First Jeep, Buick v6, saginaw trans questions

Hi everyone, I just bought a 46 willeys from neighbor, found out running gear is out of 67 CJ5, buick 225 odd-fire v6. Sat for 3 years, got motor running easy enough but trans and transfer case need to be put back. Looks like the trans is a saginaw I think, side linkage with 7 bolt side plate, with reverse lever attaching to side plate also. Trans is GM withAAplate to adapt to dana 18 transfer case. Anyway, my question is since there is no tail shaft, the shifter is bolted to floor, piece of crap! flexes alot, they called it the mystery shift, is there a better trans to put in without alot of fabrication? Or a better set up in general . The trans in it is a 4 speed with a pretty low first. Will be driving it on street and moderate off-road. Should I go to a sm420 or another with shifter on top of trans? would appreciate any advice, thanks

 

Welcome. Yes, I'd want to change that trans right away. Stay with a GM like you said so you only have to find an adapter to the transfer case.

 

Welcome from central Va. The super low crawl ratio of a SM420 probably would be a bit overkill for what it sounds like you want to use the JEEP for but hey overkill is a good thing now isn't it

 

Welcome from so cal!

You could go back to stock trans (T90) lots of them around (not the strongest but i ran one behind a v8 with out any prob), bolts right up to your spicer 18. You will have to get a adapter for it to bolt to your 225 v6 (lots of them around used!) for what you sound like you want to do with youe jeep this would be fine, and will be a cheap install!

 

If it were mine, I'd try to find a way to keep the Saginaw, at least for now. I'd make a bracket to mount the shifter on, and attach it to the mounting bolts between the transfer case and the transmission.

The close-ratio swaps aren't so popular today, but they used to be very popular with the dune-runners especially.

Welcome from Boston!

 

Personally, I never liked anything with external linkage off road, or even on road for that matter. However, your intended use for the JEEP should be the deciding factor. Where ya gonna run it.

 

hey thanks for the feedback everyone. If i go with a 3 speed t90 would I want an overdrive added or is 3rd a descent highway gear. I just want to get it driveable without wasteing money on somethng I'll want to change. Timgr , I was thinking of an l-bracket beefed up under the floor for shifter, but your idea of one mounted to transfer case bolts maybe easier and stronger. So cheapest is buy a hurst shifter for what I have,135.00 and shorten linkage to move it forward. Right now it sits 23 inches back from where bellhousing meets block, which is part way between seats, thanks for the ideas

 

Hey Warloch, I thought a t90's shifter is just back from the dash on floor. Can't picture how a shifter that mounts on tailpiece could be mounted way up front. does linkage mount to trans on top instead of bottom or the opposite of how it usually mounts. can't picture it maybe I'm on the wrong track. could I use a standard shifter like a hurst and bolt it up easily to get it to work? thanks

 

First of all, forth in the GM trans is the same as third in the three speeds(1 to 1). As for a better trans, the four your running right now is as good as any of the stock Jeep three speeds. As for the shifter, simply fab a mount to the side orf the trans. This will eliminate the flex problem. This will be much cheaper than replacing the trans. As stated earlier, a trans swap hinges on what you want to do with the Jeep. If the existing drivetrain is working well for you, simply fix the shifter problem and drive on.

 

I had the same exact tranny in my 69 CJ5 when I bought it. It worked ok only because I had 5:38's in the rear, but it did leave a little to be desired for off roading. Putting the 465 in was not cheap, but it was worth it to be able to idle up anything with no problem.
If money is an issue, you could get the universal 4 speed shifter that mounts to the tranny, then save $$$ for a sm swap later. Either way you'll have some sheet metal fab work to do to the trans cover.

 

I keep seeing the T-90 in this thread but no mention of the T-14? Would it not be easier to find and install than the T-90 (assuming you wanna go back to stock) Also isn;t the T-14 a tad stronger than the T-90? And the T-14 has a synchronized 1st gear where the T-90 does not. Dang hurricane guys always wanting to put their parts where dauntless parts belong.. haha..


BUBBA

 

I don't know that it's any easier. The main problem I'd see with mounting the shifter to the body is the movement between the body and the drivetrain. This is a typical problem with mechanical clutch linkages in CJs, since the frame, body and drivetrain move so much wrt each other.

Re the T-14 v. the T-90, maybe. The T-90 is basically the same as the T-86, and probably stronger since it has a straight-cut 1st and reverse. The synchro 1st gear is good, but the Saginaw has all 4 forward gears synchronized anyway. The only possible advantage I see for a B-W 3-speed over the Saginaw is the top shifter, and a slightly lower 1st gear ratio. I found one listing of the 1st gear ratio of the Saginaw online at 2.84:1. This is comparable to the 2.98:1 and 3.1:1 for the CJ T-90 and T-14 respectively. The Muncies were made for much higher HP (above 300) and had a 2.2:1 1st, but the Saginaw ratio seems ok.