Transmission question
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 171
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From: Concord ca
Transmission question
How much HP can a stock Saginwa hold. With my engine rebuild i'm planning on around 400 Hp. I'm not sure if I should uprade the transmission. If I did, I was probably getting a Keisler.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 78
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From: Nashville NC
I'm running a Saginaw in mine with what I estimate to be between 350-400hp. It's holding up fine but I don't really beat it up on a regular basis. I would prefer to have a Muncie or a Kiesler 6spd but money won't allow it right now. Mine is a 78 model and numbers matching with 43,000 original miles so I'm reluctant to change the trans to a non-#'s unit. Just don't slam on the gears too hard & you should be ok.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,504
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From: Butler Pa
I don't understand the logic here.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 78
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From: Nashville NC
The logic is I don't want to split up a numbers matching drive train. I don't beat up the trans by ripping through the gears. What would you suggest we all do? Change all the original parts in an effort to preserve them & in the long run ruin the numbers originality? If this was a car that I abused on a regular basis then that would be a different story but I instead choose to drive it with respect and not abuse it.
I understand what you're pointing to but if everyone changed all their original parts in an effort to preserve originality then there wouldn't be any numbers original cars on the road.
I understand what you're pointing to but if everyone changed all their original parts in an effort to preserve originality then there wouldn't be any numbers original cars on the road.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 589
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The logic is I don't want to split up a numbers matching drive train. I don't beat up the trans by ripping through the gears. What would you suggest we all do? Change all the original parts in an effort to preserve them & in the long run ruin the numbers originality? If this was a car that I abused on a regular basis then that would be a different story but I instead choose to drive it with respect and not abuse it.
I understand what you're pointing to but if everyone changed all their original parts in an effort to preserve originality then there wouldn't be any numbers original cars on the road.
I understand what you're pointing to but if everyone changed all their original parts in an effort to preserve originality then there wouldn't be any numbers original cars on the road.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 78
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From: Nashville NC
I thought it was a bit out of line but everybody is entitled their opinion. What gets my blood boiling is that I was giving someone else advise that didn't concern him at all. I'm not bothered by it at all. Most of us know what it's all about to keep a car numbers matching. Thanks for the support.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
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From: Connecticut
Speaking from my experience over the last 30 years the Saginaw's don't hold up very well to high torque or abuse.
I think I owned 3 or 4 and every one of them came apart eventually.
This was back in the days when a Muncie could be had for $100 and the Saginaws were about $25.
I remember the last one was in a 66 Malibu with a 327.
It didn't take long to trash that one and it was just rebuilt before I bought the car.
Basically IMO, the answer to your question would be "not a whole hell of a lot"
Sorry.... but from my experience they just weren't built for performance applications.
I think I owned 3 or 4 and every one of them came apart eventually.
This was back in the days when a Muncie could be had for $100 and the Saginaws were about $25.
I remember the last one was in a 66 Malibu with a 327.
It didn't take long to trash that one and it was just rebuilt before I bought the car.
Basically IMO, the answer to your question would be "not a whole hell of a lot"
Sorry.... but from my experience they just weren't built for performance applications.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,504
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From: Butler Pa
My point was, saginaws were never known to be very strong. Until recently I didn't know that they were ever put in corvettes. I only knew them to be used in cars like Vega's.
Now, if you replaced it with something a little more stout, and put the saginaw under your bench, you could always change it back to a #'s matching car again someday. If by some chance you do break this one, your $hit out of luck.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 78
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From: Nashville NC
Bash, I understand what you're saying & agree with you but it would get old changing things back every time I went to show or to have the car judged.
I was told by a GM rep that there weren't many Saginaw trannys put in 78 Vetts. I had to replace the the side plate seals & everyone told me they didn't think the trans was original to a 78 but the case numbers match the VIN so it must be. I would much rather have a Muncie or if the Gods were in favor, a Keisler, but I don't see that happening.
Anyway, aren't we getting away from the original intent of this thread?
I was told by a GM rep that there weren't many Saginaw trannys put in 78 Vetts. I had to replace the the side plate seals & everyone told me they didn't think the trans was original to a 78 but the case numbers match the VIN so it must be. I would much rather have a Muncie or if the Gods were in favor, a Keisler, but I don't see that happening.
Anyway, aren't we getting away from the original intent of this thread?
