I am just in the planning and accessing stage of a restoration on my 65 f100 2wd. One of the things I'd like to plan for is to put back the original 3.03 on the tree transmission. That's how the truck was built but it has had what I believe to be a t-18 4 speed in it for most of its life. So I have the column rods on the truck but no shift levers, no transmission and no shift "handle" in the cab.

Most (in fact almost all) of what I find on the subject has to do with going the other way...from a 3 speed to a 4 speed. I'd like to learn more about why people go to a 4 speed and what will be the effects on performance if I go back to a 3 speed. Im not looking for a high performance truck here. I just want it back to stock as much as possible. Another big reason I want to go to a column shift is so I can seat a third compact person (with the addition of a middle seat belt of course). That big stick is quite a knee cracker on the passengers!

And any help you guys can provide on the subject of locating a decent or rebuildable 3 speed and the other parts I'll need would be much appreciated. Im in Alaska so if I ship one up here, it is super critical that it fits.

 

I gave away the 3.03 that came in my '66. The linkage was sloppy and I wanted 4 gears. I have a 4:1 T-19 in there now and the closeness of 3rd and 4th is a huge improvement over the big 2-3 jump the old 3 spd had. It may be relevant to note that I live in the city and have to keep up with the Kias and Smarts on the highway.
Eric

 

I would keep the 4 speed and stick a 2.75 rear end in the truck.

That makes all 4 gears useable and gives you good highway rpms.

 

Grape:
If you decide to return to the three-speed and have any friends traveling through Calif. up north, they are welcome to come by and pick up mine, with steering column, shifter, linkage and any associated hardware for a minimal fee!

 

Resonateur,

I already have decided to make the change. I plan to keep the 4 speed on hand and could always put it back in if desired. So Im definitely interested in your offer. I have a few truckers I network with and may be able to get it brought to Alaska that way. Otherwise, I can do some checking on freighting it up. Send me an email at j.lyon@zoho.com.

 

You might check your warranty plate to see what tranny it came with. someone may have changed the column at one time and used which ever column they could find. Two different codes for 4 speeds were F & N and several different codes for 3 speeds.

 

That's good thinking TBird but my plate code is A for the transmission. So my truck originally had a 3 speed in it.

 

GN, You might also look on the top of the passenger side frame rail just ahead of where the front axle passes under and again under the cab for the go to VIN that is stamped in it to see if it matches your door plate.

Things have come a long ways since the 50s & 60s with transmissions and other parts. Both the 3spd and 4spd had 1 to 1 output ratios. The 4spd has a granny low that was soon phased out because of it's non use, most starts are in 2nd 99% of the time.

For a daily driver the 303 should be plenty good enough. With the gas prices being close to $0.30 a gallon when these trucks were first sold I'd be looking for Over Drive to slow the engine on the Hiway. I am also a huge believer in Damn a full grown Ford truck that can't shift it's own gears and gotta have an automatic.


John

 

My 66 has the original 3 on the column/3 speed transmission and I drive it on the interstate in Houston fairly often with no issues.

It's wound up a bit too tight for my tastes at 70mph, but I think an overdrive will solve this nicely. I know it's overkill, but I'm saving up for a GearVendors unit.

Like you, I like the originality of it and I like shifting the old 3 on the tree. I get a lot of people, who see me pull up to places shifting on the column, commenting on how that reminds them of old times, etc. And that's fun.

 

You may need a bellhousing also, I don't think the 3 spd will bolt to the 4 spd bellhousing?

 

Have the T18, which is basically a 3 sp, in the 65 since I purchased it in the mid 70's and prefer it over my 65 w/ the 3sp. If I were to swap it out it would be for an auto trans; I would have to do some research, perhaps a C6?

 

My T-19 bolted up to the 3.03 bell. Input shaft same length. Driveshaft was a problem.
Eric

 

OP's truck is a 1965 F100 2WD w/a 240 I-6.

The only F100/350 240/300 bell housing that is different is the one used on: 1965 F100/250 240/300 4WD - 1965/66 F350 240/300 - 1966 F250 240/300 4WD.

D1TZ-6392-D (replaced C5TZ-6392-A) .. 240/300 Bell Housing: 1965/66 F100/250 2WD - 1965/79 Econoline - 1966 F100 4WD - 1967/79 F100/350.

 

If anyone is going the other way I have a complete extra 66 f-250 300-4speed 2wd setup, all is good except the engine. it runs but it's pretty noisy.

 

I wanted to thank everyone for their timely and helpful replies. Although I am but a humble newbie, I can tell Im going to like this forum. I have been on other forums where as soon as a noobie posts a question, he is scolded for not using the search because somebody answered the question 6 years ago. Ive always thought questions should be revisited once in a while. Things change.

Anyway, I have definitely decided to find a 3 speed for my truck. It doesnt look like a big deal to reinstall the 4 speed if Im not happy with the 3. So the next big decision is whether to upsize the 240 with a 300 six at the same time as doing the transmission swap. From what I read, it sounds like an easy thing to do. And I think my 240 is a little tired. The original owner tells me he had it rebuilt in 1973!

Maybe Im hijacking my own post here but: I wonder if switching to a 300 six would torpedo the value of the truck? My goal is to restore it as stock as possible. But Im considering some upgrades for safety sake...like disc brakes and shoulder seat belts. A 300 would essentially look the same as a 240. But it would give the extra umph needed for occasionally towing my little camper trailer.