three speed synchro 
3 on the tree?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 829
Likes: 2
From: Scottdale Pa
My first car was a 1961 Chevy biscayne 4 door 3 on the tree no power steering no power brakes. You had to get the car moving before the steering wheel would turn the wheels
, and after you made a sharp turn, all you had to do was let go of the steering wheel and it would straighten out by itself. But you had better keep your hand away from the wheel or you could break a thumb
What a great ride that was.
, and after you made a sharp turn, all you had to do was let go of the steering wheel and it would straighten out by itself. But you had better keep your hand away from the wheel or you could break a thumb What a great ride that was.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,640
Likes: 121
From: Farragut,TN
First car I owned was a demonstrator '55 ford 3 on the tree with od. To get into od you had to release the throttle in high gear and the od would kick in. It was electrically operated by a relay mounted on the fire wall. My cousin and I were always trying something so we disconnected the relay and mounted a toggle switch under the dash and we had od in all foward speeds. with the switch closed the car would start out in first gear od.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Shoreline WA
First vehicle I drove was a 63' Falcon Club Wagon (really a Econoline van with widows all around), with a 3 on the tree.
With the engine between the drivers and passenger seat and the battery right behind the drivers seat, didn't even have to get out to hot wire it and drive it around while the parents were at work. One day, one of the neighbors mention to my parents that I had been out driving while they were at work. The parents never said anything, Dad just removed the rotor, so it would not run. Well, he forgot about the new rotor hanging in a blister pack above the workbench. Since I was able to diagnose the problem and get it running, Dad was so impressed that I never got it trouble for it.
With the engine between the drivers and passenger seat and the battery right behind the drivers seat, didn't even have to get out to hot wire it and drive it around while the parents were at work. One day, one of the neighbors mention to my parents that I had been out driving while they were at work. The parents never said anything, Dad just removed the rotor, so it would not run. Well, he forgot about the new rotor hanging in a blister pack above the workbench. Since I was able to diagnose the problem and get it running, Dad was so impressed that I never got it trouble for it.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
umm... my first car was a 78 honda accord with p/r/n/2/1 and no cltuch to shift..... once you got up to 30-35 you just pushed the stick up to 2nd.... and i blew the motor 4 times and my dad had it fixed in a giffy..... i used to downshift it like an idiot...... high school days
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Racer
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: La porte Texas
Wow
I had a 55' Ford 292 that I had bored out to a 312 , welded spider gears with an O/D rear end (4.11) 3spd on the colm. that had a permanent dent in the dash from my nuckles when I missed 2nd on a power shift. Ghostrider1 I spent a tour hanging out the doorgunner spot in your Avatar .
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Dad had a ford ranger with 3 speed on tree. Light yellow, maybe a 70.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 596
Likes: 1
My Dad is a Ford guy. He gave my brother and me the keys to a 63 Falcon wagon (with power rear window option) when we were 14 and 16. Three on the tree was all I knew how to drive. He had it in his trucks @ '67 on.
I learned young to powershift from 1st to 2nd with the open palm hand. Then grab and pull 'er down into 3rd.
Great memories!
I learned young to powershift from 1st to 2nd with the open palm hand. Then grab and pull 'er down into 3rd.
Great memories!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,962
Likes: 3,320
From: Omaha NE
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One of my first jobs was at my Uncle's Mobil station. One day he tells me to hop into the old International Scout with him so we can go pick up a customer's car to bring back for work. After dropping me off and leaving I got in the front seat of this '63 Chevy wagon and noticed it had a clutch pedal but no shifter on the floor. I bet it took me a good half hour to drive the 6 blocks back to the station.........
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 9
From: Fairport NY
Think back you old farts!!
My dad had a 56 Ford with three on a tree that I learned to drive on. I could back out of a driveway, push in the clutch and then shift into second and then back to first and smoke the right rear. First wasn't syncronized but you could pop it in at real low speed. If you were brave you could have your arm around your favorite girl and let her shift or you reached across the huge wheel and shift with your left hand.
My dad had a 56 Ford with three on a tree that I learned to drive on. I could back out of a driveway, push in the clutch and then shift into second and then back to first and smoke the right rear. First wasn't syncronized but you could pop it in at real low speed. If you were brave you could have your arm around your favorite girl and let her shift or you reached across the huge wheel and shift with your left hand.
I learned to drive with a 3 on the tree. Felt normal then, probably weird now.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
I did! I did! My dad had a '69 American Motors Rebel SST with 3 on the tree and overdrive in 2nd and 3rd. I bought that car from him and drove it until I learned that AMC was going to orphan all AMC and Rambler cars. That was the dumbest thing I ever heard of.
