ok, im sure you'll might think im a little goofy, and your probably right:bananaman but i like my 3 speed on the colum.. whats all involved in swapping out my 200 for a 302 and keeping the colum shift besides the obvious (i.e.frame mounts ect)... i know i read a story in mustangs and fords about a falcon van that had a efi with a 3 on the tree.. im pretty sure some of thease cars came with v8 3 on the tree.. what do you'll think?
You are gonna need so many unique or hard to find parts ... even a parts car with all you need would be just about impossible to find. Most people have a hard enough time find just all the correct V8 Mechanical clutch parts (which you will need) let alone 3-on-the-tree parts for a V8 .... Happy Hunting ...
Dan, If he already has everything but the bellhousing, he could do it fairly easily, wouldn't you think? Sounds like he needs a V8 10" bell, starter (maybe), flywheel, clutch kit, and, then the FUN PART... V8 equalizer bar. If the I6 3 speed is the same tranny as the V8 3 speed, seems like all the 'tree linkage' would be the same. Never done a swap from this angle, so I could be wrong... Dave
I spoke assuming the standard shift used a setup similar to an automatic with the linkage bolting between the block/bellhousing and frame rail ... but that is not the case. I just looked up the parts .... The intermediate/high shifter rod coming off the column is same for a 170/200 and a 302. But for some reason the low/reverse column shifter rod is unique to the 302 .. The 302 version is 1 5/8 inches shorter ...
3 on the tree isnt worth it.. i would remove the on the tree part and get a hurst shifter and installation kit.. thats what i did when i had my column shifter take a crap on me the day i got home from Kentucky with the car.. i was happy that it lasted the entire trip to arizona, instead of breaking during the trip
I wish I could have made 4 on the tree... I wanted to throw the toploader in there, but didn't really care to cut a hole in the floor. Oh well, got a Stang Hurst going in there, but I seriously would have used the column shifter if I could have figured a way. Dave
I agree with badmav70 in terms of being different. I am building my 70 and doing a conversion from an I6/200 to a 302. I have talked to my mechanic about this on a few occassions about leaving my column shifter and he's never once given me an incling that it would be a problem. I just like that originallity feature with leaving the column shifter in. This car will pretty unusual because it will look pretty beasty (but nice) and will throw folks off with the column shifter. Kind of like a sleeper type car.
I personally have never driven a 3 on the tree, but everyone I have ever talked to that has, hated them with a passion...
Well I have, but mostly only in old pickups. Fine there, you are sitting higher, seems to help with the geometery or something. The few cars I drove with a 3 on the tree, I hated. Hard to shift quick, not saying it can't be done, but it takes a lot of practice. Give me a floor shift anyday. Old Guy can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think all cars and trucks had floorshifts untill the late 30's-early 40's. Then moving the shifter to the column was done to make it easier for women to drive, as most had a shorter arm reach than most men did. I don't think you can even get a collumn shift pickup anymore other than an automatic...
well, i personally like the 3 on the tree, not really that great for gear banging or raceing but anything that helps me stay outa trouble ( even though the old mav got me pulled over a few weeks ago doing 74mph in a 45mph ).. my first car was a 68 chevy panel truck with a 307/3on the tree, nobody i knew had any idea how to drive it..im surprised at how much responce this question has gotten... i remember a few years ago there was someone that had a comet gt with a 302 colum shift and sidepipes
I like 3 on the tree. I've had many. Perfer floor shifter though. I ripped out 3 shift tubes in my Sprint when it was new. Ford replaced the first 2 under warrenty but refused the third. You can power shift a column My drivers ed car was a chevy nova with 3 on the tree. (I have no control over what the scool buys)
