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3 Speed on the Floor

OKDart

OKDart

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I recently bought a '70 Road Runner (project car) that has an A230 3 speed floor shift. From what I've read, starting in 1970, it was standard due to lower price and also to lower insurance premiums.

I haven't seen too many searching the internet, are they uncommon in a Road Runner? Mine has a Hurst shifter, is that stock? How are they compared to a 4 speed? I never liked manual transmissions, but then again, I've never driven a muscle car with one. My only experience with them is in under-powered vehicles.

IMG_2486.jpg IMG_2457.jpg
 
They get the job done!
There good trans but you don't see them as it's super easy to swap to a 4 speed . Still better then an auto
 
Seems like 3 speed is very uncommon. The 4 spd was standard in '68 & '69 as I recall. Insurance rates changed dramatically in '70 so maybe there was some demand.
 
A Mopar bud of mine bought a new 70 RR 3 on floor because his dad would not let him get a four speed. 3 days later he changed it out, always took off in 2 nd when his dad was close. lol
 
Still have a big block 3 speed on the tree trans in storage. They were not that uncommon before the automatic craze.
 
According to my info. They made 1,330 coupes for U.S. consumption, and 584 hardtops. I believe the insurance companies added a premium on four speed cars.
 
Cool.

Not sure, but a 4sp swap can’t be that hard. At MOST it would be a bell housing/clutch/trans/driveshaft. It could be as easy as just the trans and shifter.

At brand x (Ford) this swap is the trans and shifter only, bolts up to the same bell and clutch and has the same output shaft length, so no new yoke/driveshaft.
 
I had a 70 rr 3 speed and I really liked it. I liked the longer gears. I had a decent running 383 but when switched to a 440 with a good bit more torque it ran real good
 
I bought a 70 340 Duster.It had no options.The 3 speed was standard.
I went to get insurance with my Dad ( He co-signed for the car loan) Insurance guy said we were smart getting the 3 speed over the 4 speed as the premium would be double.
Like said above after the first year my brother went junk yard shopping and brought me home a 4 speed with shifter out of a 69 Dart. $100 for everything. Those were the days!
 
GrabberOrange69 said:
Cool.

Not sure, but a 4sp swap can’t be that hard. At MOST it would be a bell housing/clutch/trans/driveshaft. It could be as easy as just the trans and shifter.

At brand x (Ford) this swap is the trans and shifter only, bolts up to the same bell and clutch and has the same output shaft length, so no new yoke/driveshaft.
Click to expand...
You havent worked on many Fords have you. If it was the exact year, model and engine it may have been that simple.
 
mopar 3 B said:
You havent worked on many Fords have you. If it was the exact year, model and engine it may have been that simple.
Click to expand...
Haha,

Actually I do work on band x. But I agree, the mopar should be an easier swap as there aren’t 3 different tailshaft combos that band x has, Mustang, Fairlane, Galaxie. But 3 to 4 sp is easy if you don’t cross-pollinate the tailshafts.

Heres the first one, worked on it yesterday, small block 4sp (worked the clutch stop under the dash)

0A42FAA9-BD28-4256-984C-4251B4F385A8.jpeg


Then there’s this, 65 Galaxie wagon 390 3 on the tree/BW OD. It’s a driver...you can see the 65 Coronet under the cover in the garage behind the Galaxie.

7C0BD176-42F0-4F5F-89A3-E0E63A265029.jpeg
 
I concentrated mostly on 65-66 Mustangs in the mid 70's and was surprised at all the little things that were different even within the same year!
 
Markzx14 said:
I had a 70 rr 3 speed and I really liked it. I liked the longer gears. I had a decent running 383 but when switched to a 440 with a good bit more torque it ran real good
Click to expand...


That's what I was hoping for, mine has a locked up '68 HP 440 in it now. I drained about 2 quarts of crystal clear water from the drain pan before oil came out. Also, the r/h rocker shaft was installed upside down, so I'm not sure what's gonna be usable on this engine.

I have a complete .030 over '68 383 with a crank pilot bushing already installed that I'm gonna drop in it just to get it running and driving.

IMG_2491.jpg
 
I think you will like it. I raced plenty cars at the track and on the street. I was running 3.91 gearing as the 3.23 was to tall for me.
 
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