The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1948 Chevrolet 3100 with 4 spd shifter on COLUMN?

Looking at buying a truck as described above. Would a '48 Chevy 3100 come from the factory with this shifter set up? I'd appreciate any replies.

I haven't been here in a long time since I had sold my '51 GMC 3/4 some time ago, but getting the itch to get back in the game.

I don't think they made such a setup.

RPO 318B was available on 3100 trucks in 1947 & 1949 : H.D., 4 forward speeds (information shown in Truck Data Books). In both years, this was a "four-on-the floor". Most likely this was the same in 1948

As truckernix posted, a 4-on-the-column was not available from the factory.

The only column shift 4 speed that GM made that I'm aware of was the option 4 speed in the Corvair 95 trucks.

Thanks for the replies. The owner is listing the truck as having a "4 speed shifter [steering column shifter not floor]." I had never heard of such, and every 4 speed chevy of this era I've seen was on the floor. Either is is a very odd chevy, a modified chevy or an owner who is confused.

Maybe he's counting reverse as one of the speed?

That's exactly what I was thinking Bill.

longbox, never seen or heard of a corvair truck with column shift and doubt their existence. Column shift with the cab forward setup would have been difficult at best. Where did you come up with that info?

Thanks.

Could be a 700R4 and newer column.

About every 60's era van I've ever seen had a 3 speed manual with a column shift.

Not sure about Corvair vans, but some old Chevy vans had a four on the tree option.

Corvairs didn't have a column shift: period. The closest they came was the automatic shifter stuck out of the dash. Chevy vans, NONE with column shift manual 4 speeds, were popular with the three on the tree but remember the Corvair engine was just in front of the back bumper so running multiple shifter rods the length of the vehicle would have been impractical. A single rod run from the floor shift lever to the transaxle unit where the transmission sits at the very front. This rod rotated to select the gear and moved forward or back to engage them. Same setup was used on the 61,62 Pontiac Tempest IIRC, only the Tempest had the engine in the front with just the trans in the rear.

Well, you could do it. Just set up the four speeds 1+2, 3+4 on either side of the neutral gate. For reverse, shift into the neutral gate. You would need to create a dedicated push-pull cable to shift in and out of reverse.

Don't know about American iron, but I know some of the foreigners did it. A friend of mine had a Saab with 4 on the tree.

My uncle had a late 50's Mercedes with four on the tree, i drove it.

Not sure exactly what you are trying to say.. but Chevy vans did come with 4 on the tree. See top of page four of the PDF.

I think these '60s Chevys sort of resemble the Corvair vans from the outside somewhat. I can see how someone could make a mistake in remembering what ride they were in forty years ago.