Ok my GT/CS has number matching VIN plate and Engine yet she has a 3 speed automatic sitting in her, yet when I ordered my MartiAutoWorks VIN paper. It says is has a Code 1 which is a 3 speed manual...please help me =( Im confused and slightly worried.

Also if need be i can Scan my VIN report if that will help?

What does your drivers door tag say? The "trans" should be listed as a number or letter.

1 = 3 spd manual
w = 3 spd auto (C4)

my door tag is gone =(

If the engine block numbers match the vehicle vin number, most likely somebody got a little frustrated with the Manual, and replaced it with an Automatic.

Although, you've got to be a little odd to want to replace a manual with an automatic, it happens.

I'd assume that if your engine does match your vin, then you do have the original engine, but someone just changed your vehicle over for their pleasure.

Looks like you'll be dropping out the transmission, and finding yourself a manual replacement if you want to go back to stock.

-Brad

wait wait wait whoooa. is there anyway to tell if I have the original tranny? If i do need a 3 spd man, how much would that cost to replace on average?

There is a reason you don't see many 3 speed manuals in mustangs. They're extremely weak. The fact that your car has a C4 auto is a good thing. The stock 3 speed manual that ford put in the mustangs was jokingly refered to as the paper transmission, it had the strength of a sheet of paper. I highly doubt any value of your car is lost because it now has a auto, and I could argue a case that the C4 currently in there has increased the value. If you really want to put the 3 speed manual back in there, it probably won't cost much, the trans could probably be found at a swap meet or online for next to nothing. The clutch pedal assembly will probably cost more. Since it was in there to begin with, everything should bolt right up.

Thanks guys for your help I'll just keep my auto =) i dont need a piece of paper in my car lol. thanks you guys for helping me I'd be lost with out this site I swear! :o

Good call Brandon. some day if you really want to put a manual back in, make it a toploader 4 speed, you'll be much happier.

I disagree...


... put in a Tremec T-5 (5-speed manual like in modern 'Stangs, for those of you who don't know). You'll be VERY happy with that. I've heard lots of excellent reviews from folks who've had that done in their classic Mustangs. Of course, it's not cheap. The whole kit will run you around $2,000 from Modern Driveline.

-Winston

hrm...Six you always chime in with great ideas I swear...now if only I had 2,000. Anyone wanna help me start a fund rasier?

Sure, if I get 50% of your fundraiser for my paint job!

-Brad

Sounds like a deal we'll sell B&B cookies starting at 19.99 ea. chocolate, M&M oatmeal and sugar cookies!

Brandon,

Just live with the C4 for now and save up for the T5. You can get it a little cheaper than $2000 if you source your own T5 (like from a junkyard) and just buy the conversion parts from a place like Modern Driveline.

-Winston

Yeah but I really want my CS as original as posible =/

Well, then just get a 3-speed and take it easy with it. They're not that weak. They'll hold up if you don't abuse them. In the eyes of a collector, I doubt that there would be any difference between a C4 and a T5 -- they're both incorrect for your car. The T5 may require some shifter hole "modification," however, which would be worse than just having a C4 in there. Or, you could compromise and get that 4-speed. I think they're tougher than a 3-speed but will bolt right up, (possibly) unlike a T5.

-Winston

I'll just keep my C4 thanks though you guys I owe you so much.

If you ever want to do the swap check out this link

http://www.moderndriveline.com/Technical_Bits/classic_swaps.htm

This web site seems to have some good info on the late model FORD transmissions.

Just wanted to chime in and say my GT/CS has the original 3 speed manual tranny and it's been tough as nails with no problems ever. Not sure what kind of problems give the impression this is a weak transmission? I haven't been dragging it at the local strip but I've smoked the tires more often than I should and it's been as reliable as I could ever ask for?

Anyway that's my 2 cents on the Ford 3 speed and I do own one.

Hook

Any transmission should be capable of smoking 1 drive tire a few times, and if all you do is granny shift around town then the 3 speed manual should serve you fine. But try and get that 3 speed manual to live behind a V8 under real world driving conditions and you'll see why 3 speed manuals in V8 mustangs are rarer than hens teeth.

Any transmission should be capable of smoking 1 drive tire a few times, and if all you do is granny shift around town then the 3 speed manual should serve you fine. But try and get that 3 speed manual to live behind a V8 under real world driving conditions and you'll see why 3 speed manuals in V8 mustangs are rarer than hens teeth.


My three speed is sitting directly behind a 289 V8. I purchased the car from the second owner and I know both owners and both owners had the car during their teens to early 20's prior to my purchasing the car and I would think that would be more than adequate to qualify for real world driving conditions and well beyond. It has been my experience that if it can be broken a teenager will break it and this tranny has around 130,000 miles and is still as tough as nails. My opinion still stands that the ford 3 speed is a great, tough, and reliable transmission built to handle the small block V8's that it was coupled with. I certainly wouldn't shy from the 3-speed. Anyone else have 3 speeds behind V8 engines? What kind of experience have you had?

Hook

Mustang means that if you push the 3 speeds to run in lower gears at higher RPMs they will break and will not last as long as other trannies, IE: if you hot rod or drag race around town or just push each gear to their limits, not just shifting when your supposed to.

Although I've heard the same warnings about stock 3 spds my own experience is similar to hookedtrout. I ran a stock 3 spd behind a 289 in the '68 I had in high school. And as hookedtrout says, a high school kid driving is about as real world as you get. :-[

Other than replacing the clutch I never had any problems with the trans for 4+ years and quite a few miles.

I too drove a Mustang in High School. A 73 Coupe with a 302 & 3 speed. Man, I remember laying a patch to impress my girlfriend that went around half of the school! I went through 2 clutches, but never a problem with the 3 speed. I remember "sidestepping" the clutch, I was not easy on it by any means. ;D

I've had my 289 with the 3 speed for over 15 years now and I'll support the hard on clutches problem as well. I've put in a few clutches over the years, probably some what my fault. I also did a lot of sidestepping the clutch. Just get the rpm right and shove it into the next gear both up and down shifting. Had to be hard on it but it's just keeps on giving trouble free.

Anyone have any experience with more durable clutches? Is there a better clutch you can go with that will take a little more abuse?

Hook

BrandonB, thank you for clarifying my position on the 3 speed. It warms my heart to know that there are people who have had long relationships with their 3 speed manuals, however I will stand by my assertion that it is still one of the weakest transmissions ford has built. For daily driving and even laying a patch now and then I don't doubt that this trans will give years of trouble free service, but at the end of the day it will not stand up to the spirited driving many people like to do with their mustangs.

BrandonB, thank you for clarifying my position on the 3 speed. It warms my heart to know that there are people who have had long relationships with their 3 speed manuals, however I will stand by my assertion that it is still one of the weakest transmissions ford has built. For daily driving and even laying a patch now and then I don't doubt that this trans will give years of trouble free service, but at the end of the day it will not stand up to the spirited driving many people like to do with their mustangs.


Just out of curiosity have you ever owned a 3 Speed coupled up behind a V8 in a classic Mustang? If so what kind of trouble did you incur, and at what mileage did you have the problems? Just curious as to what I might expect outside of what I have already experienced.

Thanks, Hook

I personaly have never had a 3 speed but my friend had one and it broke on him so he fixed it and sold it to get a Mach 1 becuase he likes them better...but i guess thats besides the point ;D. Anyways goto tracks i bet half will say they are the worst and another half will like them...its all based on experiance i guess either way if i hear enough negative on it i wont use it.

I had a 3 speed manual behind a six cyl in a 65 mustang, The engine didn't make enough torque to spin the wheels so I never worried about losing the trans. During my years tinkering with cars I have always seen 3 speed manuals come out of the cars as fast as the horsepower was added.

Hooked, as long as your engine is stock and your not beating on your car I don't doubt your trans will last as long as the car. Start modding that engine and laying 6 grand holeshots on a regular basis and IMHO that trans will be gone in short order.

I believe Art Carr rebuilds C4s that can handle upwards of 750 horsepower, and stock toploader 4 speeds can take the pounding from 428 SCJs, now those are transmissions......

I personaly have never had a 3 speed but my friend had one and it broke on him so he fixed it and sold it to get a Mach 1 becuase he likes them better...but i guess thats besides the point ;D. Anyways goto tracks i bet half will say they are the worst and another half will like them...its all based on experiance i guess either way if i hear enough negative on it i wont use it.


First, if your intent is to get the car back to original then you shouldn't be putting any blowers or high performance big block engines in thus the three speed will (in my experienced opinion) be an excellent choice. If you want to turn the engine into a low ET race car then I would certainly agree you aren't looking for a three speed and you don't need to worry about originality anyway. I guess my point is that if your intent is to restore the car to be an original show class car that you are going to baby and take great care of go with the original 3 speed and you won't be dissapointed. If your desire is to hop up the car and kick some local butt off the stop light and you plan on rodding it you will be much more pleased with a hopped up engine and a 4 speed tranny as they are much lower geared in first gear.

It's all in what you plan on doing with the car. My car is looking at a future of nice day cruises and maybe even a few car shows, it's rodding the crap out of it days are over. Very unlikely I'll be out trying to out run any Camaro's.

Good luck and keep us posted on how it works out for ya. As for any negative on the three speed I have yet to hear anyone with any personal experience on having bad luck with a three speed, but there are a few positive comments based on actual experience.

Hook

...now if only I had 2,000.


A Tremec T-5 only runs about $1,200. I'm not sure why someone said they were 2 grand--that would be entirely unrealistic for most. Not that $1,200 is cheap but it's not bad considering this is a racing transmission with a 5th overdrive gear that will get you down to the 2,000 rpm range on the freeway.