Recently purchased 1968 cutlass 350 / 3speed with console.
Researching I see that this is the ford supplied 3spd toplaoder aka "Dearborn 3.03" made for GM.
Seems this is a very solid trans, durable etc. Problem is the shifter, It is OEM Hurst 3 speed shifter 10-7A2
I got stuck in 1st gear so I pulled the shifter, redid the rods, bushings etc. and re centered the neutral position.
Mine is worn out, very sloppy etc. I removed and cleaned, lubed best I could. Searched all over but no luck finding anything new to replace other than maybe the Hurst universal 3 speed that you have to adapt for your application. (Looks kind of cheap anyways)
Checked with the Shifterdoc.com (Hurst Shifter rebuilds) he doesn't do 3 speeds.
Any ideas on shifter?

So now I'm thinking maybe long term convert to 4 speed muncie, or modern 5-6 speed trans.
Would rather do modern trans but seems like would be pricey and lot of pitfalls?
Any recommended kit suppliers for modern 5-6 speed kits, keep shifter same location etc?

Thanks for the help

 

Contact Dennis Maroudas dba DME and he can rebuild your shifter like new. His contact info is 606-237-6648 Tell him Mike Richards sent you. You will not be disappointed with his work.
FYI, if you bought a 3speed 442 in 65-69 you got the Phord trans and if you bought a Cutlass with a 3 speed floor mounted shift you also got the Phord trans. If you bought a 3 speed column shift Cutlass you the Saginaw 3 speed.

 

Thanks!
Yes mine is floor shift with Console.

 

The Dearborn floor shifted three speed trans was standard equipment in the 442 from 1967 through 1969. It first became available as RPO M14 in Feb 1965, but the column shifted three speed manual was the base equipment trans in 65-66. For the 1970 model year Olds replaced the Phord trans with the new HD Muncie three speed in the A-body cars, but the Phord was used with column shift as the base equipment trans in the B-body line through the 1971 model year. You can probably count the number of 1971 Delta 88s built with that trans on the fingers of one hand.

From a rarity standpoint, I would hesitate to replace the three speed. As Mike noted, there are people who will rebuild the shifter, and the gear ratios in the trans are surprisingly well selected. Note that the Phord transmissions for GM applications used a Ford case but a GM input shaft, so they are pretty rare.

 

And with a 3 speed, you shift 25% less often than with a 4 speed- so there's that going for it, too.

 

Can you imagine a 3 on the tree 442?

And I always wondered how a M14 stacked up against and M21 on the strip.

 

Yep, had one and it's now in Curt Anderson's care. 66 442 3 on the tree Phord unit. I think the code is M13. It was discontinued after 66.

 

Thanks all, If I can get the shifter rebuild and get rid of the mushy shifting I will probably keep the 3 speed.
Even if I did change to TKX or something will keep the original.

 

Joe,
What is the difference between the 3 speed Top Loader input shaft for a GM vs a Ford input? Since I have never seen/used one just curious.

 

Different length and spline count. The length is the real issue, since that changes the bellhousing depth.

 

The Phord bearing retainer is also different. It will not fit a GM bellhousing nor will they interchange. I know you know this but I just wanted to show you how much I know.

 

Nailed it.