[bfosterl]

I have a line on getting a rebuilt one cheap with Hurst shifter/linkage. I know their not a tough as a Muncie or Borg.

[PONTIAC DUDE]

They run great............... till they break. Torque and weight breaks trannies.

They put them behind 4 cylinder Vegas ............... as a reference.

[Jeff Walker]

If you don't get on it very much it will survive for you. Like P-dude said they aren't real tough. Anything over 275-300 HP with anymore torque than probably a 327 Chebby puts out and you can be asking for trouble IMO....

[A.W.Dille]

As long as you don't abuse it constantly it will hold for awhile. I've had them go after one to two months of hard strip use and have had them last for close to a season and a half, strip use and daily driving. Make sure your bushings in your shifter linkage are good and your shifter is in good shape and in perfect adjustment. Another thing to look at on Saginaw tranny's are the number of rings on the input shaft. Different ring count, different gearing in the trans, and heavier or lighter gears depending on the ring count. Hope this helps.

[speedshopmike]

mine lived a happy unbroken life in my 68 convertible, 10:1 400, small heads, small cam, with big tires.
i didn't beat the snot out of it by a long shot, but i don't drive like grandma moses, either.
when i was younger, i went though 3 or 4 in my 455 73 TA.
back then, they were worthless and i was hard on drivetrains.
make sure it's a v8 trans, not a short-geared six cylinder unit.

[baron_]

a buddy of mine uses them for a stout motor

he figures he'll blow up a muncie or a saginaw - doesn't matter what he uses....eventually
so why spend 600 a crack for a muncie when he can find saginaw's for 100

that's the best logic i've heard behind them

[ronj1977]

i run one behind my 77 t/a 400 w/#62 heads and summit 2801 cam havent had it on dyno but close to 400 hp lots of tourqe but mine is out of a truck

[A.W.Dille]

The main thing with Saginaws as I said is the number of rings on the input shaft,. The one ring input is by far the weakest with a 2.54 first gear, 2 ring has heavier gears and a 3.11 first gear, 3 ring the srongest with a 3.50 first gear. One of the quickest parts to wear out is the front bearing (input shaft) as I have two right now that has that problem, but both will be rebuilt and used.

[Txbobcat]

I used a saginaw in my 72 GTO first 400 then 455 till I found me a muncie for over 2 years no strip use.

[rexus31]

I dumped my Saginaw in favor of a Muncie. The Sag' is still in my garge with the iron bell housing. Any takers?

[A.W.Dille]

I went with a Saginaw in 90 after my Muncie let go, ran 14.40's with the Muncie, going through the traps in third gear at 5200, with a 3.23 gear and 28 1/2 inch tall slicks. Got a Saginaw and put it in, went to the track the next weekend and ran 13.80's, same setup, went through the traps at 4800 in fourth. Maybe not as strong but better gearing. Would love to have a Jerico or BW T-10 but shallow pockets makes me go with what I have, and it has worked for me so far, so till I hit the lottery or a rich relative mentions me in his will I guess I'm stuck, or one of my kids gets rich and feels sorry for the ol' man. AS long as you don't beat on them all the time they are an ok transmission, as long as you get one with the right number of rings on the input shaft. By the way both I have, one is a two ring with3.11:1 first (pulled a 1.80 60ft with 3.55 gear with that one) and the other is the three ring input with 3.50:1 first. Either way no matter which one I run I'm in second before the 60ft mark. Although what works for me may not work the same for someone else and vice versa, but I love 'em. If you choose to run a Saginaw till you find something else as I said it may last you awhile as long as it's not beat on constantly.

[A.W.Dille]

By the way Baron I used to buy mine at All-City Wrecking when I lived in Columbus and ran at Trails every weekend till my engine let go at the end of the 93 season and I moved to NC in 95.

[DiamondJim]

Poor boys 4 speed(like me!) I ran one behind my 455 for a few months until a swapped in the M-22. They will last if you keep your foot out of it. The one I had had a very low 1st, 3 something. -Jim

[carcrazy]

Never had much luck with one. Tore one up behind a mild 327/275 motor!