4 on the tree

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

brian

brian

SILVER Star
10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Feb 7, 2003
Threads
400
Messages
13,625
Location
lebanon,pa
Website
www.facebook.com
is this a thing?
i thought i recall reading something about it, but at that time it was merely a curiosity in passing.....now i might actually be interested in it.
 
forum.ih8mud.com

tranny tech 403-thats 4 on the tree!

I started this project a couple of years ago. Some called it the ultimate in turd polishing. Get the comfort and road manners of the 4 speed trans with the retro cool factor of the three on the tree shifter. Took some measurements. Started cutting blocks of wood. Took some more measurements...
forum.ih8mud.com forum.ih8mud.com
 
it seems like it is a thing, but requires a good bit of modification to the trans hump.....which im unwilling to do., and not interested in a 2" body lift...when the 3spd will be fine for the usage i have in mind.
 
It’s an awesome thing in fact. :) No need for a body lift! Mods to a tranny hump is the easiest route for sure. Not that big of a deal in the context of cruiser projects. I am exploring a fiberglass version of a taller hump as well.
 
brian said:
Easy no doubt, but on this cruiser im unwilling to do so.
Click to expand...
Just save the virgin hump and buy one to hack up and install for the 4 on the tree swap. The 4 spd is sooo much better to drive than the 3 spd. I've got two 3 spd 40s. They suck to drive compared to the 4spd one. If you're just going to toole around town, I get it. But if the inside of that 3spd looks anything like the outside of the undercarriage of your new old 40, I would spend the money on a 4spd versus replacing the 3spd thats in there. Cool 40, crazy luck to find one that isn't dead from the road salt in the NE.
 
Last edited:
It used to be a thing. The Toyota Stout pickup in the mid 1960s had a 4 on the tree as did some mercedes diesels of the same era. In the 80s we couldn't get rid of that column shifter fast enough and have a floor shift like a real truck. Only our grandmothers drove a 3 on the tree, and that was in her Rambler.
 
it was idea till i found out it doesnt work with an unmodified hump. for my uses the 3spd will be just fine. summertime, windshield down, around town grocery getter/ice cream machine.
 
As kid I got to drive both a Rambler and a Hudson Hornet both had 3 on the tree and electric overdrives - they got good mileage for the time too. Back in the mid 80's a lady friend had some sort of Ford wagon with an overdrive and it would freewheel (it did have and electric lock out for downhill).
 
As a kid we had a 55 Chevy (and a 50 Ford and a...) with 3 on the tree. When cruising along and you needed power you downshifted from third into second. Reaching up and "grabbin' 2nd" was actually a common phrase in those days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom