Alright. I did a quick search, didnt find anything. Hoping for a quick answer. I no longer own my F-Body but I have a 65 El Camino and just installed a replacement saginaw 4-speed (i know its a crap tranny). I dont know the procedure to adjust the linkages. Ex: put shifter in 1st gear put arms on the tranny forward, adjust the top linkage.

Ive been searching everywhere and I cant get an answer. You guys always pull through so any help is appreciated. As always thanks in advance

 

****, I've had to do this 100 times...

Basically on the side of the tranny you have the 3 tabs. The two big ones in the front face up, and when you crank them on they flip toward the back. I think that means they go into 1st and 3rd gear if I'm not mistaken, so that's how you should adjust them.

What I'd normally do is attach the tab to the tranny loosely, cotter pin the linkage to the tab, put the stick in 1st, and then crank the tab down. Make sure you line up the little key in the tab to the key on the tranmission. Do the same for 3rd. Once those tabs are on, you can pop the tranny in neutral and adjust the rods to get even shifts without much of a headache. You can even unpin them from the tabs on the tranny in order to screw the rods longer or shorter at this point. Pretty much the same idea should follow for reverse.

And yes, the Saginaw M20 is basically crap. I have an L6 M20 in my Camaro right now and the 330ftlbs out of my 350 is slowly killing it. I had it rebuilt less than 2 years ago and I've already eaten the synchros out of 3rd and 4th. I do like that really short 1st and 2nd gear though; it gets me out of the hole nice.

*EDIT - Make sure the tabs are on enough to push the transmission into first and/or 3rd when you push the stick into the respective gear. Otherwise it becomes a big pain in the *** real quick. The only reason to really loosen the tabs in the first place is to get that picky *** neutral spot lined up in the linkage.

 

Thanks alot for the help. Also the rear tab i believe is for reverse. If its in the forward position i guess thats engaged? And back is disengaged. I dont wanna start it up in first gear and reverse if thats even possible. Thanks for the help.

 

You know, the only reason I've ever had to adjust it is because the damn linkage fell off the car while I was driving. For some reason, reverse has always stayed on the car though. It's easy to check, just have someone move the stick for you and watch which way the linkage moves. That'll tell you which way the tab goes for engaged. If you ask me, by moving the stick into reverse, which is up, the rod'll move backwards. That means that if the tab is facing the rear of the car, reverse is engaged. I don't think the Saginaw'll let you engage two gears anyway.

Give it a shot and let me know! Good luck!

 

most side linkage manuals have a spot to slide a pin(drill bit works) into the shifter to hold everything in neutral, then you put all the levers in neutral, then adjust the linkage rods to slide into the holes on the levers with ease.....

 

Thanks for the help guys. Im going to do it tomorrow morning and hopefully its not raining so I can finally take her out. BTW here's a pic of her

Cant Get Pics to Stay

 

That is one sweet looking Camino!

 

Thanks alot for the help guys. Got the car out today. Here's some pics if your interested.

 

Very sweet looking car. That a 327 under the hood?