saginaw 4spd

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saginaw 4spd

Postby mirage_brat » Wed Jan 07, 2015 12:57 am

What Is The Most Horse Power A Saginaw 4spd Can Handle?
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Re: saginaw 4spd

Postby Smiley » Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:00 am

depends on the first gear ratio, rear end ratio, vehicle weight and traction.
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Re: saginaw 4spd

Postby spencerforhire » Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:18 am

Smiley just about summed it up, but to be technically correct, it's torque that breaks transmissions, not HP. If you look at new transmissions for sale like Tremec, the listings are all by torque capacity, not HP. The single biggest factor with the Saginaw is the first gear ratio; the 4-cyl versions are geared much lower and therefore aren't rated to handle any amount of torque. The V8 ones, usually found in the Nova or Camaro, are still only good for about 300ft/lbs, but I still managed to break one with a 275hp 327. But I had a steep first gear one from a 74 Vega live behind a built 400 SBC; it no doubt had in excess of 400ft/lb, but I never had slicks on it, so there was never enough traction to hurt it.
If you don't have a beefy motor, steep rear end gears and good traction(and you do have sensible driving habits!), even the 4-cyl ones will survive, and they're a whole lot more fun to drive with that short first gear. :D
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....

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Re: saginaw 4spd

Postby cjbiagi » Wed Jan 07, 2015 7:43 am

I agree with the above comments. I have read a lot about Saginaws and there seems to be stories on both ends of the spectrum, some people say they broke it with a stock engine and others say they have had it behind a strong engine and had no problems. I believe they will survive just fine if you don't get crazy with it. It's more on how you apply the torque rather than how much you have. If you plan on doing holeshots and dumping the clutch it may break, if you walk into the throttle it will likely survive. I have one in my 350 Monza for 40 years and never broke it. I am planning on a rebuild this spring for a hard shifting issue (which it had since new) and hope to learn a bit more about these. As mentioned, traction has a lot to do with it so with our light cars and limited tire we can stuff under there wheelspin will happen before the trans lets go.
Clyde.........75 Monza 2+2
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Re: saginaw 4spd

Postby mirage_brat » Wed Jan 07, 2015 9:09 pm

I plan on Running A Built 305 With a 76 vega 4spd Saginaw
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Re: saginaw 4spd

Postby cjbiagi » Wed Jan 07, 2015 10:16 pm

Anything can break at any given time, but I think you should be fine with it behind a 305.
Clyde.........75 Monza 2+2
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Re: saginaw 4spd

Postby mirage_brat » Thu Jan 08, 2015 12:42 pm

Thanks for all the Helpful info Guys :D :th:
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