Saginaw 3 speed to Saginaw 4 Speed

[slicnic]

Hey guys I have a 1983 gmc c15 with a saginaw 3 speed that has a floor shift conversion.. really not a fan of the trans and was hoping to swap it for a 4 speed. Just had a couple questions first..
Is this a direct swap? do I need a different driveshaft or cross member?
I have notived that there are two types of saggy 4 speeds, "side cover" and "top cover" styles.. the top cover style is easier to find, is this compatable? Thanks in advance!

 

[Georgeb]

I swapped back and forth between the side cover three and four speeds in a 71 c-10 I had for a while. I even used the same shifter on each. I just wired the revers lever of the shifter back when running the three speed.

 

[bucket]

Depends on what you want. Do you want 4 normal driving gears, or do you want 3 normal gears and a granny low for pulling?

 

[slicnic]

Looking for 4 normal gears. Getting ready to start building parts for my Ls swap into a g body.. C10 is going to be my daily

 

[MikeB]

I know the Muncie and Borg-Warner 4-speeds are the same length and use the same yoke as the Saginaw 3-speed. I think that's also true for the Saginaw 4-speed as used in cars.

I don't know how your 3-speed shifter would work, unless you use a separate lever for reverse. Get a Hurst shifter with a long handle.

 

[slicnic]

I plan on getting a hurst when i do the trans swap. this arm travel is craaaazy. thanks for the info!

 

[79Scott]

I plan on getting a hurst when i do the trans swap. this arm travel is craaaazy. thanks for the info!

Would you be willing to sell of the floor shifter and associated linkage?