c-10 396 w a 3 on the tree??

[wiggins]

Would GM have buckled a three on the column with a 396? Is this an original set up? I been googling and reading all day and I cant figure it out. I expected to find a chart for the two letter engine code that would give me an answer but Ive had no luck. Ive also noticed that the tranny is not mentioned on the glove box spid unless it was an automatic. Does this sound correct? Lots of questions, thanks for any help.

[uncle]

I've seen several trucks with 402 and three speed on the column.

[Boog]

I've seen a couple. Kinda neat a 396 w/3ott.

[LONGHORN1962]

A guy who worked for my parents had a new 69 with a 3ott.

[Steeveedee]

If one doesn't order an upgrade of some sort, the 3ott is the "standard" transmission.

[wiggins]

OK thx guys. That would also explain the lack of info on the spid too. It was not an optional tranny, it was the standard issue.

[wiggins]

lol nice timing Steve

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

If one doesn't order an upgrade of some sort, the 3ott is the "standard" transmission.

[Bob B.]

If I am not mistaken, the 396/402 trucks used a different manual 3 speed than 6 cylinder and small block trucks did.

[joecaruso]

My 1970 c10 is equipped with the factory original 402 and 3 on the tree. I believe I read somewhere that the big block 3 speeds were a muncie rather than the saginaw.

[AtomicYJ]

Supposedly the '68 BB truck used a Borg-Warner T-16 HD 3 speed. Starting in '69 the BB trucks and 4x4s (until '82) got the SM330 HD 3 speed as the standard transmission instead of the standard full synchro SM326.

[kcsa75]

Originally Posted by Boog

I've seen a couple. Kinda neat a 396 w/3ott.

What's neat about a 3OTT on anything? That's about the un-coolest thing you could have. They only put those on old lady cars.

[palallin]

Originally Posted by kcsa75

What's neat about a 3OTT on anything? That's about the un-coolest thing you could have. They only put those on old lady cars.

If we have to explain it to you, you'd never understand.

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by palallin

If we have to explain it to you, you'd never understand.

I was going to try to, but you beat me to it. Oh, I cannot resist!

1). Manual trannies are fun.

2). Manual trannies that are different are more fun.

3). Manual trannies on the column free up floor space.

4). Combined with the bench seat, 3OTT makes for a convenient dating experience.

*Now I know some of (well maybe most of) you old farts don't "date" any more but some of us still do. I made use of my 3OTT and bench seat when I was in high school and my GF and I plan to use it as soon as I get that same old truck running again.

I would buy a 396 with 3OTT Chevy truck.

[Jason Banks]

I had a 1972 Cheyenne Super with a 402 and a 3OTT. That truck was extremely loaded... It's the only one I wish I still had. It's the one under my name on the left.

I have a 250 with 3OTT in the current truck. Still super fun to drive.

[Boog]

Originally Posted by kcsa75

What's neat about a 3OTT on anything? That's about the un-coolest thing you could have. They only put those on old lady cars.

He says in jest.
Old ladies who could out drive you. Back in the day.

[feller]

Why a 3ott? 2 words: drag racing.

[special-K]

I've had three big block 2wds with 3spd. It wasn't about being wimpy or for old ladies. Automatics were still not seen as having a place in hi-performance and many wanted that direct lock-up only a manual transmission gives. Many BBC/3spd trucks would have had a car-type 4spd if they had been offered. The 3spd was the next best thing. Many into performance in this era were matured '50s hot rodders from when manuals were for a plush ride, nt musclr power. Many Fuelie '57s were 3spd, so were the first Vettes.

[LongBox]

Back in the fifties, there were lots of guys who didn't trust "those new-fangled automatics", so they bought 3 OTT cars. They did not like shifting, so they'd run the car up to around 20 in low, then "drop it into high". Lugging the car out of a corner was common practice.

With that scenario, the bigger the engine and the more torque, the better, hence the BB with 3 OTT.

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Combined with the bench seat, 3OTT makes for a convenient dating experience.

Yuup!

[TonyD2]

Pulled my old 6 cal out put in a 350 mated to the 3ott. Went to the exhaust shop and the young lot kid was going to put it on the lift. Got this WTF look on his face so the older guy moved it in. Needless to say he got one heck of a ribbing from everyone there that day.

[ghalperin]

My 67 is currently getting a 396 in place of the 250, keeping the shifter on the column and adding a Saginaw 3 speed with a Borg Warner overdrive.

[special-K]

Back in 67-72 macho men felt automatics and power steering were for old ladies and belonged in cars . .. Seriously! Most '57 Belair "Fuelies" I have seen were 3spd. 4spd was a dealer upgrade, so all those were ordered with 3spd and it was a matter of an upgrade or leaving and let that second gear wind out!

I was never a fan of column shift 3spd, but now that they are gone I think they are cool. They are a clear memory from the past. Same as the sound and smell of a 6cyl combined with them. The '72 shortbed I sold to build my '67 was a 6cyl/3spd and I loved running around in that. Wish I had never sold it. Fr what I got for it, looking back, I should have kept it. I'd have been driving it all this time the project sits.

[NC_John]

They are a great theft deterrent.

I enjoyed mine with the stock engine just putt-putting around town, but when i started bringing the power levels up it was kind of a turd. Too slow and clunky a shift, even when everything is set-up correctly. Not the best gear ratios for rapid transit.

So..... stock engine truck? - yes, 3OTT! Hot-rod? 5/6-spd tremec!

[old51sedan]

Originally Posted by ghalperin

My 67 is currently getting a 396 in place of the 250, keeping the shifter on the column and adding a Saginaw 3 speed with a Borg Warner overdrive.

Now that is a nice combination. Always liked the 3OTT with overdrive, had one in my 55 chevy sedan with the 265 PP back in the early sixties. Talk about wishing you had a few old cars back, that would be one of them.: chevy:

[midniteblues]

I enjoy the tree shifter.
That's why I kept the colum and put a no ring 4spd Saginaw in my 67 behind the bb.
With the torque of the bbc there really is no need too throttle up the engine too pull out, even in second gear.

I think it just keeps the nostalgia of the old truck.
It's the 2-3 shift that is long and awkward.
I haven't had it hang up yet and it works very smoothly.

The pto cable and knob I used for reverse takes a bit too get used too using.

I would've use a better 4spd but finding one that hasn't allready been thrashed and paying for it then rebuilding didn't seem logical when I allready had this sag.

I bummed around in two tree shifted square trucks the nice thing about it is nobody ever wanted too drive them.