onaqwst

so i'll ask this..... what is 3 on the tree.... i know it's trans shifting but is there a clutch/etc....... i'm looking at a truck and has 3 on a tree and want to understand it...

thanks

any pros/cons of it........

b

big_G

Yes, it has a clutch and is really weird to drive...drove one in the early '70's.

0Corvette Engineering

three means a three speed transmission.
The tree is the steering column.

So it's a steering column shifted 3 speed.

kg4ajk

It is a 3 spd manual tranny shifted on the column

80vettefan

3 on the tree is slang for a 3 speed column shift vehicle. yes there is a clutch. the shifter looks the same as an auto-matic on the column would look. it shifts in an H pattern like a floor shift except it is sideways.

noonie

I had a 15 yr old in an old work truck once. He was looking around like he lost something.
Asked him what was wrong.
He said where's the button for the window.
I pointed to the crank, he had never seen one before.

Rich N.

I feel very, very old.

onaqwst

waiting to hear back on this


b

2th farmer

I just turned 43 and that is what I learned to drive on. 1964 Chev. belair 6cyl 3 on the tree.

Red 71

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.

rexx78

Nice, my dad has a 66 with the three on the tree. It is basically a shift pattern on the colum with an automatic looking shifter.

onaqwst

you have crazy mad skillz..... i used to be able to roll both my windows up at the same time in my 91 cavaler...without power windows.....SKILLZ

chevy69

Ouch... I learned to drive on one of these too. Owned a number of them. I feel old

Silver00V6Camaro

Im 23 and learned to drive one when is 14 and 15 what a pain it was to get used to.

427SIXPACK

I learned to drive on my aunts chevy cargo van 3 on the tree
from the column, with a clutch, straight up ...........first
straigt down, second, up and away from you third, up & pull in twards you reverse...............FUNKY TO SAY THE LEAST mixed with manual steering & manual brakes, driving dads cutlass supreme on my road test was a breeze after that thing !!!

tigers123

Some of you have never had the pleasure of trying to powershift a three on the tree or used an original working three speed with overdrive

Tall Boy

I have owned 2 and they are ok until the linkage gets worn. We I was younger I would have to bring a hammer with me so when it locked up at stop lights I could pop the hood open and bang it back it to gear

SHAKERATTLEROLL

lol. Please do not try and power shift from 1st to 2nd lol.The shifter will lock up lol. But do not worry if it does on the truck. You just get out and get the shift levers right again.

Drove many things that were 3 on the tree.

And yes Rich time stands still for no body. . But we are still here and many can not say that.

sam74c3

I've still got my 55 chevy pickup from high school which is a 3 on the tree. It was very convenient having the extra room to move around in there if ya know what I mean ...

CJ 77

77/350- I learned on a 56 Belair. First thru neutral down in the lap, second up thru neutral to the windshield, third straight down. Wish I still had that 2door.
chuck