[Smokin_Guns]

Hi, I'm very slowly restoring a 70 Chevelle. The thing is I've yet to decide to put in a automatic, or manual. The car was origonaly a auto, but it's really not any more work to install a manual why I'm at it. And of course the Manual is funner to drive, but what would you choose ? Which one will give me the advantage if a challange rises ? This car is going to be a "show n' go" so it's going to see the quarter mile a few times I just can't decide. I want a fast car, but I also want it to be fun. Please tell me what you would do.

 

[Don_Lightfoot]

Depending on what "type" of automatic you are considering, it may in fact turn out to be faster for the 1320.

Personally, just for the fun of it, I like the manual. But, I have never formally raced any of my previous muscle cars.



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Updated Website with a little history
Still looking for a new ride

 

[427L88]

Nothing like a 4 speed for both fun and nostalgia. Everyone took them out in the 80's and 90's to run autos. I think you got it right, sticks are more fun. Autos will be more consistent ( and faster if your "stick" isn't up to snuff)at the track and handle very high torque ( 550+) applications better.

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Gene
427TRI@chevelles.com
67 SS 427

 

[Smokin_Guns]

Well, either which way, the tranny will be built up by a very good tranny shop near by. It will be either a Turbo 400, or a M-22. I would like to keep the car with a tranny that origonaly came with it for the shows.

 

[JeffK]

This question looks familiar, try some of these (lots of reading):

http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/001506.html
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/004752.html
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/005420.html
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/003029.html
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum9/HTML/002534.html
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum9/HTML/003284.html

Read my signature below for my opinion

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JeffK ACES #01510
Team Chevelle Gold #72
496 EFI/Richmond 6-Speed
JeffK@chevelles.com
Jeff's Chevelle Page

[This message has been edited by JeffK (edited 10-12-2000).]

 

[Steve R]

Unless you are going to seriously bracket race your car go with a manual. Also I would use a wide ratio trans. Close ratio trans will want a shorter, higher numerical, rear end gear than will be comfortable to drive on the highway. Try a Super T10 instead.

Steve R.

 

[DZAUTO]

What is an automatic?

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Tom Parsons

 

[Chevelle66]

Hey DZ...I think an automatic is one of those transmissions they put in the wife's minivan...

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Nick
Proud owner of a 66 Malibu -
355, four speed...(Soon to be a big block )
www.public.iastate.edu/~amcarthu

 

[Big Block Dave]

An automatic is the tranny that the guy who wins has in his car

If you are looking for maximum fun, then the manual rocks....but if you are looking for an overall effective street/strip car, the auto with the right converter/gear combo can't be beat.

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"Too fast for love"
Dave Armstrong...New York!
'67 Chevelle 396/Th400/4.10
The Burnout
The Launch
The Engine
The MAN!!!(the guy in the black shirt)

 

[Dan Orgill]

Ditto Gene and BB Dave. Auto for consistent times ( and probably less repairs ), or row your own for maximum fun!

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Dan Orgill

 

[Smokin_Guns]

One thing that I forgot to mention, that the engine is getting 600+ hp. Which would best handel that amount of stress ? Though I imagine if the tranny is built up, it really shouldn't matter.

 

[283v8]

Want consistent dragstrip times? - Auto
Want lots of fun? - Manual
I say manual - it is more fun and puts you in control, it only does what you make it do.
My Grammaw says automatic is better.

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Make it the way you like it, forget what the other guys say!

 

[QAK]

Well, the four speeed will give you and all your buddies the OH DEAR GOD factor. (spin, spin, powershift, spin, p-shift, you get the point

) BUT, if you have a good auto and stall then you will have almost as much fun. I have a 550 plus hp BB and i can spin my 275/60s M&H slicks all through second. Radials, forget about it, spin till i let out. I race it as often at the track as time allows. I have tried a stick and auto at the track and auto is the way to go there. If you want a stick there it had better be VERY strong as you WILL break parts. Broke two diff in my bros chevelle and four speed. One 12 bolt, one 9". But oh what fun!!! If you go with a stick, better get a line lock or youll roll right through the stage lights. CHRIS

 

[jmw]

The one factor I didn't take into account that might have changed my mind (I went TH400) is that with the auto and shift kit, you bang gears everytime. With the stick, you can feather take offs and shifts however you like, then really bang em whenever you want to. I was more concerned about wear and tear on the driveline and thought things would last longer with an auto. My plan is to keep the auto in this one and then the next project will be a 4spd! One of each!!!

 

[SS_Dave]

The stick is the only way I would have built my car. 550+ hp 454. I did break first gear, but that was my fault for setting the shift stop too close. It jumped out of and then back into 1st during a burnout.
BAM tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, clunk.

I have a T400 in the shed too and it's staying there.


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Dave
"Fire all your guns at once and
Explode into space."

 

[steve stanbach]

Good things about 4 speeds. They are faster than automatics. The only professional racing that autos win in have weight breaks for automatics (nmca, nsca, and nmra). Stickshifts make big camshafts liveable, better gas millage. If you try to run a 4000 stall converter on the street you'll overheat the trans. Bad things about stick shifts. Your gona break things.... lots of things.... lots of expensive things.

 

[DaleM]

I've got a 4-spd driver and like most of the posts here, I prefer to row my own since it's not a race car. You might consider a wide-ratio M20 (2.52/1.88/1.46/1) and go with a numerically higher rear end gear. Since most "stop-light" drags peter out soon into 3rd gear, with 2.52/1.88 will get you there faster than the close ratio M21 or M22 (2.20/1.64/1.28/1).

Downside, it's really hard to drink a cup of coffee on the way to work in the morning.


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Dale McIntosh
Team Chevelle Gold #92
ACES #1709

1974 454 Corvette for sale
www.dalesplace.com

 

[DZAUTO]

What's coffee?
Is that some yuppie form of Jack Daniels??

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Tom Parsons

 

[Smokin_Guns]

Thanks for all the great replies. I'm really confused now

This is a really hard decision to make. I guess if I really hate one or the other, I can always switch the tranny out.

If I do go Manual (which I'm starting to lean that way) I will have to get the entier clutch linkage set, and I'm not even sure if there is such a thing, to make swaping from a auto, to manual easily. Does anyone know of a clutch kit for a 70 Chevelle that will work for a M-22 ?

 

[Chvelle]

Our sponsor Ground Up lists the clutch linkage kit for under a $100. If you go to GU, do a search on clutch, they will list everything from the pressure plate to the little attaching clips, and everything in between. They also sell used pedals but you'll need to call for availability.

Here's a link that will aid you in your swap. Pulled from Tech Reference.



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"I just love the life I lead, Another beer is what I need...." Motorhead

Richard Dorrough
Tulsa, Ok
'68 Chevelle
'70 Nomad (CHVELLE)
ACES # 789
TC # 453
NCOA # 19970