Free 4 Speed..or free 3 Speed...Which Should I use?
 

Hello, I had a guy offer to give me a 4 speed from a F3 and another guy offer to give me a floor shift light duty 3 speed. From what I have been reading on the forums is that the 4 speed transmission has a useless first gear and every shift has to be double clutched. I have a 3 speed on the column now and wanted something with a floor shifter without doing the T-5 conversion. Is the 4 speed transmission pointless for me to install, do you really have to double clutch every shift? Also, is it a direct bolt in or will it require fab work? I am looking for something bolt in. Should I just go with the floor mounted 3 speed? I think they are synchronized 2 and 3

Thanks, Dave

What engine are you running? That makes a difference of what bolts up to it without an adapter.

Also, whats the 3 speed out of?

The 3sp is out of a 48 F1 Flatmotor V8

Hey Dick, I figured you would check this post out. I just had a guy offer to give me a 4 speed and thought I would get everyones opinion. I am still leaning towards the 3 speed though!

Do yourself a favor and grab the 3 spd.

You could do us a favor if you'd put your location in your profile. I have a 4 spd you could have but I'm in nw Montana. After 3 or 4 clicks I saw you're in PA. There are 4 spds a lot closer to you than mine.

4 speed spur you must double clutch trust me.

The four speeds in the larger F-4 and up truck after '50 where synchronized. I thought they used the same tranny in the smaller trucks. You can tell if the four speed is synchronized by the shift pattern. Reverse is to the right and up. If it's down then it's non-synchronized.

That's great to know. I would have had no idea if I didn't start this thread. I will ask the guy where reverse is and let everyone know. Thanks!

Here's another little tidbit to chew on - the light duty floor-shifted 3-speed is essentially the same transmission that you already have except without the remote shift. It will swap right in and use the same driveshaft. You could do the conversion in an afternoon. While the crash box 4-speed will bolt right in, it does take a different driveshaft. The 3-speed uses a fixed length shaft with a slip yoke at the transmission. The 4-speed had a fixed yoke on the rear of the transmission and the slip coupling was in the shaft itself.

3 speed it is! Thanks everyone!

I Thought that the F4, F5's could be odered with a synchro trans option but that Synchro 4 speeds only came in the F6 standard. ??

I had a 52 F5 parts truck and it had the non Synchro, so I'm not sure that they all (F4-F5 ) would be synchro) best to double Check. Also if the Case has T98 isn't that the synchro trans while T59 typically is the non synchro /
Thanks



Good info? I always thought that the 4 speed trans would not fit in an F-1 truck without cutting or modifying the trans cross member. never really compared them side by side I guess.






Just wondering if your truck has the 3 speed column shift couldn't you just go buy a "indy" or other brand aftermarket floor shifter conversion kit and hook it up?
like this INDY PICKUP TRUCK 3-SPEED SHIFTER

I never thought of the 3 speed shifter conversion like the indy, anyone ever done that and had success?

I havent ever done it but I have a 3 speed side shift trans and a 3 spd floor conversion that I may use someday???
you would still have linkages, just much shorter ones and hopefully easier to shift vs the column shifter. of course with the true top shift 3 speed shifting would be easier, and heck it's free! those adapters are a bit expensive.

here is a cheaper one, (used) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ght=hurst+indy

Or http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ght=hurst+indy

The 4 speed spur was available in all f1-f6 trucks from 48-52. (the three speed transmission rear mount will bolt up to the 4 speed and vice versa) This was the 59T. The T98 was introduced in 49. You could only get it in the f4, f5, and f6 trucks. They were commonly put behind 6 cylinders instead of 8s. The gearing in the T98 is lower than the 59T until you get to 4th which is direct drive. You could actually order a three speed HD in the f4 5s and 6s if you really wanted one. Now if you really want a t98 4 speed like I did you have to get an f2 or f3 mount, weld bolt it in place of your f1 mount (t98s are longer than 59ts) have a driveshaft made (thanks again Joe) and fabricate a new bolt patter to mount your pedals and master cylinder. People call me crazy for not putting an s10 5 speed or the zf5 but I wanted the old trans and it was an enjoyable challenge.