Saginaw Transmission Question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**KyleSeal** · 01-22-2016, 12:47 AM

Just a few quick and most likely easy questions, hopefully.

So it stopped shifting a few months ago so I took it out and took off the cover and bam no cam detent pin, and no detent cams! So after moving the transmission in weird angles I found them in the Chesapeake Bay colored oil.

My question: What do these detent cams do? I for the life of me cant figure it out. I've got tear down and rebuild manuals, but they do not say anything about these pieces.

other question, it seemed to slip out of gear easy, I could use my pinky to push it, does this raise any flags? Or is it normal?

Any key places to look for wear in general? I was going to buy a rebuild kit from eBay, around $60. So I'd like to know that it needs it before I do it.

and yes, I know buying an auto or buying a newer transmission would be a good idea, but I'd like to stick with this one.

My trucks a 1970 C10. Normal 3 speed Saginaw.

storm9c1 · 01-22-2016, 04:57 PM

Are the pieces you need shown in this diagram?

frankslagoon · 01-22-2016, 09:42 PM

The detent cam ass. holds the shift fork assemblies in gear or neutral position.you can only shift one fork at a time . one must be in neutral before the other will shift. the steering columm sort of helps ya find the neutral position but the detent cams hold everything in place in the tranny. So when ya shift from 1st the shift level goes to neutral and the detent holds it there. then the columm moves you to the other shift lever on the tranny, which is waiting in the neutral position. then you bring it into 2nd and the detent holds it there till you pull it out to go to 3rd. The reason your shifter feels loose and sloopy is because the detent cam isn't grabbing the shift fork. The diagram you have there is a 4sp. sag. but they kinda work the same way. Did you find the spring that's in there also? Anyway I hope I explained it alittle. I'm throwen a pic of a 4 sp. ass. on because I got it handy but if you need to see a real 3 sp. I can get one for ya in the morning.

**KyleSeal** · 01-23-2016, 01:16 AM

That did help a lot, thank you! Do you know of any literature to purchase to help me rebuild the tranny? I found a old Pontiac manual but it isnt very helpful. Are there any videos on rebuild?

01-22-2016, 12:47 AM	#1
KyleSeal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Toano, VA Posts: 884	Saginaw Transmission Question Just a few quick and most likely easy questions, hopefully. So it stopped shifting a few months ago so I took it out and took off the cover and bam no cam detent pin, and no detent cams! So after moving the transmission in weird angles I found them in the Chesapeake Bay colored oil. My question: What do these detent cams do? I for the life of me cant figure it out. I've got tear down and rebuild manuals, but they do not say anything about these pieces. other question, it seemed to slip out of gear easy, I could use my pinky to push it, does this raise any flags? Or is it normal? Any key places to look for wear in general? I was going to buy a rebuild kit from eBay, around $60. So I'd like to know that it needs it before I do it. and yes, I know buying an auto or buying a newer transmission would be a good idea, but I'd like to stick with this one. My trucks a 1970 C10. Normal 3 speed Saginaw. __________________ "Sometimes I do serve as a good bad example. Glad to be of service." My Build Thread (1967 C10, lowered, EFI, daily truck): http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=830809

01-22-2016, 04:57 PM	#2
storm9c1 * That's interesting * Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,772	Re: Saginaw Transmission Question Are the pieces you need shown in this diagram? __________________ Tom Chevy by day... 1969 Chevy C30 Rollback Tow Truck -- 383 stroker, 4L80E 2011 Chevy Caprice PPV 9C3 6.0L 1995 Chevy Caprice 9C1 1994 Chevy Caprice 9C1 #3 1995 Chevy Caprice Wagon #2 1995 Chevy Impala SS Mopar by night... 1969 Dodge Charger 1972 Chrysler Newport 2dr Hardtop (27K miles) Plus others...

01-22-2016, 09:42 PM	#3
frankslagoon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 537	Re: Saginaw Transmission Question The detent cam ass. holds the shift fork assemblies in gear or neutral position.you can only shift one fork at a time . one must be in neutral before the other will shift. the steering columm sort of helps ya find the neutral position but the detent cams hold everything in place in the tranny. So when ya shift from 1st the shift level goes to neutral and the detent holds it there. then the columm moves you to the other shift lever on the tranny, which is waiting in the neutral position. then you bring it into 2nd and the detent holds it there till you pull it out to go to 3rd. The reason your shifter feels loose and sloopy is because the detent cam isn't grabbing the shift fork. The diagram you have there is a 4sp. sag. but they kinda work the same way. Did you find the spring that's in there also? Anyway I hope I explained it alittle. I'm throwen a pic of a 4 sp. ass. on because I got it handy but if you need to see a real 3 sp. I can get one for ya in the morning. Attached Images

01-23-2016, 01:16 AM	#4
KyleSeal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Toano, VA Posts: 884	Re: Saginaw Transmission Question That did help a lot, thank you! Do you know of any literature to purchase to help me rebuild the tranny? I found a old Pontiac manual but it isnt very helpful. Are there any videos on rebuild? __________________ "Sometimes I do serve as a good bad example. Glad to be of service." My Build Thread (1967 C10, lowered, EFI, daily truck): http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=830809



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