i think i got it. if anyone else wants to try this do the following.
open up your template in joomla> edit html
find
<!– BEGIN: INLINE –>
<div id=”ja-col”>
<table style=”width:100%”>
<tr>
<td style=”text-align:center; width:33%;”>
<div style=”height:300px;”><jdoc:include type=”modules” name=”ln1″ style=”xhtml” /></div>
</td>
<td style=”text-align:center; width:33%;”>
<div style=”height:300px;”><jdoc:include type=”modules” name=”ln2″ style=”xhtml” /></div>
</td>
<td style=”text-align:center; width:33%;”>
<div style=”height:300px;”><jdoc:include type=”modules” name=”ln3″ style=”xhtml” /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
<!– END: INLINE –>
open up templateDetails.xml
add:
<position>ln1</position>
<position>ln2</position>
<position>ln3</position>