1969 GS 400 3 speed manual in Canada- looks decent!

NOT MY CAR!!! Just posting the ad!


Try your trades at this point, worst I can say is no. I’m getting to the point where I may start selling things separately, I don’t want to but this car needs a new home.
69 Buick GS400 factory 3 speed roller project, currently sprayed in 2k epoxy. No power train. I do have a good 455 core for rebuild.
It still need restoration but it’s a good solid project for someone wanting a classic Buick and a rare one at that if you can get it back to factory powertrain. Only 117 of this unit produced.
Comes with all the trim and emblems and bumpers. Interior is in great shape. Also comes with factory 4 speed console and shifter boots and ring, Buick big block bellhousing and big block Buick flywheel and clutch. Anyone who knows these cars, knows how hard it is to get those pieces. Especially the console, like hens teeth.
I don’t have space or the time to deal with, I am open to reasonable offers.
$8500 obo, registered in Alberta
Located just north of stony plain

 

Wow I wish I was 30 again, when I had the motivation. I've got a spare 455 in pieces but running when disassembled and also the original 400 from my own car. Anyone here ever own a 3 speed manual? I'd love to hear opinions, positive and negative, on them? The obvious negatives would be maybe running out of RPM's as opposed to a 4 speed, but aside from that, it's still a stick, which is cool.

 

My first car was 3 speed manual, lots of fun and reverse was easier to find

 

But if you take 2 identical cars rear gear wise, and leave one a 3 speed and give the other one an overdrive, you're saying that they both will have the same exact rpm's at 70mph? If so, why do people bother with the overdrives for highway friendly driving?

 

Gotcha. So when people talk about a gear vendor's overdrive for an auto, is that the same as just having a 4th gear for a manual or is that an actual rpm drop the way it's designed?

 

That is a real RPM drop as the Gear Vendors is .78 true overdrive.
Not the same as 4th in a manual (Muncie/T10 etc) as they are 1:1 in 4th like Jason said.
What the 3-speed has is a lower gear for first and the same 1:1 final - 4 speeds have an extra step tha may or may not matter for a stock buick-
we love the torque and that works with the 3-speed just fine.

 

A TH400 only has 3 gears and it's proven to be much better than a lowly 4-speed. All hail the 3-speed! (auto or manual).

All joking aside, what are the ratios of the 3-speed manual that was used in the '69 GS400? are they drastically different from the TH400?

 

Ford built some for US production, I'm not aware of any being tossed into Canadian production. I would think it's a Saginaw 3 speed with a low first, ridiculous second and a short third. Any advantage obtained by rowing less would be gone. These transmissions were designed for 6 cylinder trucks, and they'll turn any V-8 into an absolute dog.
I agree; a good 5 speed would really wake it up and use that engine to it's full potential.