08-21-2020, 08:42 AM | #1 |
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Location: Houston, Tx
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Saginaw three speed
Hello all,
I have a three speed saginaw in my 1970 c15. I acquired the engine and trans and have no information on either. The engine runs fine and the trans shift fine. The issue. The (floor) shift pattern should be up and left reverse, down left 1st and 2nd and 3rd should be up right and down right respectively. However, on my transmission, reverse is up and to the right, the other shift points are forward gears however, I don't know what gears they are due to reverse being in the wrong place. I took the trans apart and all appears ok, few wear spots on two of the gears, no gear lube at all, and the disassembly was fairly basic. My question, how could this be the shift pattern? Could something have been put in backwards or in the wrong orientation (clearly something is wrong)? If so, what do I need to look for? Heck, maybe its one of them super rare left hand drive saginaw three speeds from the other side of the pond! Lol! Any help is greatly appreciated. Last edited by chevylover3; 08-21-2020 at 08:49 AM. |
08-21-2020, 09:35 AM | #2 |
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Re: Saginaw three speed
Your rods that go from the transmission to the shifter are opposite of what they need to be. This picture shows correct orientation. Yes, it’s a four-speed but the front two rods are the same for three Speed.
Steve weim55 Colorado Last edited by weim55; 08-21-2020 at 10:57 AM. |
08-21-2020, 09:41 AM | #3 |
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Re: Saginaw three speed
What is the pattern then? If the vehicle is driveable it should be pretty easy to tell which gear is what.
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08-21-2020, 10:15 AM | #4 |
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Re: Saginaw three speed
A 3 speed floor shifter has an H pattern like in this link.
https://oldcarmemories.com/whats-the...-transmission/ Pic of your trans and shifter helps. |
08-21-2020, 11:07 AM | #5 |
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Re: Saginaw three speed
After more deciphering of your post it would seem your shift rods are just swapped.
Pic here on a b w tranny. Yours is the same. You can see the placement of the rods on the shifter. http://chevellestuff.net/qd/manual.htm I think you meant rhd instead of lhd sag in your post being different. Same trans, shift arms on the same side as here. Just shifted thru a set up of 5 or 6 bellcranks to get the linkage hooked up on the right side. My buddy in New Zealand showed me the 3ott set up on his 56 Pontiac rhd. A real mess of rods and bellcranks. |
08-21-2020, 11:44 AM | #6 |
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Re: Saginaw three speed
Thank you all for the responses. I thought the same thing about the shift rods. The shifter it came with is an old Mr gasket and the shift rods are straight, unlike the picture. I tried to swap their orientation and of course they bind up. I will look for the bent one like in the pic and see if that does the trick. .
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08-21-2020, 12:01 PM | #7 |
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Location: Houston, Tx
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Re: Saginaw three speed
I just hoped on the ol Ebay machine and picked up the correct rods for my trans. I will let you know if that does the trick after I put the trans back together. Thank you again
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08-21-2020, 12:20 PM | #8 |
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Re: Saginaw three speed
Lol. Yes, RHD.
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