I was wondering what kind of transmission my Camaro has. It is a 1982 Z28 that had an LG4 from the factory, but I don't think that matters cause I know the tranny was replaced. Here are some picture, so can anyone tell me what it is?

 

Get a picture of the tranny pan. There are sites that show all the trans id by there pan shape and bolts. I have a printed copy if you cant find them

 

Yeah, it'd be easier to tell by looking at the trans itself rather than these casting numbers. If the pan is rectangular it's a 700R4. If it's rectangular with a notched corner on one end, then I think it's a 2004R.

 

Going by the three shift levers on a side cover shown the pic it is a manual trans

 

Given the location of the reverse shift lever on the side cover ( not in the tailshaft housing as some other GM trans have ) it would appear to be a Saginaw trans
Should be 7 bolts holding the side cover onto the trans case

 

Sorry for your bad luck

 

7 bolts holding the side cover on the transmission case. It is a Saginaw. What power output are they rated to?

 

Doesn't matter. They're terrible, for any number of reasons other than and in addition to any meaningless "rating". Bad gear ratios, clunky shifting, and so forth; and of course, just overall weak.

 

So in other words it needs to come out and a M21 needs to go in?

 

A Saginaw iron-case with the 2.54:1 first isn't a total disaster, and is adequate to a 400-horse 350 on street radials. I drove such a combo in a '75 Camaro I used to have. 265/50R15s and a 3.42:1 rear. The M21 sucks because the 2.20:1 first means you need a 4.10:1 axle to get a combined 9:1, about the minimum for any street 350 with typical 26" tires. The Saginaw isn't much better, needing a 3.55:1 rear. And both suck because neither has any OD. If you're going to street-drive a 4-speed with a 350, get the wide-ratio Super T-10 your car should have, with the 3.42:1 first, and combine that with a 2.73:1 axle. That'll survive 300 HP. If you want more, invest in a used T56 from a '94-'97 Z28.

 

No...

A T-56.

Last year for the M21 was about 74. None of them have torque arm provisions.

A T-10 from a 82 F body would be the only "direct" "upgrade"; but then, you'd still only have a 4-speed. No OD.

The T-56 has basically the same gears 1 - 4 as a Muncie or T-10, but then adds 2 more ODs on top of that. Pair that up with a real high # rear gear (3.73 MINIMUM) and you end up with a car that launches like a 60s muscle car but cruises at the low RPMs and high vehicle speeds of a modern one.

 

A T-56 would be awesome, but I don't have $1500 or more to spend on a tranny and I won't for a while because I am starting tech school tomorrow. What would be the best Tranny I could get and rebuild myself for about $300-400?

 

There isn't one.

 

So there are no alternatives?

 

nope. either dont beat on the car and keep the saginaw alive or be prepared to drop some cash. cars arent cheap and theres always kooks to swapping in anything that didnt come in the car from the factory

 

My poor Camaro is never gonna get done.