School me on 3 speed manuals

[DoubleDingo]

Sucks he sold it, you would have liked that setup. Crusty Biscuit has that setup and as much as I want to put the sm420 in the truck, I just can't do it yet because the 3-on-the-tree is fun to drive and also is a theft deterrent. Mine has the BW Overdrive in it, so the 4.57's become 3.19's in OD. Roughly 2400 rpm to cruise 70 mph, and 3000 rpm is 86 mph. The suckers are loud, can definitely hear the gears while driving around.

@MikeB I think the tranny gear ratios depended upon the rear end gearing. I have two three speeds and each came out of 3/4 ton trucks and each has no grooves in the input shaft. I know Crusty Biscuit has 4.57's but my other 3/4 ton I'm not sure because I haven't popped the cover to inspect the ring gear for the stamped numbers.

 

[idahovette]

Would have loved to have a full synchro Saginaw in my 56 210 back in the day. Kept blowin 2nd gear synchros almost daily. Got real good at R&R and fixing them though. Had a Hurst mystery shifter, it was a mystery what gear you were in.

 

[Derrick]

i have a quick question are all gm 3 speeds in the trucks on the column i am looking at a 1986 with the 6.3 and a 3 speed with granny low

 

[bucket]

i have a quick question are all gm 3 speeds in the trucks on the column i am looking at a 1986 with the 6.3 and a 3 speed with granny low

3 speed with Granny makes it a 4 speed. And it should be an SM465.

 

[Derrick]

3 speed with Granny makes it a 4 speed. And it should be an SM465.

thanks, how does the granny part work is it in the spot of 1st or is it like a 3 speed with a low geared 4th

 

[Honky Kong jr]

3 speed with Granny makes it a 4 speed. And it should be an SM465.

What now your shitting carrots too?

 

[bucket]

thanks, how does the granny part work is it in the spot of 1st or is it like a 3 speed with a low geared 4th

Granny gear is where 1st would be on the average 4 speed. It's not a normal gear to use for regular operation.

What now your shitting carrots too?

Uhh, you lost me...

 

[Derrick]

Granny gear is where 1st would be on the average 4 speed. It's not a normal gear to use for regular operation.

ok thanks so it is not a 3 speed nor on the tree i was confused when the guy said 3 speed with granny gear

 

[bucket]

ok thanks so it is not a 3 speed nor on the tree i was confused when the guy said 3 speed with granny gear

Despite being a 4 speed, it's commonly refered to as a "3 speed with granny" since there's only the 3 gears that get normal use.

 

[Dougnsalem]

ok thanks so it is not a 3 speed nor on the tree i was confused when the guy said 3 speed with granny gear

X2

 

[shiftpro]

Fond memories of my dad's first square... '73! Plain Jane painted bumpers, no radio, no power steering and 3 on tree with a 307ci.
He bought it cash at a GM truck only dealer in Chicago just before we moved back to Canada. I learned how to drive in this truck, got my license two weeks after my 16th. (I know, I was a loser waiting a whole 2 weeks before I did my test). My dad paid $2200.

 

[MikeB]

Fond memories of my dad's first square... '73! Plain Jane painted bumpers, no radio, no power steering and 3 on tree with a 307ci.
He bought it cash at a GM truck only dealer in Chicago just before we moved back to Canada. I learned how to drive in this truck, got my license two weeks after my 16th. (I know, I was a loser waiting a whole 2 weeks before I did my test). My dad paid $2200.

That's a cool story. I remember those column shifters working as smooth as butter, at least for the 10 years or so. I had them on 55 and 57 cars plus a 66 Nova. All behind V-8s. I learned to drive a manual in my dad's ancient 49 Plymouth "work car". He always parked the car on the street pointed uphill, so I had to learn clutch and throttle control the hard way!

 

[Derrick]

That's a cool story. I remember those column shifters working as smooth as butter, at least for the 10 years or so. I had them on 55 and 57 cars plus a 66 Nova. All behind V-8s. I learned to drive a manual in my dad's ancient 49 Plymouth "work car". He always parked the car on the street pointed uphill, so I had to learn clutch and throttle control the the hard way!

that is how i learned how to use a manual just not as cool of a car. now i cheat any use the parking brake a little bit and feel when the clutch grabs. not recommended but hell nor is a lot of things that work.

 

[DoubleDingo]

My first 3-on-the-tree is Crusty Biscuit. It was out of adjustment when I bought it and going into reverse was a challenge at best. After some lube on the moving parts and some adjusting at the linkages in the engine compartment, it was a thrill to be able to find the gear you wanted. All the vehicles I drove to learn on were the heavy duty four speeds or for some "3 Speed with Granny". Those trucks were fun to idle around in 1st gear (granny low), especially with a load in the back. Even a 2 wheel drive truck with a heavy duty 4 speed and a load in the bed can go many places with granny low.

 

[Frankenchevy]

That's a cool story. I remember those column shifters working as smooth as butter, at least for the 10 years or so. I had them on 55 and 57 cars plus a 66 Nova. All behind V-8s. I learned to drive a manual in my dad's ancient 49 Plymouth "work car". He always parked the car on the street pointed uphill, so I had to learn clutch and throttle control the the hard way!

my wife's new Honda has hillstart assist. it knows when your pointed up hill and holds the brake for you momentarily until you set off. it's kind of a trip. probably common in new manual trans cars, but my element is a manual and doesn't have it. must have started that feature a few years back.