Panther/3 on a tree project ;)

[grandpaslincoln]

I'm gonna attempt this. Once I can find a crown vic, or a grand marquis, I'm gonna look around for a 3 speed and the linkages to make it work. I know ford used 3 on a tree up into the early 60's. If I could find a 3 speed that is bolted to a 289, will a bellhousing from a 289 bolt up to a 302? It should, shouldn't it? I also know from experience with older trucks and shit, that the 3 speed trans is gonna be a hell of a lot shorter than an AOD, so I would probably have to have a custom driveline made for it too.

I'm intrigued by this project, and I want to do it.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd like to hear them.

[85MercPark]

Here's the first step!!
I drove a 70's Ford PU with 3 on the tree...but all you need is...
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...1921&langId=-1

[GoodSamaritan]

Actually a bellhousing off of a 300 straight 6cyl will bolt right up. You will of course have to use a truck flex plate (164 teeth?) for a 302 and the truck starter. Both are pretty cheap though.

If you werent so danged far away I have one still bolted to a 1960 250something straight six that might work. If you are ever going to be down this way, it's yours.

[zwack88]

3 on the tree is a GREAT idea. Also it seems realistic that it might have been made like that but it wasn't.

[Fordman75]

Ford had the 3 on the tree right up thru 83 or 84 in trucks and vans.

It seems like a lot of work to end up with a 3 spd. The hard part won't be the transmission swap. The hard part will be the column with the correct shift hardware. That Ididit column is for an auto trans which won't work on a 3spd manual. The GM/CV column is completely different from the truck and van columns. So it might take a lot of fab work.

a 289 bellhousing will work if it's a 66 or later 289. if it's 65 or older it will have a 5 bolt bellhousing which is different from the rest of the SBF 6 bolt bellhousings.

But if you need parts I've got two 3spd transmissions(one short tailshaft one long ) and a pile of bellhousings(both cast iron and aluminum ).

[Blaze86Vic]

What is with this fascination that people here have with going back in time in terms of technology?

[Fordman75]

Probably the same reason all these people like these old ass cars we be driving!

Back in the day you actually had to drive a car it didn't have all these fancy doo dads.

[grandpaslincoln]

I just think it would be a sick conversion. Does anyone know if this has been done before on a panther?

Thanks for the offer on parts and stuff, I may take you guys up on it lol

I've got the chops to do this, I'm a pretty decent welder and I like fabricating. I think it can be done, it will probably be extremely difficult, but doable.

[nitroracer]

I love the idea!

Ive always wanted to drive a three on the tree just for the novelty of it, just to have something different. Plus any manual trans box is rare enough as it is.

[gadget73]

Four on the tree. It did exist, tho not terribly common.

[Grand Marquis GT]

PRobably hes doing it cause his damned AOD is abbout to shit teh bed!

[boXman]

I thought about it...but I'd never attempt it lol.

[phayzer5]

Once you get into the thick of it, you'll get pissed off at the car and yourself for even thinking it could work. While it would be a cool project, i think it would b q waste of your time and hard earned money do attempt it

[Fordman75]

I'd just go floor shift with a nice tall truck shifter so you've got the RatFink shifter look. Don't forget the skull shift knob!! Talk about cooool.

[p71towny]

Im with justin, while I'd like to see it done, it might be wiser to wait until you have another car cause you wont be driving it while you work on it with that mod.