Poll: Help choose trans

[rebelgtp]

Okay guys I have a bit of a dilemma at the moment I'm trying to decide on which transmission to put in my car.

First the info on the car:
1980 Olds Cutlass currently with a Pontiac 301 and TH350 trans 7.5 rear. It was originally a diesel so it has a few aluminum bits.

I have a Chevy 355 that will be going in the car final tune should be somewhere around 300hp or so nothing crazy and might add a nitrous kit with a 75-100 shot just for giggles.

The cars chassis will be stiffened out as much as possible, suspension will be upgraded to handle an autocross course. The stock rear will be swapped out for either an 8.5 or Ford 9 inch. The car is mostly going to be used as a street car with some track use in autocross and maybe a drag or two (though not much not big on drags anymore). Basically the car is being built just for fun and if I can build it to compete in the grassroots motorsports challenge.

Now I honestly prefer a manual trans though swapping over would cost more and driving in heavy traffic when I go to see my friends always sucks with a manual. It can be done I just hate it.

Now then I have available to me two transmissions right now. The first is a Saginaw 4spd, it will more than likely require a rebuild just for the fact its been sitting in a shop for about 8 years. The second is a TH350 recently rebuilt, with a shift kit and comes with a Hurst shifter. Both are $150 so price is the same though less work to go to the new TH350 over the Sag.

So what do you think? What transmission should I go with? If I had more money to throw at this I would be putting in a Supercharged LS with a 6 spd but that will have to be a future project. I do prefer a manual though I have always wanted to try an auto with shift kit or manual valve body.

 

[3rdgentug]

in my opinion if your going to do alot of autox do the 4 speed

 

[megaladon6]

personally i like the 200-4r when properly built, or a 4l60e-4l80e

 

[Phoenyx]

I like the 4 speed idea, just not the Saginaw. I put a M-22 in a grand prix years back. I think that's the best upgrade I've ever done to a car. I plan to put one in my Malibu some day too.

 

[rebelgtp]

I would love to have an M22, I had one in my old Camaro and I LOVED that trans. Sadly locating and being able to afford one just seems out of the question right now.

Funny thing is my uncles brother is running a Saginaw in his stock car and its not the piece of the drive train he has issues with. He has had an issue with busting axles for the Ford 9 inch rear he has in the car right now, though I think they are the lower spline count ones right now.

 

[DRIVEN]

I've always had good luck with Saginaws except for the one time that I let my brother take my El Camino to Home Depot and it came back with reverse peeled off the cluster gear. If you want to run one be aware that there are different ratios. Look at the input shaft for grooves in the splines. Three rings is wide ratio, two is medium and one ring is close ratio. I have run each and found that the spacing between 1-2-3 feels pretty similar but the split between 3-4 is where it feels different. On the three ring version it feels like a 5-speed that is missing 4th gear...big jump. I think you might be happier with a 5-speed. I know I would be. The T-5 from the Camaro/Firebird is tilted, requiring the matching bellhousing. Also the shifter is pretty far back and will interfere with some seating options. There is also the S10 T-5 option that isn't tilted and has a forward mounted shifter. They also tend to be cheaper to purchase.
The easy choice would be the TH350.