<VV> Transaxle tech - hole in Saginaw gasket not on earlier trans ?

[Charles Lee]

Be careful when swapping a 1965 4-speed for a 1966-1969 Saginaw !

My first "vehicular homicide" came when a mechanic Corvair installed a 
Saginaw in my 1965 Corsa.

He noticed the obvious need for a different mount, but was not quite as 
aware of the difference in gaskets ?

Not long afterward, the transaxle melted down (literally !) and seized up at 
70 MPH, leaving bout 400 feet of skid marks in the fast last of the Long 
Island Expressway !

The pinion gear actually melted, with the teeth smooshed into the space 
between them, and the tapered bearings looked like chewing gum !

The transaxle (diff) case was split in half, but the engine and tranny were 
OK.

The mechanic of course blamed it on me "for not checking the oil" !

Apparently there is a hole in the Saginaw gasket that is not on the earlier 
tranny ?

Charlie



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bryan Blackwell" <bryan at skiblack.com>
To: "Jeff Wilson" <jwilson at unctv.org>
Cc: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, October 01, 2010 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Transaxle tech/ opinions


>I think you misunderstand what a 'transaxle' is - it's the combined 
>transmission and differential (axle).  I think the question you are really 
>asking has two parts:
>
> - Is the '65 axle as strong as the '66 and later?
>
> Yes, the internal parts are the same.
>
> - Will a '65 transmission mate to a '66 diff?
>
> There are a couple of detail differences.  I seem to recall you can mate 
> the two different year parts, but there is at least some minor change to 
> be made first, it doesn't just bolt up.
>
> The short answer is if you only need a new differential, you should get 
> one from a '65 if you want it to just "bolt in".
>
> --Bryan
>
> On Oct 1, 2010, at 2:43 PM, Jeff Wilson wrote:
>
>> I often hear that the 66 and up 'Saginaw' trannys
>> are strong/ superior than the earlier models, but
>> are the 66-up transaxles any better than the 64/ 65
>> models?
>
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