How to Drive a 3 on the Tree ?

[72MARIO]

I am going to go look at a 69 GMC for a Daily Driver. The only problem is that I dont know how to drive it It's a 3 on the tree, Um could some one help me out.

I have never driven a standard before. I will probibly be making it into a Auto with in the first Month of owning it. But I need to know how to drive it for now.

Thanks

[krue]

To you and up is first, down is 2nd, away and up is third, away and down is reverse. Picture an "H" on the column and you'll have no trouble. Mash the gas and ease out on the clutch to take off. ONce you are rolling mash the clutch and shift, then let out on the clutch smoothly. Best way to learn to drive a stick!

[Phillip Johnson]

If you can drive a 4 speed you can drive 3 on the tree. Basic H pattern. Pull shifter towards you and pull down for first, then 1/2 way up to neutral and push back and then all the way up for second. Then pull all the way down for third. Reverse is straight above first.. So easy my 80 year old mother could do it if she wasnt in a rest home! Good luck!

[OldSkool71]

It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Try to think of as if you took it right off the floor and stuck it on the column. Pull back and up will get you in reverse. Pull back and down will get you into first gear. Then shift forward and up to get second gear. Then still in the foward position shift down and you are in third. If you are familiar with a floor shift I think you will pick it up quick. If not it may take a few times to get it. Hope that helps some. Good Luck!!

[krue]

BTW it's been 15 years since I drove a three on the tree, so I hope I remember it right!

[krue]

OOPS! Don't listen to me obviously I don't know my butt from a hole in the ground!

[gr8scott51]

Shift slow. The old 3 speeds weren't built for racing. Practice before you hit the traffic. A little bit of gas, let the clutch out slowly. Remmeber to push in the clutch when you stop.

good luck, scott

if you decide to move it the floor, I have a Hurst Indy shifter.

[Tx Firefighter]

Don't get frusterated. Do not let it sour you from all standards.

These old column shift trucks are flat worn out and shift like ass. A trip to the dealer will get you some new bushings for the shift linkage, that will remove the slop and make it a lot easier to drive for like 10.00.

A floor shift will shift much better most times.

Myself, three on the tree for me. It lets the wifey slide over real close, try that with a floor shift.

[Blue_71]

towards you and up is reverse, straight down is first, up over and up is second, straight down is third. be very careful to follow the H patten, or be ready to get under the hood and wiggle linkages usually

[pissonNOS]

Originally posted by krue
To you and up is first, down is 2nd, away and up is third, away and down is reverse.

just curious as to what kind of three on the tree this is out of mine is the same way everyone else has discribed

[72MARIO]

I am going to try it out. I think that If I change anything I will put the auto 350 in it. I have all the parts here from a Parts truck I have here.

Thanks for the help.

My Girlfriend would not let me put a floor shift in because she likes to sit in the middle.

[CPNE]

My 12 yr old can drive a 3-on-the-tree. Has so since 10. It's a matter of coordination and patience. Coordination to get the gas/clutch feel down, and patience to shift smooth and easy. It ain't no 5 speed Honda Si, and can't be treated as such.

At 10 or so they understand this as the expection of speed and short-throw shifting isn't ingrained in the head. I'd hate to have had to teach him the gracefull nuances of shifting a 3-on-the-tree if he were 17-23 in age.

Assuming good bushings and linkage, if you shift it like Grandpa, it'll slide right into gear, if you shift it like a Grand Am, you'll lock it up often.

Remember, it's not the tranny and linkage at fault, it the nut behind the wheel!

[SCOTI]

Remember, these old 3spds don't have a synchronized 1st gear. This means when you want to put it into 1st gear you must be @ a complete stop or the gears will grind. To make life easier on parts, always shift to 2nd gear just before going into 1st (it somewhat helps synchronize everything so theres less grinding).

Toward you & down is 1st. Away & up is 2nd. Away & down is 3rd. Toward you & up is reverse. Shift slowly between gears (just don't slam the gears anyway).

[CPNE]

Originally posted by SCOTI
Remember, these old 3spds don't have a synchronized 1st gear. This means when you want to put it into 1st gear you must be @ a complete stop or the gears will grind. To make life easier on parts, always shift to 2nd gear just before going into 1st (it somewhat helps synchronize everything so theres less grinding).

Actually, starting in 69 the 3 speeds were syncro'd (definately by 71), it was 67/68 that didn't have this. Still good advice regardless!

[Class of 69]

Originally posted by 72MARIO

My Girlfriend would not let me put a floor shift in because she likes to sit in the middle.

Floor shift with a long handle that curves back on the seat

[landon4421]

72MARIO, you beat me to this question ! I am looking at a truck with the 3 on the tree ! And it has been like 15 years since the Last time I ever drove one an I had totally forgot the pattern. Thanks for the post and thanks guys for helping me to remember the shift pattern ! Landon

[lukecp]

lol Class of 69

[72MARIO]

I don't get it........... Must be somthing kinda Dirty.......

[palallin]

Humorous story about my changing my '67 from a PG to a 3 spd:

I had never driven a standard before, and I was sent out to "learn on the fly." After a day or two of practice, I felt confident enough to stop partway up a hill on a service road and try to get going up hill. I killed the motor. I tired again with the same result. And again. And again. And again. By the sixth time, I was at the bottom of the hill, but I couldn't get up it. By the ninth time, my battery had run down, and my starter was sounding very weak.

Finally, I had to swallow my pride and walk up the hill (with my girlfriend, whom I had been trying to impress) to a phone and call my dad to come give me a jump. (He had been against my switching to the standard from the beginning.) He showed up, and still the jump wasn't enough: the starter was trashed.

While Dad was berating me in interesting and colorful terms, I crawled underneath to attach a tow rope so that he could toiw me home with his big, '71 Impala. Then I got in the cab to steer. I had to take the truck out of gear, of course, so that he could tow me.

Then it was that I discovered that the transmission had been in 3rd gear all along . . . .

[JoetheMobster]

Then it was that I discovered that the transmission had been in 3rd gear all along . . . .

Interesting way to save face!!

It took me a few tries to get in sync with the transmission when I got my truck - first 3 spd for me.

[67Fleetsidedream]

I learned by doing it. Telling you won't help any. Have fun.

[Eddie H.]

Damn, I guess I'm getting old. I learned to drive in a 1950 Chevy
with a 3 on the tree, and I remember taking my driving test in a red 67 Chevy C10 with a straight 6 and 3 on the tree. It was pretty new truck at the time.

[Hooter]

I enjoy driving a 3 on the tree, especially with friends who have never seen one before, they look at me in puzzlement when I drive my 71 chev van around, kinda funny actually

[Phillip Johnson]

It shouldnt take more than 2 min to figure this out. Just get in and drive