3 on tree tranny converted to a Hurst Floor Shifter. It has a leak along with motor and rear pinion seal and in process of fixing so I can drive it some this summer! Anyway, been reading, etc. but just cant get my finger on what kind of tranny it is? I would like to get a pic of the parts, manual, whatever before I tackle it. Assuming that if I can find out what kind it is, I then can google a parts lists, pic or whatever, maybe or not? Any help will be appreciated, thanks! Robert __________________ DaddyBooz '68 C10 LWB KCP 406; 400 small block, 30 over, alum heads built by Kurt Clapper Ceramic center dumps, custom 2 1/2" SS all the way back w/MagnaFlows 2"/4" drop on 15's

05-25-2010, 04:50 PM	#2
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: Newbie and a 3 tree tranny help? If it's a synchronized 1st gear trans it's a Saginaw. To answer the synchro issue, you'll know if it's synchro or not the first time you have to downshift into 1st. Non synchro boxes require you to come to a complete stop prior to dropping into 1st to avoid grinding. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

05-25-2010, 10:22 PM	#4
daddybooz Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fort Atkinson, WI Posts: 39	Re: Newbie and a 3 tree tranny help? Thanks for the info! Tx, with the little that I've driven it I havent had to come to a stop to get it into 1st so I'll compare it to the pic on Frog's link. I'll print that out and compare the next time I'm in the shop! Coaching out two boys in baseball hasnt left me much shop time lately!! Regardless, this is more info than what I've found so far. Thanks again guys, awesome! __________________ DaddyBooz '68 C10 LWB KCP 406; 400 small block, 30 over, alum heads built by Kurt Clapper Ceramic center dumps, custom 2 1/2" SS all the way back w/MagnaFlows 2"/4" drop on 15's

05-26-2010, 01:12 AM	#5
frog trucker Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Smack-dab in the middle of "The land of fruits and nuts", Sacramento, CA Posts: 66	Re: Newbie and a 3 tree tranny help? FYI, I just replaced the front bearing retainer, seals, and gaskets in my Saginaw 3-speed trans . . . I purchased the parts from http://www.garagemotorsports.com/ Scott is very helpful, had the parts in stock, shipped FAST, and gave me a better deal than my local transmission shops!

06-07-2010, 04:02 PM	#6
daddybooz Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fort Atkinson, WI Posts: 39	Re: Newbie and a 3 tree tranny help? Hi guys, again. I got to cleaning my tranny up, and was looking at the info Tx and Frog offered. I took some photos and hopefully they load up, but I dont think this is a sag. The PO installed a 305 from a late 80's camaro/impala, is this possibly that tranny and not the original? Take a look and tell me your thoughts? Thanks again, Robert Attached Images __________________ DaddyBooz '68 C10 LWB KCP 406; 400 small block, 30 over, alum heads built by Kurt Clapper Ceramic center dumps, custom 2 1/2" SS all the way back w/MagnaFlows 2"/4" drop on 15's

06-07-2010, 04:33 PM	#7
jhwkns Registered Cruiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 2,230	Re: Newbie and a 3 tree tranny help? looks like a muncie __________________ I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

06-07-2010, 06:07 PM	#8
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: Newbie and a 3 tree tranny help? You got a good one there. That's a SM330 heavy duty 3 speed. It was the standard 3 speed that came behind a big block and it was optional with smaller engines in some of the trucks. I don't think it was ever offered with a 305 in a car though. Ray

06-08-2010, 03:17 AM	#9
frog trucker Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Smack-dab in the middle of "The land of fruits and nuts", Sacramento, CA Posts: 66	Re: Newbie and a 3 tree tranny help? It sure looks different than my Saginaw three-speed! I found out that mine WAS from a car . . . the front bearing retainer measured 4 5/8" . . . that's too small for a truck bellhousing! Check your bellhousing . . . a truck b/h should be 5 1/8" and the trans should match. That keeps the input shaft, clutch, and everything centered.



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