I have owned three f-150 ,one f-100 and a bronco, all 79s. All with automatic transmissions. Did the 78 or 79 ever come out with a standard three speed with a column shift ?

 

Yes. Ford Three speed manual (3 on the tree) was avaliable untill the 1988 model. Last year model for it was 1987.

They were not very comon though.

 

Technically a 3 speed auto on the column is still not called 3 on the tree.
My first vehicle was a 1977 F-150, 300, 3 on the tree. I love 3 on the tree, I wish my Fairlane had it.

 

Just to clarify, Ford 3 speed manual transmissions, with the shifter in the steering column, clutch pedal on the floor, was avaliable untill the 1988 year model. The last year for 3 on the tree manual transmissions was 1987.

 

I understand you '81-f-150-explorer' that was the question. I allready new ' blown 331' about the automatic not being a three on the tree,but that was not the question.My 56 fairlane does have the true 3 on the tree ,with overdrive. The reason I ask was I am going too put one of the overdrive tranys in my f-100 ,302 engine and want a column shifter. If I wanted a floor shifter I would use a top loader overdrive in it as that is what it came with. Don't wont the shifter in my way.

 

I guess I mis-read your post. Heres the way I took it. The title says three on the tree. Then you say you have owned 3 of them but they have all been automatics.

 

I personally did not like the 3 on the tree. I had an 82 F-100 2wd with a 300 that had it and it seemed like first gear was to high and third gear was to low.

 

the 3 on the tree was more comon in Econolines. "Wonder why, with the dog house"

But even those are rare.

 

Read it again. Yes three automatics and they are not "three on the tree" . I ask , "did they make a 3 speed STANDARD , with a column shift in 78 and 79.Sorry if I got you confused.

 

Ford had a falcon econoline in about 64 with 6 /cy engine ,daganham 4 /speed and a column shift. Fun to shift as I had one . very rare now.O.K.I'm done ,getting now.