Three on the tree tilt - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Orange71shorty** · 01-26-2023, 02:39 PM

I recently bought a tilt column that is a three on the tree. Has anyone ever seen one? I’ll post pictures later today

bigguy69 · 01-26-2023, 03:07 PM

I don't believe I have ever seen one. That would be cool

towbar · 01-26-2023, 04:14 PM

Never saw one either!! Just checked the calendar and it's not April 1st yet, so I'm excited to see the pics! That must be a complex piece!

mr48chev · 01-26-2023, 05:08 PM

My long legged classmate who took over the local Chevy dealership that his grandad had started way back and that his dad ran for years put tilts in every truck he ordered for the lot except maybe the joe cheap farmer specials. I have never seen a three on the tree tilt though. That has to be right there under the rarest of rare Chevy truck options.

Going though the GM heritage center archives Chevy didn't show a tilt on the option list for trucks unti l972. Then only for the "optional" transmission.

I wonder if that tilt might be for a Van.

mr48chev · 01-26-2023, 05:31 PM

I'd have to say that we need photos of that unit. The G van didn't show a tilt until 1980 and then only on an automatic. That is the no key switch column that a lot of guys like to use in older rides.

**Orange71shorty** · 01-26-2023, 07:08 PM

Ok, I picked up the column and it definitely wasn’t what he said it was.
The blue column is a van, the middle column is pickup. I believe someone must have shortened the one on the right.
Anyone have any insight on the short column?

custom10nut · 01-26-2023, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orange71shorty

Ok, I picked up the column and it definitely wasn’t what he said it was.
The blue column is a van, the middle column is pickup. I believe someone must have shortened the one on the right.
Anyone have any insight on the short column?

Motor home maybe?
BTW, IF you do in fact have a 3OTT Tilt column, I’d say that would have to be the “Golden Unicorn” for Truck options

**special-K** · 01-26-2023, 08:32 PM

Definitely no such thing as a GM 3spd tilt column. I owned an all original Highlander (in '73) that had a 3spd, so tilt column delete.

jumpsoffrock · 01-26-2023, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

Definitely no such thing as a GM 3spd tilt column. I owned an all original Highlander (in '73) that had a 3spd, so tilt column delete.

Now that's interesting!

**Steeveedee** · 01-26-2023, 10:28 PM

Just think about all the mechanism involved with 3ott and a tilt ball. Wild.

**Getter-Done** · 01-26-2023, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Just think about all the mechanism involved with 3ott and a tilt ball. Wild.

Yeah
As a Machinist by Trade.

This is

**special-K** · 01-27-2023, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpsoffrock

Now that's interesting!

And a 402 at that! It had about as many exceptions as it did options included in the package (which I had no idea about at the time). Solid paint with only upper trim. No tilt but the column and steering wheel were black. Bought it off the OK Used Car lot ($2,800)

**too much stuff** · 01-27-2023, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orange71shorty

I recently bought a tilt column that is a three on the tree. Has anyone ever seen one? I’ll post pictures later today

Have never seen or heard of one. Not even sure how you could make it work?

Accelo · 01-27-2023, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [I

too much stuff;9171871]Have never seen or heard of one. Not even sure how you could make it work?[/I]

You wouldn't!

72BBGMC · 01-27-2023, 02:04 PM

I had a short tilt like that once. If I remember right, it was only 30 inches long. It was in a 73-76 C-30 shuttle bus. It had the front end of a van and a small bus body like an airport shuttle bus. The one I had was shifter less, the auto shifter was in a box mounted on the dash. Haven't seen another like it since.

**special-K** · 01-27-2023, 02:38 PM

I have a Saginaw 4spd with a big long shifter that came out of an '80s van. I wonder if that van would have had that same short column. I never knew vans could have a 4spd floor shift until I saw this tranny/shifter

**Orange71shorty** · 01-27-2023, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72BBGMC

I had a short tilt like that once. If I remember right, it was only 30 inches long. It was in a 73-76 C-30 shuttle bus. It had the front end of a van and a small bus body like an airport shuttle bus. The one I had was shifter less, the auto shifter was in a box mounted on the dash. Haven't seen another like it since.

I bet that’s what this is! It’s a hair over 30” long. Thanks!
I DONT even know if a guy could make this work in a pickup. Slide the column to the dash for more belly room but the intermediate shaft would have to be custom made I think

01-26-2023, 02:39 PM	#1
Orange71shorty Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Helena, Montana Posts: 525	Three on the tree tilt I recently bought a tilt column that is a three on the tree. Has anyone ever seen one? I’ll post pictures later today

01-26-2023, 03:07 PM	#2
bigguy69 dazed and confused Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: marion nc Posts: 1,649	Re: Three on the tree tilt I don't believe I have ever seen one. That would be cool __________________ members met: redbaron69, billsbowtie,nc67

01-26-2023, 04:14 PM	#3
towbar Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Marshall, NC....heart of the Appalachians.....aka, Gods country!! Posts: 537	Re: Three on the tree tilt Never saw one either!! Just checked the calendar and it's not April 1st yet, so I'm excited to see the pics! That must be a complex piece!

01-26-2023, 05:08 PM	#4
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,261	Re: Three on the tree tilt My long legged classmate who took over the local Chevy dealership that his grandad had started way back and that his dad ran for years put tilts in every truck he ordered for the lot except maybe the joe cheap farmer specials. I have never seen a three on the tree tilt though. That has to be right there under the rarest of rare Chevy truck options. Going though the GM heritage center archives Chevy didn't show a tilt on the option list for trucks unti l972. Then only for the "optional" transmission. I wonder if that tilt might be for a Van. Attached Images __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. Last edited by mr48chev; 01-26-2023 at 05:15 PM.

01-26-2023, 05:31 PM	#5
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,261	Re: Three on the tree tilt I'd have to say that we need photos of that unit. The G van didn't show a tilt until 1980 and then only on an automatic. That is the no key switch column that a lot of guys like to use in older rides. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

01-26-2023, 07:08 PM	#6
Orange71shorty Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Helena, Montana Posts: 525	Re: Three on the tree tilt Ok, I picked up the column and it definitely wasn’t what he said it was. The blue column is a van, the middle column is pickup. I believe someone must have shortened the one on the right. Anyone have any insight on the short column? Attached Images

01-26-2023, 08:32 PM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Three on the tree tilt Definitely no such thing as a GM 3spd tilt column. I owned an all original Highlander (in '73) that had a 3spd, so tilt column delete. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-26-2023, 10:28 PM	#10
Steeveedee Who Changed This? Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 10,076	Re: Three on the tree tilt Just think about all the mechanism involved with 3ott and a tilt ball. Wild. __________________ ~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA

01-27-2023, 02:04 PM	#15
72BBGMC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: georgia Posts: 285	Re: Three on the tree tilt I had a short tilt like that once. If I remember right, it was only 30 inches long. It was in a 73-76 C-30 shuttle bus. It had the front end of a van and a small bus body like an airport shuttle bus. The one I had was shifter less, the auto shifter was in a box mounted on the dash. Haven't seen another like it since.

01-27-2023, 02:38 PM	#16
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Three on the tree tilt I have a Saginaw 4spd with a big long shifter that came out of an '80s van. I wonder if that van would have had that same short column. I never knew vans could have a 4spd floor shift until I saw this tranny/shifter __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

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