Saginaw 4-speed torque ratings

[80ECLT]

I am putting a saginaw 4-speed behind a mild 350 (300 Hp) in an 80 el camino. Does anyone know how much torque these guys can take?? I do not intent to dump the clutch on it or race it. I have 2 sag's one with no rings (2.85:1 first gear) and one with 3 rings (3.50:1 first gear) I am using 3.23:1 rear gears too.

Thanks.

 

[GP403]

I've been told they'll take quite a bit, that your rear will give out long before the trans does. I asked the same question about mine (w/ the 7.5 posi) YMMV of course. I don't think it's any M-22 or anything but it'll take quite a bit to break it.

Just as an aside, ever have one of them slip out of gear? I had it 1/2 way into 2nd once (oops! ) and it popped out, *BANG* in the middle of an intersection, thought it blew up for sure. Had that 1 second of "oh sh*t!!! x5" before I put it back in and kept going...

 

[80ECLT]

I never had any slip out of gear. I use Hurst shifters. The factory ones get sloppy after a while and dont shift into gear solidly. (My opinion) I just rebuild both transmission's but dont know which one to use. One is a 3 groove, one is a no groove.

 

[GP403]

Thought they came w/ Hurst shifter assy's (this one did!) And now that you mention it, that was before I sent it off to Hurst to get it rebuilt

 

[80ECLT]

Some did, I think f-bodys came with hurst. But it was a factory style hurst shifter. The one I use is a competition shifter with bushed jounts and shift through stoppers. Either way, a sloppy shifter will miss a gear from time to time. Bad news for us sag owners!!