I'm gathering parts for a T bucket. Always wanted one and now I'm gonna build one. It's going to have a stick shift and I have access to both a Ford 3.03 three speed and a Ford M5OD 5 speed. The 3.03 will cost a couple hundred (may need a rebuild) and the M5OD is free, but needs a rebuild (so it'll cost a couple hundred in the end too). I am really liking the idea of the three speed, but the five speed offers the ability to gear for around town and highway use. The three speed is kinda an either or. The five speed also looks like it might be easier to hook up the linkage for the clutch. But then again I will do 90% of my driving at or below 60mph. So why would I need so many gears. Damn! What do you guys think?
The 5 speed has a lower first gear for better take-off. The 5 speed adds more value to the car if you sell it. The 5 speed is easier to hook up, like you said. The 5 speed will be refreshed like new after a rebuild. I see no reason to choose a 3 speed.
You didn't say what engine you are using, but I generally like 5 speeds. In something as light as a T bucket, you can get by with a fairly high rear end ratio even with the 5 speed, so you should be able to get pretty decent gas mileage.
The 3 speed is more traditional. The 5 speed has every other advantage. 3 speed shifters of high quality have become very hard to find.
put the five speed in, doesn't mean you have to use all five gears. on my wife's former ot pos, an mr2, i used 1, 3, 4th when driving in town with no strain or bogging.
I opted for a 3-speed in my truck rod. It's almost as easy to drive as an auto trans. Not much shifting required. Under 40mph, 1st and 2nd gear is all I need. The 5-speed will keep you very busy while driving. Weigh that into the equation.
I have a T5 in my T Bucket with a 3.73 rear end ratio. I use 2 gears around town. Take off in second, skip third and got to fourth, and throw it in fifth on the highway. Bob
I'm a fan of the 5 spd. Ran with both, and although I liked the 3, I really like the 5. Though as previously mentioned, I don't necessarily use all the gears.
I normally would go with the 5 speed, but I am building a chopped 40 ford pick up, and just went out and bought a 3 speed for my Y block, and am going to run 3 on the tree just for a change. Thought it would be neat.
I have a toploader 3 speed out of a 68 Galaxy in my 27 and it has been in there for over 20 years. It is fine around town but I wish I had one more gear sometimes (4.30 rear gears). When I built the car no 5 speeds were commonly available and a four speed put the shifter too far to the drivers side, plus, I liked the old timey feel of having a 3 speed in the car. But if and when I ever freshen up the car I will probably go to a five speed and not have to cruise on the interstate at 3500 rpms. Don
Tim if your car has stock engine with a lot of low speed power the 3 speed will be ok.If it's a more peaky engine or you need an OD,go for the 5 speed. By the way,I live in Ontario just over the Webster line.I do rebuild manual trannys as a small business and can check out yours for short money.
Unless it has a column shift, no one can tell how many gears it has. I have a T-5 in my 34 with a 39 shifter but I opted for the 3 on the tree for my 56 Ford. For a T bucket I'd go with the T-5.
Thanks Jim I almost forgot about the alternator. I'm liking this thread. I'm at the same cross roads except I have both transmissions. A truck 4 speed and a 3 speed overdrive. both are in good condition. the 4 speed is in and the 3 speed would require a different clutch disc. floor shifter, new drive shaft and a rear gear change
I've been driving my old truck with the 4 speed granny box, it's fun. It's a 3 speed most of the time, but I can drop it into low for extra slow parking lot maneuvering (no power steering), etc. No speed shifting, of course.
I love 4 speeds the granny is perfect for 5:00 traffic and cruise nights. it shifts like hot butter without the clutch. I would love to replace the 3.0 ass end with 4.11's and run thru 5 speeds and still have highway cruising. I'm still looking at a bare chassis and will never have a better time to switch.
You could always look for a New Process 833 4 speed over drive from an early 80s Chevy pick up. It has the short tail shaft housing and Chevy transmission to bell housing mounting pattern. But be sure you get the shifter with the transmission as they are hard to find and expensive as the MoPar muscle car guys buy them all up. If you find the shifter at a swap meet with the rods and arms they usually are asking $250 to $300 for them.
I'm chopped channeled and sectioned. built my own column and have a ford ranger steering box. don't even want to think about the column shift and linkage. prefer modifying a swap meet hurst shifter to clear the solinoids
This is one area where "tradition" and I part ways every time. I have never driven a car with a three speed that wouldn't be VASTLY improved with a five speed! more gears in a closer ratio spread means that you are keeping the engine closer to it's "happy spot" in the rpms. And, the ability to jump out on the freeway and run with the traffic around you is imeasurable. Nothing worse than being on the freeway with the thing taching 3500 as mini van load of kids makes faces at you out the back window as it dissapears over the horizon out ahead... As far as I'm concerned, Frank Oddo was right all those years ago when he wrote: Nostalgia stops at the firewall!
Had a 3,4 and 5 speed in my 35 Ford pickup. Love the 5 speed, great on the highway, good 1 gear ratio.
Jim, did you have to cut up the center X member in your '35 Ford frame very much to get the 5 speed to fit? Or was it relatively easy to put the 5 speed in? I've got a '35 pickup that I may put a 5 speed in, reason I ask.
You guys make a lot of valid points. The five speed is sitting there with an open invite for me to take. The three speed is a little more difficult to acquire. The engine, by the way, will be a roller cam SBF Ford stroked out to 331 inches. Nothing fancy. It'll be dressed with a 260 timing cover and (some will hate this) FE valve covers. I just can't get by the available covers. They don't fit the car. Hell the engine does "fit" the car either, but you can not argue with the easy and affordable power that it makes available. I can put together a very stout 302 based engine for a lot less than a lot of other engines. And they are pretty lightweight too.
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