Hi all,

My 66 Merc has a 240 with a 3 on tree manual...I've never even seen a column manual, much less driven one before I got this truck.

I just LOVE driving her but was hoping to get some advice from owners with more experience driving manual column shifters. Since I don't have a tachometer, I am trying to rely on feel when it comes to shifting...first feels pretty good but I'm having a hard time judging when to shift to second and third. Plus at what speeds do I 'cruise' at in these gears??

Thank you!

Chad

 

Chad,
Most 240 CID I-6cyl engines after Dec of '65 came with full syncro, 3 spd, Manual, Column Shift, Transmissions.

When I am teaching folks to drive these older vehicles I generally tell them 1st gear from stop to at least 15 mph, but never more than 25mph.

2nd gear rolling at 10mph or more up to 28 - 30 mph, but never more than 55 mph.

3rd gear from 25 mph on to redline, but never operate in 3rd gear under 20 mph. It can damage the transmission, clutch, and/or engine if it bucks and bogs at low speed & low RPMs.

Now, if I'm in traffic in 3rd gear, and see I'll be slowing then traveling between 20 to 30 mph but moslty around 25, I leave it in 2nd (or down shift from 3rd into 2nd) then I ride there until traffic picks up & starts to move along again. Say 32/35 mph & faster. Then I upshift back into 3rd gear again.

If I am sure I have a full syncro 3 spd tranny, I'll downshift and/or ride in 1st gear at speeds lower than 10 mph. BUT if transmission is NOT A FULL SYNCRO, downshifts into 1st gear while rolling, or moving at all, are NOT ADVISED unless you're an experienced manual transmission operator. Lack of experience, or wrong/ missed shifts can damage manual transmissions quickly.

I also teach new drivers to downshift to help slow their vehicle down, especially with a full syncro transmission. So what I'm telling you is I teach folks to operate their 3 speed manuals in about the same smooth way an automatic trans operates, and at more or less the same speeds under the same conditions.

I hope this helps you some. . . .
FBp

 

FBp...thank you for the great info, as it was what I was looking for!

I have never owned even a newer manual tranny, so I've been very careful thus far with my truck.

How do I know if I have a three speed full sycro?

 

When to shift? Listen to FBP. You can take his advice an bury it in a Mason jar, its that good.
OK, MM100, time for a little father-son like chat.
Here is how it works: You see this purty, purty sweet thang standing over there, and she turns yore head so fast you fergit about what yer doin'..
It's love at first sight!
So what's the first question you ask?
HER NAME.
Now, she doesn't always want to give it up right away, so you go ask your friend to ask HER friend what her name is.
Maybe she tells you right up and maybe she doesn't.
(Don't be upset now, boy, that's the way them females are. 'Bout the time you figger 'em out, they done run a "Hail Mary" around you and got you all confuzled again, just like a coon playin' with a coon hound, so just learn to live with it.)

So then you git to know a little about her, and you go a-courtin', and soon you git all sweaty and fearful like (she's only a danged female, boy!) 'cause yer gonna pop THE question.
And miracle of miracles, she says yes!

But it ain't over, in fact its just the beginnin'! Yer goin' to find out that she's got a LOT of secrets you gotta learn about, and the hardest one to learn is that you ain't never gonna larn 'em all. Learning the few secrets you can understand will be slow - kinda like molasses going uphill in the middle of winter. Like I said, boy, once you figger one out, there's a whole lot more of 'em deep down inside her. (Kinda like going fer catfish. You can catch some on the line, but you gotta noodle the big ones.)

Trucks is the same way, son. So it takes a LITTLE learnin', but not too much to learn how to shift her. It ain't rocket science. Just put it in gear and go. See, trucks is like them women. Only different. Learning to shift is kinda like learning what to do on your weddin' night. Don't sweat it, it'll come naturally soon enough.
Understand?

 

banjo that is too funny!

That's pretty much the way I began driving the old girl...popped the clutch a few times, had a relative show me the shifting pattern, and away we go! As far as it coming naturally, it really does get easier the more I take her out...

Ahhhh...my sweet Bazzu!

 

In this day of 2 dollar and higher gasoline, get it out of the lower gears as soon as you can. unless you are in a situation that you have to accelerate rapidly , dont. I usually shift gears when it can be done at the lowest rpm [you can tell by sound, no tach needed], without the jerking and lugging. You will get the best gas mileage this way.