Serious Opinions

[TEXAS 68]

Any one running a 3 speed manual on the floor with V-8 ? If so what's your honest opinion on durability and performance.
Thanks for any input.

[hgs_notes]

I had a 3 on the tree way back when, and it kept jamming between 1st and 2nd. So I put in a hurst universal floor shifter and it was alright. I still didn't care much for how the shifter felt, but it was ok. What I did like was when I reved it up and dropped the clutch and smoked rubber for like half a block and then shifted to 2nd at like 50 mph and got another little chirp. I had a set of BFG euro T/A's at 295-50-15. I went to a 4 speed later and didn't like it. It was from a car but 1st was still too low for me and 2nd was too high a ratio to start in normally. So now I have the TH 350 and wish I had my old 3-speed. What I really want is an overdrive, but the current 5 and 6 speeds sounds like way too much shifting for me.

HG

[1972C10]

A friend of mine used to have a 327 with a three on the tree and he put one of them daytona i think it was "cheap vatozone shifters" on it and it ran pretty good wasnt the tightest pattern but afterall it was a cheap shifter

If got a 3 speed trans with a hurst mystery shifter its pretty firm and snug Ive never had it in anything but it seems like it would be a tight H pattern to drive

[TEXAS 68]

anyone else?

[cableguy0]

dont run around slamming gears with it. those old 3 speeds will break if you start banging gears

[jewels.]

i run a three on the tree currently, and i LOVE it.... it is very nostalgic....

the key to running a three on the tree that wont jam up on you is the adjustment in the linkages.... mine used to jam up everytime... it would get stuck in neutral on the column, but still remain in first gear in the tranny.... but fine69 (mike) adjusted the linkage properly at the ohio meet this summer, and it runs fabulous now!!! (thanks mike!)

as for the transmission, the three speed is fairly reliable.... my tranny is only just now showing signs of wear and it has over 210K miles on it!

i cant give you an opinion of it on the floor, as i havent ever driven it on the floor....

hope that helps!
jewels.

[weasel29gm]

Mine came with a 3-speed, use a good floor shifter. But a 4-speed or auto would be better. I went from a 4 to a auto, next step a AOD.

[Gee_Emm]

If anyone needs a 3 speed floor shift I have a brand new one for sale, it came with my Jimmy, Mr.Gasket Daytona

[old Rusty C10]

ive had a couple of those and while the truck was quick and could tow anything at highway speed it always seemed like the truck wanted to go another gear. Im told the four speeds is just an extra granny gear or lower gear. Id think a five would be good or better than the three or four, hope i aint discouraged you

[1969 GMC]

yes bob you are right...the 4 speed is basically a 3 speed (gear wise) with an extra low gear. both have a 1:1 final ratio, it does feel like they need another because most other vehicles i've driven have had OD of some sort. there was the rare 3 speed with OD available on 67-72 trucks, but I have never seen one here that wasn't taken out of a truck, and for sale. also, Big Blocks could be had with a 3 on the tree, but I bet you really had to take it easy with that setup...but trucks like that are rare. I'm sure that behind a stock SB V8, a 3 on the tree would be fine...but these old truck trannies don't know the meaning of the word "performance".

[Hooter]

my friend has a 3 speed overdrive out of a 76 chev truck, are they the same as a tranny from a 67-72?

[Russell]

Should be. The engines use the same block, so you should be able to bolt on a more modern clutch and bellhousing if you want. I do believe they used the same block for the 305 - 400 till the mid 90s...

[TEXAS 68]

Thanks everyone, I guess I"ll decide after the engine is build and see what kind of performace I put in it.

[Palf70Step]

EdB is on his 5th engine and still running the original out of the box 3 speed. It's the only thing he hasn't ever had to replace or work on.

I went from a 3 on the tree to Hurst on floor, but I'm a six popper. Huge difference in the shifting. Like Jewels stated, the column shift is all about knowing and keeoping those adjustments accurate.

You can also look at the 3 on the tree as a theft deterient. Chances are very few would know how to find a gear!

[CPNE]

Originally posted by TEXAS 68
Any one running a 3 speed manual on the floor with V-8 ? If so what's your honest opinion on durability and performance.
Thanks for any input.

They installed them 30+ years ago and those that still have the original drivetrain still go strong, so that speaks for durability.

As for performance, what do you mean? Vettes and SS's didn't come with 3 speed column shifts so that should answer the "fast and furious" aspect of performance.

I prefer the 3-on-tree but I prefer utility and originality over performance as defined by speed and horsepower.

Chances are if you're asking, the 3 speed is not for you.

[VTKidder]

Originally posted by CPNE
I prefer the 3-on-tree but I prefer utility and originality over performance....

I'll second that. I kept mine because it's what came in the truck, and because you really don't see them on the road much anymore.

If you're looking to hustle some $$ at drag races, this isn't the tranny for you. Peroid.

[jewels.]

Originally posted by Palf70Step
You can also look at the 3 on the tree as a theft deterient. Chances are very few would know how to find a gear!

oh you are so right!!! for years, i have relied on the fact that if any idiot kid stole my vehicle, the police would find it abandoned a few miles from my home because the kid couldnt shift out of first gear.... either that, or the kid would get it stuck in neutral with the tranny still in gear!

LMAO! its a fabulous theft deterent!

thanks for making me laugh!

jewels.

[PanelDeland]

I had a 3 on the column in my 67 and had trouble with the shifter,no matter how it was adjusted it seemed to hang up.I finally put a floor shifter in it and it worked like a dream until the tranny went.Of course the truck had around 500,000 miles on it at that point.I personally prefer the 3 on the tree and agree it works great as a theft deterent.I took a former boss's Checker Airport Limo into the car wash once and was laughing so hard I could hardly drive it out because the kid moving cars that day came running up to me,"Can you move this thing out of the way I don't seem to be able to get it in gear."
Also remember that any young car thief will be putting your vehicle in reverse when they take off instead of first.They will be following the shift pattern of the 4/5 speed cars they have driven.So watch what you park in front of.

[swede413]

I took my blazer in to Discount Tires . As I handed the kid My keys I ask "Have you ever driven a 3 speed on the column?" He gave me the look and said " well yea!" After hearing the grinding noise I ran over to him screeming "what the fu#% are you doing!!" He says "dude your trannies bad it,wont go into drive or park"

If I knew half of what most teenagers think they know I could rule the world! lol

[EdB]

I rebuilt my shift tube last year and replaced the bushings
on the levers. They wear out and can cause slack.

The slow part is getting from first to second. An auto will
usually pull away from me. I have some torque and can
come on pretty strong once I get into second.

I believe one of the fastest (at least most fun) cars I ever
drove was a 1964 GTO with a three speed on the floor.
I almost bought it and have always had regrets that I
did not. It handled good and would not quit. It was in
1966 that I drove it.

EdB

[slam33]

The aftermarket shifters are ok but your tranny needs to be in top shape. The one problem with the shifters are the mounting brackets. The ears on them break if your tranny jams up and then you have a shifter with a 14" throw. I couldn't wait to get rid of my set up and go to an auto. It's the best converstion I have done yet, now I like driving the thing.

[1972ChevyGuy]

I put in a hurst 3 spd truck floor shifter and I love it. Theres a little bit long reach for second but its worth it IMO over a column shift. I recently trashed my stock 3 speed when trying to rebuild it (tip: if it aint broke dont fix it, cause now its REALLY broke) but anyways... I jerked that thing around, snatched second, dropped the clutch in 2nd from a stop and it held up fairly well behind a ~360-380 HP 283 in a '72 lwb. I just recently put a "newer" 3 speed manual out of a 80's truck into mine and I jerk the gears pretty hard but I can feel the syncros starting to go out.

Performance.... It could be faster but I am content, it hauls stuff when I need it to haul, and it burns rubber and screeches 3rd when I want it to go. This is with a posi 3.73 coil rearend. Only thing I wish it had was overdrive, it screams at highway speeds ~80 or so. Both of these were saginaw transmissions, I'm not sure how well a BW or muncie would hold up though because I havent used them.

If your looking to go fast there are a few different ratios that came with these trannys. My stock one I would redline in 2nd ~45 mph @ 6000. With the newer model I have now I shift to 3rd ~65 @ 6000. Although with both of these missing that 3rd gear in a four speed hurts, it doesnt have that "umph" in 3rd and you can definatly tell it.

[Quagmire]

also had a 3 speed. my cousin converted it to a floor shift before i bought it from him, but he didn't drive it much. after i got it, i always had problems with it binding up going from 1st to 2nd if you were trying to quick shift. no matter how i adjusted the linkage. i even replaced the shifter and linkage, and still had problems.

now running a turbo 350 (for the time being)