I am about to buy a 92 maro for HS but i dunno what tranny to get. I absolutely LOVE sticks, there so much fun, and dont get me wrong, i WILL be racing the local ricers i was just wondering which is better or faster for daily driving/racing

i know youve heard it alot, but i didnt get anything on searches please post!

 

A stick will give up 1/2 second E.T. in a streetrace given a "one hand signal" start.

An automatic can be stalled up ready to react instantly for street starts.

It is also much harder to drive consistantly and maintain traction with a stick.

ODB

 

I like autos. You could put a shift kit in it . And then you dont have to worry about always shifting. I mean when your just driving and not raceing.

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1989 Camaro RS
305 TBI

 

Depends on what you want. Sticks are fun to drive...except when you have a commute in stop and go traffic, or when someone calls you on your cellphone and you have to say "hold on, gotta shift" every time because your cell phone is too small to hold with your ear and just falls out, so you have to hold it in your shifting hand, or when you want to drink your coffee or soda (especially in our cars with no cupholders). Sticks are fun, autos are convenient, autos with shift kits are in between. Up to you, right now i have an auto with a shift kit and like it alot...then again every once in a while i wish i could pop the clutch around a corner and have a little fun...but thats when i just throw it into second around the corner for almost the same effect.

 

Hello. My name is F.C. I'm the owner of Racing Transmissions by the Tranny Doctor. You know you can turn a automatic into a standard by coverting to manual stick shifts!

 

doctor,
do you mean using a 700R-4 but a manual style shifter to activate it? I'm not familiar with any shifter like that.

ODB

 

In response to the original question, STICK. They're so much more fun to drive, and isn't that what driving is about??? Also, a stick is faster due to lower parasitic power loss. Sports cars should only come with sticks.

 

Agreed, these are sportscars and the only way to drive them is with a stick. Anyone can drive an automatic but to time your shifts, control wheelspin, keep max HP right where you want it, and brake faster.....now thats driving

 

Stick. I had plenty of chances to buy an auto F-body, but I passed on all of them. I waited and got my 5-speed TA. I will admit that it can be hard to race, especialy with the stock shifter. But when you get it just right, the car can really take off. I aslo feel that I get more control when exploring the back roads. TA's handle really well!

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1989 Trans Am, 305 TPI 5-speed, T-Tops(love 'em),4-wheel disc, 3.73 posi

 

stick,I'm changing my car from a 700r4 to a richmond six speed with a shorty shifter. the TC won't lock up in 1st,I have my TCC interupt switch to "fool" the ECM and keep the TCC locked in 2nd,3rd,OD but shifts aren't always consistant and the engine lugs when it shifts too early,it's very abusive too the whole driveline if I drive hard,but if it's locked in one gear for general cruizing I get much better gas milage,automatics in sports cars are for lazy people who aren't mechanically inclined. I know I could throw in a shift kit with a manual valve body with neck snapping shifts,just like it was when it was rebuilt 30k mi ago,sometimes an automatics unpredictable downshifts can be thrilling like a good twister in a rollercoaster ride,but just as much ruckus can be made with a dual friction hvy duty clutch!! also my car's top speed is only 108 mph in OD at approx. 5700rpms with 3.73 gears. with the sixth gear ratio of .45, I should be able to do much better than that. honestly I don't intend on going faster than 70 or somtimes 80 if I'm with a speeding team on a long drive on I-95,the extra overdrive would keep my rpms down to ~1500 rpms even when pushing the speed limits a little. even at a cost of $3500 to convert,that transmission will eventually pay for itself in gas savings,and with a limited lifetime warranty I will get my use out of it.I can't say it will increase the value of my car any 'simply because most folks wouldn't understand what a thirdgen with 100% aftermarket driveline/suspension/brakes and slightly bruised body is all about!!

'84 Trans Am aka: "Dogballs" the terrifying growls are heard through a Borla cat back left open.not a head turner at all, just a lot of dirty looks from cheap ricers and V6 base model domestic drivers.....I need money for bodywork guys...,wanna race??

 

When I buy a v8 firebird, that question will drive me nuts. I love my automatic as it is right now- The B&M Posterchild (Stage 2 shift kit, 4-3 kickdown sleeve, Supercooler, Megashifter) with a Summit remote trans filter. But a stick is, well, a stick! (No explanation necessary!)

That's a hard decision.. but I don't know if you should let it over-rule the whole car. Say you've got $3k to spend, and you can either buy a beater Camaro with a stick, or a perfect Camaro with an automatic. Go for the better car, worry about trans type later.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

This is F.C. A manual/automatic valve body is a valve body that if you put it in drive you are takeing off in 1st then it shifts to 2nd and so on. If you put it in low it will not shift until you manual shift it to 2nd then trans will shift to 2nd so and so on. A manual only valve body will shift ONLY when you shift it example if you put it in low (1st)the trans will not shift until you move the shifter. If you put it in Drive you will be starting out in 3rd gear and not 1st gear which is the gear you want, now you have a manual automatic. You shift up and down shift every where you go. F.C.

 

I agree with tomp on buying the better car,I bought mine for $2600,near mint completly intact,and the auto wasn't half bad after it was rebuilt for free!! I can thank massachussetts' lemon laws for that!I guess they do have some useful laws.anything with an auto has higher book value most of the time,if the need comes to sell it.some people just shouldn't drive stick anyways...you know who you are....


'84 Trans Am,305 HO,700r4,3.73 LS rear axle,just replaced today!! a little wobbly because we forgot to connect the sway bar ends ,but otherwise o.k.,....dogballs lives!!!

 

if that car is a v-6 car i got a t-5,bell,and flywheel for ya
mike

 

Stick of course

my car was an auto, i converted it to a T5 setup
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