67-69 Firebird TECH Includes 69 TA.

          
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-16-2007, 11:42 PM
6t8bird 6t8bird is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 6
Default Saginaw 4 Speed

Alright guys....so i am rebuilding a 68. It has saginaw 4 speed in it right now but i dont know how they are. i have only driven a munice 4 speed. From what i see the muncie is a lot better but if the saginaw can handle the power the 400 will be putting out, it would be a lot easier and cheaper for me to rebuild this one rather than buy a muncie. Will the saginaw be able to hold its own against the 400? Thanks

  #2  
Old 05-17-2007, 01:16 AM
Jack Gifford's Avatar
Jack Gifford Jack Gifford is offline
formerly 'Pontiac Jack'
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Phelps, NY 14532
Posts: 10,341
Default

I remember your question being discussed on one of the PY forums (try searching for 'Saginaw'). I could be remembering wrong, but it seems to me it came down to "how do you drive?" and "how sticky are your rear tires?".

  #3  
Old 05-17-2007, 06:16 PM
drew1967 drew1967 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 159
Default

if your going to drop the hammer down on the sag....NO! the sag was put into small block chevy's. not hi torque engines. mostly a taxi trans! the muncie im told is also just as weak when it comes to a pontiacs torque. although i havent confirmed this i will soon! i plan on either winning the race or grenading the damn thing trying! my combo is a 455 ho with 4 spd muncie and a 4:11 posi rear end. well see if things hold together!!

  #4  
Old 05-18-2007, 03:54 PM
6t8bird 6t8bird is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 6
Default

thanks guys. from what i read it seems like the m-20 muncie would be the best for 3.73 with posi. I figured that would be the way to go. i dont plan on drag racing but i know i am gonna have to smash it every once awhile and i wouldnt want my tranny to explode.

  #5  
Old 05-19-2007, 11:36 AM
67FB400-4SPD 67FB400-4SPD is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bellevue, NE
Posts: 45
Default

I have a friend with a 69 GTO that we dropped a built 455 into with 3:55 posi rear and he runs the Saginaw with no problems and we have beat the daylights out of that thing for years. I am also putting a 455 in my firebird with original 4 speed muncie from his GTO that I rebuilt this past winter and I intend on running 3:73 posi. I would say both trannies have their advantages but Saginaw would take the flag because it does not have Aluminum ears to bust off when beat to death. Just my opinion!! Like he said above...it's how you intend to drive it.

  #6  
Old 05-20-2007, 01:47 AM
6t8bird 6t8bird is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 6
Default

i am not doubting your experiences with the saginaw but does anyone else have anything to say like that about it? If thats the case i would just rebuild mine......im not going to smash on it all of the time but i would like to be able to down shift into third while im going on the freeway without having to worry about my tranny blowing up. what do you guys think?

  #7  
Old 05-20-2007, 02:32 AM
Jack Gifford's Avatar
Jack Gifford Jack Gifford is offline
formerly 'Pontiac Jack'
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Phelps, NY 14532
Posts: 10,341
Default

Did you search these forums for old discussions of the Saginaw?

  #8  
Old 05-21-2007, 01:09 AM
6t8bird 6t8bird is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 6
Default

yeah...ive searched the forum and everything that i have seen tells me that a muncie would be better, but i have been talking to people and they said that unless i am speed shifting i dont have to worry about the saginaw. They told me the synchronizing of the gears is what makes a muncie good...so as long as i make sure it is in gear before i pop the clutch it should be better than the muncie because it doesnt have aluminum gears. Saginaws are used in trucks and they can handle that so i dont see why they shouldnt be used in this application. That is why i was asking if anyone else had anything positive to say about it.

  #9  
Old 05-22-2007, 07:28 PM
Cammer-6 Cammer-6 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: central Fla
Posts: 8,824
Default

I dont know of any transmission with aluminum gears,except RC cars.
I think you meant aluminum case???
Torque ratings tell the truth about the strenght of a tranny. Saggy is about 1/3 lower.

  #10  
Old 05-24-2007, 12:58 AM
Colin_McF's Avatar
Colin_McF Colin_McF is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Nanaimo ,BC
Posts: 305
Default

I am in the same position as you 6t8bird as i have a 68 Firebird with a small block chev and a Sag 4 speed thats being replaced with a 68 400 and i will stay with the Saginaw for now.I have done alot of reading and asking questions as as said above its all in the driving habits. I ask a tranny builder who sells both Saginaw and Muncie trans and here are his reply's.

"Hi Colin,
is your motor stock? and how do you intend to drive the car? it is
possible that the trans would live behind your 400 but I would
recommend going with somthing stonger like a super t10 or a
muncie., also waht rear end gear are you running?
thanks, Bob"

This is Bobs reply on me using a Saginaw
"Hi Colin,
I would say it would probably live behind your 400, the 3:11
saginaw is rated somewhere around 300 ft lbs of torque. I would
not recommend launching the car hard out of first. we will not
warranty against broken teeth. we will guarentee the trans will
work as intended.
thanks, Bob"

So basically I am sticking with the Saginaw until i blow it or if it lives thats great.


good luck with the switch I am a couple of weeks away just gotta finished the wifes 69 FB.

Colin

Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:29 PM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017