1966 3speed floor shift cars?

[brodphish]

I have a 1966 Barracuda with the fender tag showing it was originally a 3 speed car. It’s been converted to a 4 speed A833 with an aftermarket Indy shifter (right photo). My question is were there originally 3 speed floor shift cars, or were all 3 speeds column shift?

The transmission tunnel looks identical to my 66 FS 4 speed (left photo). I’ve heard they made 3 speed floor shift cars but I’ve never seen one.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yes.

 

[nutz]

read somewhere the 340 3speed cars are one of the rarer cars

 

[Professor Fate]

read somewhere the 340 3speed cars are one of the rarer cars

But those weren't '66s.
I recall seeing early "road toads" with 3 on the floor, but I can't recall one in the '63- '66s. But I haven't seen everything by a long shot.
Regarding your particular car, pull back the carpeting and see if the hump was grafted in. That'll tell you if it was an original column shift. You may even be able to tell from underneath.

 

[FISHYPETE]

My books just list manual 3 speed on column

 

[Syleng1]

I’ve owned quite a few of 66 barracudas.
My knowledge says:
/6 and 273 were 3 on the tree or 4speed floor mounted.
I’ve yet to see a 3speed floor shift for 66’.
BUT since I’ve not seen all of them- this is from my experience only.

As for the pedals and floor jump they are the same except for the addition brackets for the console mounts.
66’ was the first year for the full length console. 65 and 64 had a very short unit.

 

[toolmanmike]

There was a conversation not long ago here about that. No 3 on the floor for 63-66.

 

[JDMopar]

I don't think the A230 transmission came out until 69 or 70. They will fit in the same space as an 833, but I have never seen one in an early A.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I don't think the A230 transmission came out until 69 or 70. They will fit in the same space as an 833, but I have never seen one in an early A.

Now that makes sense, as I've tried the A230 in Vixen. Won't fit without the four speed hump or custom modding the floor.

 

[toolmanmike]

Now that makes sense, as I've tried the A230 in Vixen. Won't fit without the four speed hump or custom modding the floor.

What's the early non synchro transmission number? I had one in my 65. Beat the crap out of that poor thing. I would jamb the linkage power shifting into second. I kept a hammer under the seat so I could knock it back into neutral. 65 Dart 2 door post, HP 273 with a 3 on the tree. Just a hand full of those made according to Ulf.

 

[JDMopar]

Sad part about it is....it's easier to find an A body 833 than it is to find the Early A hump it fits under.

 

[RustyRatRod]

What's the early non synchro transmission number? I had one in my 65. Beat the crap out of that poor thing. I would jamb the linkage power shifting into second. I kept a hammer under the seat so I could knock it back into neutral. 65 Dart 2 door post, HP 273 with a 3 on the tree. Just a hand full of those made according to Ulf.

The A903. I believe it's A body specific.

 

[Vaanth]

I have a 1966 Barracuda with the fender tag showing it was originally a 3 speed car. It’s been converted to a 4 speed A833 with an aftermarket Indy shifter (right photo). My question is were there originally 3 speed floor shift cars, or were all 3 speeds column shift?

The transmission tunnel looks identical to my 66 FS 4 speed (left photo). I’ve heard they made 3 speed floor shift cars but I’ve never seen one.

View attachment 1716478334

View attachment 1716478335

The factory installed three speed manual transmission floor shifter was available in A-bodies in 1960 and 1961 with the A903 "Synchroshift" manual transmission. The following image shows a diagram of the shifter, et.al.

From 1962 through 1969, the factory three speed manual transmission shifter was column mounted only.

The three speed transmission floor shifter became available again in A-bodies when the A-230 three speed transmission was introduced in 1970.

NOTE: This was discussed in a previous thread, and I omitted the 1960 - 1961 from my post number 10. I updated that thread with post number 15.

 

[cudamark]

I have a 1966 Barracuda with the fender tag showing it was originally a 3 speed car. It’s been converted to a 4 speed A833 with an aftermarket Indy shifter (right photo). My question is were there originally 3 speed floor shift cars, or were all 3 speeds column shift?

The transmission tunnel looks identical to my 66 FS 4 speed (left photo). I’ve heard they made 3 speed floor shift cars but I’ve never seen one.

View attachment 1716478334

View attachment 1716478335

No floor shift 3 speeds in '66. The 170 used one version of the 903, the 225 used another 903...both junk IMO. The 273 used a 745 3 speed which was much better than the 903. As for the floor hump, the floor pans were all the same regardless of transmission. On the 833 floor shift cars, they cut a hole in the pan and welded on the 4 speed hump for the shifter boot and console brackets. If a car was converted later to a floor shift, and the proper hump was welded in, it would be hard to tell stock from aftermarket if the work was done correctly. The factory method was fairly crude. The fender tag is the way to tell if the car was a stock floor shift or not.

 

[nutz]

The thing i don't like in the shop truck and dart is no synchronization in 1st
So no floor shift makes sense

 

[cudamark]

That's when you need to learn how to double clutch.

 

[nutz]

My first car was a 69 dart 3 speed
Three transmissions later ......
I learned if you got the rear wheels to lock-up
It would drop right into 1st ....

 

[brodphish]

Well that’s all pretty clear. 3 on the tree. Sounds like the floor shift hump is an easy graft/weld and the factory pretty much used the same method. Thanks everyone.