WTH? Tranny issue

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Aug 8, 2009 | 04:23 PM

MIPLAYSTATION

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Joined: Aug 2009

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WTH? Tranny issue

OK,heres the deal, my neighbor and I just bought a 1974 F-100 and it has a 3 speed on the colume and yet it has a clutch

now this is my 1st classic Ford (I'm a MOPAR man) and Scott my Neighbor is a ***** and will drive anything (guess that what happens when you ride a Harley

) So anywho can any of you fellas help me w/ this issue?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

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Aug 8, 2009 | 04:45 PM

75F350

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Joined: Jul 2006

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3 speed manual with a shifter on the column.
"Three on the tree" as they say. Very common.

Aug 8, 2009 | 05:27 PM

johnboy427

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Joined: Jan 2005

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From: The Vieux Ford, Kansas

I had a 68 F-100 and its all in the wrist, I dunno how to explain it you kinda flick it into gear instead of shift it. This was the standard shift for all cars and trucks Ford, Dodge, and GM, automatics and 4spds were upgrades. It will just take practice it is a standard H pattern reverse is towards you and up, 1st is towards you and down, 2nd is away from you and up, and 3rd is away and down. Most are fairly worn so they will bind up some, just pop the hood and pull on the shift rods till it pops free (don't pull really hard or yank). Once you get it down you shouldn't have any trouble. Surprised you haven't seen it I have seen lots of old Darts with this setup.
-Johnboy

Aug 8, 2009 | 08:23 PM

Old Brown Truck

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Joined: May 2009

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From: Skyway, WA

My Brown truck came to me with the "Three on the Tree." There will be no speed shift from 1st to 2nd. My dad had two Mercedes when I was a kid in the 60s that had 4 on the tree. One nice thing is that if you have a third person in the cab, they don't have to straddle a shifter. When I swapped to a 302 engine, I tried to keep the 3 speed, but I had a heck of a time finding the right flywheel, so my roommate talked me into converting it to automatic. It's been converted back and now has a floor shifting 4 speed.