IS THE 3 SPD TRANNY THE SAME FROM 68' TO I BELIEVE 74 WHEN THEY WENT TO A 4 SPD?? I'M LOOKING TO PIC UP A EXTRA AND IT IS FROM A 72'.
TRANNY
- Thread starter BUCKSHOT70
- Start date
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The tranny should be the same, the top cover might be different depending on column vs floor shift
The '74 4 spd is different from all others, and hence the 4spd '74 transfer is too. '74 3 spd is same as early other than floor/column shift as far as I know.
- Thread starter
- #4
THANKS GUYS. I WANT TO SWAP TO THE FLOOR SHIFTER SO THIS ONE WOULD BE NICE. THREE ON THE TREE A PAIN FOR WHEELING.
You don't have to replace the tranny to convert to a floor shifter. All you need is the top plate and shift lever from a floor shift tranny. It is a pretty easy conversion. Alot easier than swapping a tranny if yours still works well.
This is a whole other discussion, but instead of going through the trouble and expense of a floor shift 3 spd, unless you are dead set on 3 spd, I would consider a SM420 swap. Pin Head has done it, and after exams I plan on going the SM420 route as well. MUCH lower 1st gear (7.05:1) that is not synchro and then a higher but still lower than 3 spd 1st 2nd gear that is synchro. So on the road except for very steep hill starts you have a all synchro 3 spd, and offroad you have an extremely low 1st. Not too difficult of a swap either, search on this page for sm420 and look at the tech page. I'm just throwing up another option here. 
I am in the process of getting everhing together for an SM420 conversion. I already converted my 3 speed from column to floor shifter, and the tranny works pretty well so I am taking my time and finding parts as I can, but I agree, if I were doing it all from scratch, I would not put any money into a 3 speed.
I don't care how hard or slow shifting people say the SM420 is, it can't be any worse than the 3 speed.
I don't care how hard or slow shifting people say the SM420 is, it can't be any worse than the 3 speed.
- Thread starter
- #8
I'M A LITTLE SHORT ON THE FLOW RIGHT NOW AND GETTING A SMOKING DEAL (POSSIBLY) ON THIS TRANNY. FIGURED I WOULD USE THE FLOOR SHIFTER AND HAVE A BACK UP TRANNY.
That is pretty much how I went. I bought the cruiser with 3 on the tree. I found a used 3 speed with floor shifter parts. Took a couple hours total to change the top plates out. It was actually cheaper to buy a whole tranny with the parts I needed than buying the parts I needed.
A smokin deal on a three speed would be free. Don't pay much for one.
- Thread starter
- #12
WHATCHA ASKING? HAVE THE SHIFTER AND EVERYTHING I NEED TO PUT IT ON THE FLOOR?
Having done that swap (3 on the tree to floor shift) years ago I recall all that was needed was the plate and shifter--no forks or internals. You will have to rewire the back up light switch. After fretting about it the swap turned out to be one of the easiest things I ever did.
