Not to beat a dead horse, but, I've seen plenty of broken Muncie transmissions. If you try hard enough you can break anything. That said, I have always used Saginaws because of the much better first gear ratios. On the street, you want a good overall ratio to get going from a dead stop. I find 10 to 1 about perfect. An overall ratio like that also takes the strain off your rear so it will last too. You can do this several ways, and even GM did what I prefer- a good deep first gear coupled with highway gears in the rear end. If you use a Muncie with a 2:20 first gear, what kind of rear ratio will you need to get going? 3:73? 4:11? That gets old fast if you need to go highway speed ever. If all you do is tear around on the local streets, then fine, have at it. And if you want to race, get a race transmission. But I like to travel so I stay with 3:08 or 3:23 rear ratios. Thus, a 3:11 or 3:50 first gear works perfectly. I get great street manners and decent highway mileage without stressing my motor. As for strength- I have always used Pontiac V-8s like 350 and 400 and my Saginaws have taken lots of abuse. The cast iron case is very stiff. Upon tear down, the only thing I have ever found worn was the wavy washer that goes at the rear of the main shaft. A Torrington flat roller bearing used instead will solve that. Of course the synchronizers wear, but that is true for all manual transmissions. That is why I suggested that if it has not been done yet- an overhaul makes good sense while you have it apart.
