Elmo65
Well-Known Member
When did we start driving lumber? I prefer to call il what it is; column shifted. What’s your opinion? Yes I’m a 65 year old fuddy duddy!
Three on the tree?
- Thread starter Elmo65
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I'm 48, and have heard it referred to as "three on the tree" for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's a regional thing? I'm with you, though, I prefer to say "three speed column shift."
You either have a 3 on the tree, a 3 by the knee. a 4 on the floor, or a 4 on the floor with a 5th under the seat. Slush boxes were automatics and the GM guys had Powerslides (Powerglides)
Powershifting second with a column shift was always dicey. My first car was a 65 Dart with a column shift. It had a HP 273 under the hood though. That was a fun car.
Powershifting second with a column shift was always dicey. My first car was a 65 Dart with a column shift. It had a HP 273 under the hood though. That was a fun car.
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The one time I drove a column shift, the bushings were shot. I kept having to wonder "Am I in second or reverse? Better let the clutch out real carefully!"
Like a pry bar in a bucket.
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
at 56 i've always referred to it as a 3 on the tree. always heard it calle dthat and most everyone i knew/know call it that too..
55 and it’s 3 on the tree.
Side note: it was a cheap option for the low end vehicles of a model.
Sadly the linkages wear out from use and vibration.
Side note: it was a cheap option for the low end vehicles of a model.
Sadly the linkages wear out from use and vibration.
A56
Street Survivor
IMO- Column shift was typically a brochure description when I was a kid. 3 on a tree was slang terminology that most used, myself included. I taught Jesus how to drive a stick shift. 
moparmat2000
Well-Known Member
I always called it 3 on the tree.
FISHYPETE
Well-Known Member
At your age you should be well accustomed to the phrase ‘Three On The Tree’
Same here
In 1967 my brother was starting Aircraft School. Dad and him went car shopping. My brother had high hopes of ordering a 273 4 speed hypo Valiant. Plymouth Dealer said nope, You have to order a Barracuda. Out of dads price range. Right next door was a Pontiac dealership. Salesman said let me show you a new car for 1967. It was the overhead cam Sprint Firebird.
It was a 3 speed column shift. You guessed it. Brother tried his hand at power shifting to second. Broke the column. Got a Hurst Mystery shifter for the floor.
Brother drag raced the crap out of that car. Thanks for the memory !!
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