3 speed with overdrive idea

[ncd1966]

I have a 1966 chevy with 3 on the tree (no overdrive) and a 1985 305 V8 in it

I will be restoring it as a daily driver. (A/C, power brakes etc.)

What I want to do is get a 5.3l fuel injected motor out of a 2005 or so truck and I want to keep the 3 on the tree because I enjoy driving with that trans.

but I remember some trucks came with a 3 speed and overdrive.
They where shift on the column and you had a lever under the dash you pull for the overdrive.

I think this trans will work with the new style motor. I'll just put a LS1 style clutch and fly and bolt the trans up to it. And run the Z bar for the clutch. It should be the same bolt patten as a th350 right? so if it is it will work.

I'm trying to get some gas mileage out of this truck and I think it would be a sweet setup

I found a couple of 3 speed overdrives for around $300 bucks a piece


anyone have had experience with these trannys? and maybe know the gear ratios?

Thanks in advance

Nick

[Scooter3]

I dont know if the gearing of that trans will go with that large of a motor. My truck has a two speed powerglide and I was told that it wasn't enough trans for a 350 or larger which is close to a 5.3 I think.

[ncd1966]

well I still have my original 3 speed Saginaw hook up to my 305 with some mods done. And it holds the power fine. Its no drag racer but it has plenty of power when I need it. And can smoke the tires hehe. Back in the old days they made stuff not to break.

Well I know the ratios in powerglides (stock ones) are 1.82 in 1st gear and 1:1 in second. They use these in drag cars all the time

So if its a 1:1 in third and a .76 or whatever in od Im fine with that.
They did put these od trannys in V8 trucks so it should be fine with the 5.3

If I decide to buy this od 3 speed. I will get my friend at Cottman to look at it and rebuilt it if it needs to.

[dward]

Don't know if this helps or not. In my youth (1970s) I had a 1967 El Camino that came stock with a 283 2bl (?) 3 speed manual with an OD activated by a cable under the dash. It had something like 208 rear end, I think. I built up a mild 396 4 bl and swapped it out in a weekend with a lot of adult language. I never had any issues with the transmission but that thing would idle at about 70 mph in 3d gear OD. Of course that was no LS1. Sure loved that car/truck.

[ncd1966]

yeah thats the transmission I want I will be running a 3.73 gear so thats why I want the OD

thanks for the info dward

[Dave Young]

FYI...

4.7L = 283ci +/-
5.0L = 302ci +/-
5.3L = 327ci +/-
5.7L = 350ci +/-

This is one of the reasons that, if I decide to go with a late model engine, I'll be bringing the tranny with it. I don't wanna mess with conversion charts.

[joesscamaro]

Hey Scooter3, you had some people tell you that powerglide wouldn't hold up to a 350ci? I was thinking the same thing as ncd1966...I've seen those trans. in race cars all the time. Just curious, how has yours held up? I would think it's plenty for a 350.

[ncd1966]

well i found some good info today on saginaw transmissions and it looks like my 5.3 will defendly work.
I been racing a 1998 Trans Am with a LS1 for four years and I looked into running a th350 because the 4l60e is a weak trans even built with strong parts.
I know to run a old th350 to a LS style engine you need a flywheel off a 1998 model ls1, a spacer for the crank and it bolts right up. Anyways I found this web page with gear ratio on the old transmissions
www.drivetrain.com/saginaw3_4sp.html

So it looks like I will buy the 3 speed overdrive unit and i might even swap out my 3 speed now just to try it out with my 305. Even if its junk, the trans can be rebuilt and they want $300 for it so thats not much money first off.

Thanks guys for the info you gave me. I been doing hott rodding/ drag racing since I was 16. And had many projects and people always would tell me "you cant put this motor with that trans" but I always did good research and made it work. mainly with Chevy stuff they stay with the same bolt pattern so its easy to put the old with the new. change big block to small block or vise versa. I cant wait till I start this new project If everything works out it sould be a sweet setup. and should get some attention at car shows

Nick

[harryb]

Sept 9, 2008 17:46:35 GMT -7 Scooter3 said:

I dont know if the gearing of that trans will go with that large of a motor. My truck has a two speed powerglide and I was told that it wasn't enough trans for a 350 or larger which is close to a 5.3 I think.

Scooter3,

I ran powerglide in my econo-dragsters for over 20 years, behind a 565ci BB Chevrolet and relatively little trouble. I had them built with some good parts.

[ncd1966]

i found this web page. A clean 1966 truck. Hes running a 283 punched to 301ci and a 3 speed with OD. So my idea is lookin good

www.customclassictrucks.com/featuredvehicles/0609cct_1966_chevy_pickup/index.html

and its yellow! good color



I'm really pumped about restoring my truck. Its been in my family since brand new. And I still have the original receipt and owners manual. And all the original parts

I almost sold it recently but I back out of it. Couldn't part with it and my soon to be wife didnt want me to let it go. (she never even rode in it) haha

[Scooter3]

They used powerglides in race cars becuase they are aluminum and light weight compared to most tranmissions. I didnt say it wouldnt hold up, I said that the gearing just didnt go well with the engine, by which a 3 speed would probably go better, and also like I said, this is just what I was told.