Saturn Overdrive

I'm thinkiing about purchasingl a Saturn OD for my '52 M38A1, but at a glance it looks like the e-brake connecting rod is gonna be in the way and it also looks like the transfer case is riding so high against the bottom of the tub (and the tub slopes downward behind the transfer case) that it just aint-a-gonna fit. I could live with disconnecting the e-brake, but I'm reluctant to try to re-do the tub floor........ Any feedback and words of experience would help lift the fog I'm in. I note that the Saturn provides a 25% overdrive, and I'm thinking that should be enough to give me a sustainable road speed of approx 50-55mph. Am I dreaming??

Hope to hear some pheedbak!

Moose

 

Couple of years ago I was looking at a M38A1 that had overdrive so I think it can be done. Owner said he could go over 60 on the freeway. Probably was a Warn unit but I've read they're virtually the same. Resulting speed at any rpm will depend on your gear ratios and tire size.

What part of MN? I was born in St. Paul and grew up in Redwood Falls. Miss the lakes and slower pace but not the skeeters and long winters.

Have you talked with Herm the overdrive guy?

 

Thanks Steelwheels: I've lived in mtro mpls for 30 years but was born/raised about 30 miles north of Redwood Falls in a little town name of Wood Lake. Left at the age of 17 in about 1963, so no current links to the area I'm afraid. I'll talk with Herm the overdrive guy. How are U doing? Are you in the middle of a Jeep project?
Moose

 

Toward the end of a project I hope.....yeah, I know, Jeeps are never "done". Check out my Jeep in the introductions section of the forum. Now I'm looking for 3 final things, overdrive, soft top, and new skinny snow/mud type tires.

Let's see, if you left at 17 in '63, you must be around my age. I graduated in '65 and headed west soon after 6 months at the U of M. So, based on that, do you recognize my avatar?

 

From what I have gleened from other sources, the stock 'A1 e-brake probably won't work.
(Mine was converted to a CJ style)

Prior to finding out my used OD could not be installed without a rebuild, I did a fit-up and my floorboard wouldn't quite clear either. It appeared that the floorboard was smashed down so I used a jack and 2x4 top pop it back up. I was am pretty confident that it will fit now. The linkage fit-up was a little tight too but think it would have fit also.

 

I have a 1968 M38A-1 Cdn-2 with the 'F' head, T-90 and a Husky overdrive - When I got the Jeep, the previous owner had installed hockey pucks on the DRIVERS SIDE ONLY - apparently his "fix" for the "Jeep Lean" . I removed the hockey pucks and installed the 3/4" poly body mounts from Energy Suspension all hte way around - effectively a 3/4" body lift I guess......
My overdrive and shifter clear the floor (just) and I have removed the original drum-style brake due to interference issues with the O/D unit. I am in the process of installing line locks and figuring out how to mount a disc style e-brake back there to replace it.
Hope this helps....
Chris

 

Steel Wheels,

Is your Avatar from Popeye and Pete, or is it from Clancy? It's definitely not from Casey Jones and Roundhouse Rodney. I'm originally from Minneapolis, and I remember the character but can't place the name, his show was taken over by Carmen the Nurse, wasn't it?

Ranger

 

You can put spacers between your crossmember and frame to lower everything. It may cause issues with your clutch lincage. Im not sure how the m38s are set up

 

You got the Carman part right. Dog's name was Towser. Keep guessing. Used to watch the Little Rascals on his show. No more hints for now. Kids in MN, Iowa, and Wisconsin probably were able to get it on their black and white tvs.

 

Hey everybody; thanks for the tips. First things first: SteelWheels your Avatar rings a bell and I really gotta dig for this: Is it Captain Kangaroo by any chance? You're right about the age thing: I'm 63, but my wife keeps asking me if I'm ever gonna grow up........... like that's ever gonna happen!!!

Next: to Jeep -'03 I thought about lowering the Xmember and I kinda noodled with the idea that if I dropped it 1/2 inch or maybe just a little more, maybe I could sneak in my OD. I don't have any experience doing mods like that and I wonder if that would be enough change to stress the Ujoint right behind the output shaft and cause it to fail?? Also (lack of experience) would the angle change create issues with the oil-pan and the pick-up for the oil pump, etc. (lack of experience again)?

for 68Jeep: I also thought about shimming up the tub. I need to check into that, but probably not with a hockey puck; thanks for the heads up!!!!!

I appreciate all the feedback folks. I looked at the Husky OD and got the impression it was about the same as the Saturn for size and installation, but something sticks in my mind that it required more modifications than the Saturn; like you had to cut a hole in the tub floor to accomodate the shift mechanism?

By the way; this spring I tore the tranny/gearbox/transfer case out to put in new seals/gaskets etc. and try to slow down some of the drooling it was doing. Seemed like a good idea and I was way careful, but the damn thing is still leaking from the front of the gearbox into the clutch bellhousing. Is there such a thing as a REAL seal for the tranny input shaft to the gearbox for a T90??

Keep the shiny side up!!

 

Hey everybody; thanks for the tips. First things first: SteelWheels your Avatar rings a bell and I really gotta dig for this: Is it Captain Kangaroo by any chance?


Nope. New clue: "Little birdie with yellow bill, sits upon my window sill, he cocks a shining eye and says, 'What's that up on the road, a head?'

One member in MD got it right so far. He must have grown up in the MN area.

Regarding your overdrive....there's probably no hope, you should sell it to me and simplify your life! R)

 

Your avatar is driving me crazy....... If it isn't Captain Kangaroo it MIGHT be Axel, from Axel and his Dog?????????????
Lemme know; Moose.

 

I like your avatar; looks like a good Jeep.
Moose

 

Ooofta! The jig is up. That is indeed Axel. He was quite a character. Real name is Clellan Card and was quite a fixture on WCCO radio as Axel and His Dog and later on tv as Axel's Treehouse. Google Clellan Card for the whole story. I compliment you on your good memory!

 

Many thanks Howard; I'll look into it!!!

 

Anyone that says oofta must have grown up in Minnie-soda.

 

Redwood Falls. I only say it when I'm speaking to those who know the language. Yah, fer sure. All the best. And I miss Grainbelt Premium. Can get Rolling Rock but it's just not the same, eh?

 

Whenever I ran out of Grain Belt, it was either Hamms or Schmidt............