Did '79's ever have a 3 on the tree?
 

Or were all the manual trannies floor shifters?

Thanks.

I may be wrong but I feel sure they still had column shift in '79

3 speeds were still column shift in '79.
Here's the illustration from the Ford parts catalog showing 78-up 3 spd column shift.
Click on the .pdf link to view.

The "3 on the tree" stayed around till the 80's, when the 3 speed was finally dropped completely.
As far as I am aware, there was no floor shift 3 speeds in the 60's, 70's or 80's as a factory installed item in a pickup. Many were converted to a floor shift, after having some sort of part failure in the column shift.

The last year F Series trucks had 3 on the floor was 1950.

The last year F Series trucks had 3 on the tree was 1986.

The two usual reasons why peeps convert to a 3 speed floor shifter.

1) The pot metal shift collar (there are several diffierent types) breaks apart internally where it connects to the shift tube, causing the shift lever to "flop around."

2) At the bottom of the steering column under the hood are the two manual control selector levers that the shift rods from the trans attach to.

1961 thru 1972 (on some, thru 1979 on others). In each lever is a rubber bushing and insulator. The bushings age crack, and/or fall apart, causing the shift lever to bind up.

Some 1973/79 (all 1980/86) selector levers use snap in nylon bushings which also crack, fall apart.

Peeps either do not know what is causing the problem or do know, but do not know where to find replacement parts, so they convert to a floor shifter.

But peeps are clueless, cuz some of these parts are still available from Ford. Some are obsolete, but can be found NOS or at repro parts sellers.

It doesn't help the situation that some (most-pick one!) Ford parts peeps don't give a **** about older vehicles, say OBSOLETE inre to the parts (whether they are or not) the second they discover how old the vehicle is. :-arrgh

1961/86 A/T: The same two things can occur, so peeps convert to a floor shifter. There is only one manual control selector lever w/an A/T, could have rubber or nylon bushings.

The A/T shift collars are different than the M/T collars.

Thanks, everybody. I'm looking at a '79 F-150 with an auto trans (not sure which one yet) which originally had a 302, but had a 300 swapped in. Something about a 6 with auto just feels wrong to me, so I was thinking I might want to convert it to a manual, and sentimentally a column shift feels like the way to go, but I'm sure as involved as a manual conversion is, converting to column shift is probably even more so. I'm guessing I'd have to find a donor to get all the pieces.

i just junked my origional 79 3-on-da-tree colume last week. i shoulda kept it, probly wont be easy to find.

NumberDummy, I've heard the 3 speed was offered in 87/88 as a "Fleet-only" option, is there anything in the parts books that support this statement?
I was always under the impression that the 3 speed died at the end of 86, replaced with the 3+OD as the "base" trans (and shortly thereafter by the 5 speed), but have been told by a couple people that the 3 speed survived a couple more years as a fleet only option. Personally, I think they are mistaken.

300 I-6 and a C-6 work great together, though if I ordered the truck back in the day, I'ld have gone with a 4 speed. :-X22

This'll answer the question: EOTZ-7228-D .. Socket (3 speed Shift Collar) / Obsolete / 1980/86 F100/250 & 1980/87 E100/350.

The topshift O/D dates back to 1977, the single rail O/D to 1983.

RUG TS-OD introduced 1977, replaced by the "improved" RTS SR-OD in 1983. Both are "weak sisters." One speed shift, you can kiss the little darlin's good bye.

The RUG was originally designed for I-6 & 302 Granada/Fairmont/Zephyr. The shift lever fits into a nylon bushing that is notorious for snapping. Lotsa luck finding one, it's as obsolete as the dodo bird.

Ford began installing the RUG in 1978 F100/150's and E150's to improve fuel economy.

btw: Back in the day, Ford did not offer the 300 I-6 with a C6 in F100/350's until 1978. 1965/72 F350 300: MX C-O-M / 1973/77 F350 300: FMX / 1965/77 F100/250 300: C4.

But you could get the 300 with a C6 beginning in 1976 Econolines. Go figure.

Thanks ND. I pretty much figured the fleet only option wasn't right.
I wasn't sure when the 3+OD first appeared in trucks, but I had freind that had a "new" 78 302/3+OD back in about 1980 or so. I did know they were weak, since we had to repair his 3 times, due to his "Youthful" driving habits, while my trusty old '70 302/3 speed took all the beating I gave it, and begged for more. I did break the shift collar, so a floor shift conversion went in. Broke 3 of those, too......

It's also kinda wierd about the C6 being 2 years later for the F series than the E series, behind the 300. You'd think with the proven durability of the 300, Ford would have wanted the proven durability of the C6 to match. Go figure.....

I've got the 300 with a C6. If that's wrong, then I don't wanna be right.

I don't wanna come off like I think autos are bad. I just think a 3-speed would be a good match for this motor. I had a C6 on my last '79, and it was a great transmission.

Okay, yes it is an old tread revisited and no, I am not the one who has it listed on Ebay, but this seems to be a very elusive part and the number matches the one posted by NumberDummy on 7/9/11.

I hope someone will benefit from this! :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1980-1987-FORD-F100-F150-F250-F350-BRONCO-COLUMN-SHIFT-GEAR-SHIFT-SOCKET-/290968691958?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43bf15e4f6&vxp=mtr#ht_39wt_904