the 1965 gt A code(225 horsepower) mustang came with both the three speed or four speed trans(i know Ks only had four speed trans)my question is is which one is better? why did they do this and is there a difference in performance and horsepower?if my car came with an original three speed and i changed it to a 4 sp toploader would there be any differences beside the extra gear?help, help, help.
Hello. The gear ratio of third gear in a three speed is the same as fourth gear in a four speed. The difference is that a three speed has a really 'tall' second gear, along with a taller first gear. One will go just as fast as the other. The difference is that a motor doesn't put out the same amount of hp all the way through the range of rpms. It bites a lot harder in a certain area. Having the extra gear allows the motor to spend more of it's accelleration time in the 'sweet spot'. The four speed won't make the car go faster, it makes the car quicker. Hope that helps.
veronica no doubt about it you are the guru.lol which would you prefer the three or four? also did ford make a mustang with the manual transmission on the coloum(sorry bout the spelling i mean the old three on the tree lol)
Hi again. You are too kind, Shommel. The four speeds are a lot more fun to drive around in, in my opinion. It all depends on the individual. Also, the Ford-built four speeds, AKA the top-loader, are far and away the most durable transmission ever built. It is very, very hard to blow one up. The three speeds, on the other hand, were not nearly as tough as the top loaders. So, along with being more fun, the top loader is also a lot more reliable.
And, no, the mustangs didn't come with the column shift mechanism. No three-on-the-tree mustangs. If a person was really in love with that, though, a lot of Falcons did come with the column shifter, and it is a relatively easy swap to make if someone wanted to pull it out of a Falcon and put it in a Mustang. Hope that helps.
Hi again. Ford did not build any first generation Mustangs with a column shifter. Definitely, 100%, for sure did not happen. But, as I mentioned, a whole bunch of Falcons did come with that, and it is a very simple matter to snatch all of that junk off of the Falcon and install it on the Mustang. I suppose that, if someone did that, sold the car to a person that later sold the car to another person, that final person could look at the stuff, see nothing but period-correct part numbers and think that it might be original, but, no, it isn't.
I know ford didn't make one but this guy thought he had some rare mustang tell we told him other wise.Was on .mustangforums.com about a year or two back.
Hi again. Somebody should explain to the gentleman how, sadly, it is not at all rare to have a Mustang that someone has done bizarre things to. It is actually quite common.
I have had the pleasure of running both the 3 spd. and the 4 spd. in my 65 289 w/the same rear. The 4 spd. winds up a lot quicker in 1st. gear where as the 3 spd winds out "forever" in 1st and 2nd., but I found that the 4 spd. is a lot more fun to drive. Ultimately though, when I find one at the right price and condition, I will be going to a 5 spd.
Good luck,
Rich
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65 Mustang Convertible - 289 4v - 4 speed top loader, Edelbrock Performer carb, manifold and Performer plus cam, Petronix electronic ignition system, new suspension all the way around, front and rear sway bars, Koni shocks, original styled steel wheels, BF Goodrich Radial T/A's.
Original color -Ivy Green hand rubbed lacquer, white top, standard black interior, Project Mustang sequential tail lights, Haneline brushed stainless steel 6 gauge instrument cluster.
veronica what was the reasoning for putting a three speed in an A code gt challenger 225 horsepower motor instead of just using fours?they only used four speeds for K motors why and why not threes?
Hi again. The reasons for not putting three-speeds in the K codes were
A) The K code would blow up the three-speed in fairly short order,
B) Ford was building turn-key race cars and race cars have four-speeds, and
C) The four-speed was a mandatory option, as in, you had to get it with the K code, but you also had to pay for it. The K code option cost $379.19 if you also got the GT package, $430.39 without the GT package, and the four speed cost an additional $182.69
That means that you would pay $3011.51 for a non-GT K code coupe instead of $2398.43 for a base model coupe, $3246.42 for a convertible, instead of $2633.34, and $3200.97 for a fastback, instead of $2587.89. That's roughly a 25% increase in the purchase price of the vehicle. ( MSRP as of September 1, 1966. Prices subject to change without prior notification. )
The reason that people got the three speed with the 'A' code cars was very simple. It was free and the four speed wasn't.
no doubt bout it veronica you are the best.by the way did they run three speeds with 8 inch posi(limited slip)rear ends if so in an A code what would the gear ratios be?
question bout three and four speed 289s... 
The gear ratio of third gear in a three speed is the same as fourth gear in a four speed. The difference is that a three speed has a really 'tall' second gear, along with a taller first gear. One will go just as fast as the other. The difference is that a motor doesn't put out the same amount of hp all the way through the range of rpms. It bites a lot harder in a certain area. Having the extra gear allows the motor to spend more of it's accelleration time in the 'sweet spot'. The four speed won't make the car go faster, it makes the car quicker. Hope that helps.
The four speeds are a lot more fun to drive around in, in my opinion. It all depends on the individual. Also, the Ford-built four speeds, AKA the top-loader, are far and away the most durable transmission ever built. It is very, very hard to blow one up. The three speeds, on the other hand, were not nearly as tough as the top loaders. So, along with being more fun, the top loader is also a lot more reliable.
If a person was really in love with that, though, a lot of Falcons did come with the column shifter, and it is a relatively easy swap to make if someone wanted to pull it out of a Falcon and put it in a Mustang. Hope that helps.
( MSRP as of September 1, 1966. Prices subject to change without prior notification. ) 
