Hey guys, I have a 92 firebird, 3.1, v6, auto, and I have really given the idea of converting it into a manual a great amount of thought, I've seen videos of drivers driving manual and it looks really fun to drive a manual, is it really that fun or should I just stick with my auto?

 

When I buy my next car, getting a manual will be a deal breaker.

Do you know how to drive a manual? Probably not since you are asking whether or not it's fun to drive.

Before you actually do the swap, I would suggest learning on another car and driving around for a bit to see if you like it. Manual trans's are NOT fun in traffic like I drive in in Los Angeles, but I do enough driving around on the weekends that I enjoy it enough to get another.

 

I might be a bit biased since I have only had cars with manual gearboxes but anyway.. Automatic is not common here in northern Europe.

In a sportscar, wich I consider the camaro to be for the sake of the discussion, I'd go for manual every day.
Mostly because I think it is much more fun to drive the car when you have complete control of the gearchanges. If you have a more (don't know how to put i but) "sporty" driving style I honestly don't understand why anyone would choose not to have manual, it somehow feels as if you are missing out on something.
This might be a cultural thing.

As for driving with a manual, it is a bit more work than in a automatic. If you only cruise around in downtown areas it is more comfortable with automatic (guess why no taxicars have manual). But it's not difficult, just takes a while to get used to.

Hope this reply made some sense

 

The steep gearing in the v6 cars makes it not much fun in traffic, but I love driving a stick. Automatics make it easier to do other things while driving like eating, drinking, cellphone, etc. Another reason to drive a stick... easier to keep focused on driving.

Both of my cars were automatics... each failed and were replaced with 5 speeds. Haven't regretted it.

 

The only reason I have my car is because it was a 5 speed, and I love it. Traffic doesnt bother me, I come to complete stops at each stop sign, I never ride anyones *** no matter how slow or annoying they are. Yeah its more of a work out for your left foot, but I just cant get enough of it.

 

A manual is a lot easier to drive in the snow, but you probably don't have to worry about that.

 

my GTA was an auto when i got it. and my v6 has always been a fivespeed. one thing i will say, i have never had problems or dificulty clutching smoothly until i put a bargain brand clutch in my v6. it has about 4K on it and i am allready thinking of yanking it in favour of a centerforce or somthing.

the GTA with a centerforce dual friction is one of the nicest clutching cars i have ever driven. there was nothing wrong with the six before, until the clutch started to go (almost 50K on the clutch), then i decided to cut corners and replace it with a cheapo 95$ napa brand, big mistake. i get alot of clutch chatter now.

that being said... my chattering difficult clutch, and the slipping clutch i had in it before were still both better then an automatic.

i'll never go back.

 

everything they said. My 94 maro has the 5sp, and I love it, all 2 days I've driven it (previous stick cars: 77 T/A, 78 B210, 82 200SX, 92 Festiva) It just feels right.

 

You know, I have the exact same problem with a NAPA brand clutch, but only when I've been driving for a while. I'm actually thinking about changing it out this week at work, but I think I'm going to be installing one from GM...hoping the OEM one will be MUCH better.

 

compare the 6sp clutch disc w/the 5sp, especially spline count/diameter. millions want to know

 

Well I luv driving my 87 2.8 5 banger. Even though I just purchased a 78 with a 350 I just want it to have around, not going to be a daily driver like my 6. The 87 is not much for gitty up but atleast it looks like it. And as long as I'm popping gears I can give the illusion right.


Here is the 78 I just got for 1k. The guy just wanted to cover the wheels and tires. No body rust and new upolestry.

 

I have a friend in Northern Cali and he recently purchased a 68 Charger and made it into a Dukes of Hazard general Lee, that car looks so nice I was like damn, anyways he sent me a video of him driving it, and he had his friend inside videotaping while he was shifting and tearing up those Oakland streets and It just looked way to fun, I do have to admit I do kinda get bored driving my auto, so I think I will do it next year, but that General Lee is an awesome car!!

 

ive just recently bought my first automatic, they both have the pro's and con's , but i still prefer any sort of manual.

 

Yeah I have a bird 92 3.1 auto and it does look fast but its not, but at times I get the look like "that car must be fast" what they don't know won't hurt them, and I always get those $45,000 cars trying to race me, and its funny cuz I got mines for $2,000 and here is this new SRT 8 trying to take me on, jokers! but I think what I'm going to do is keep my bird auto and buy me a stick camaro third gen v8, like that I have my v6 for fuel economy and my V8 for tearing up the streets (once the engines is worked on)

 

i got a 92 camaro with a 3.1 and a 5 speed

when i first saw the car i figured it had a 305 so i stopped and looked at it

when i saw it had a 3.1 i was walking away when the lady was like "it has a 5 speed in it, and the car runs good, wanna test drive it?"

so i did

now i have the car

my brothers firebird with an automatic could never hang, he hated that car after i got mine and he drove it. they both ran pretty good, but his was a total dog, while i was having all kinds of fun. it's torquey enough for fun too, i can roll along at 20 mph out of first, rev it up to 4500 and drop the clutch and that thing will instantly swing 90 degrees and keep walking wherever i point the front tires. very impressive for a 6 banger in a heavy car. if you know how to drive it with the powerband it has, it can be alot of fun.

with an auto, you have no control over that powerband.

 

Yeah a 3.1 v6 auto is not really fun at all, but I can imagine a stick, what if I add a shift kit, would that do anything? There are shift kits that let you control gear shifts, so I think I might do that, what do you think? I have no idea how that would work without a clutch but still that sounds cool if I can get my car higher in horse power before I install that kit.

 

Shift kit, stall, bigger rear axle gears. That all might help. You already have 3.23s, if your car has the stock rear end. The Manuals had 3.42s, probably wouldn't see much difference. I dont know if bigger gears (3.73s) would be a good idea for a V6 though, i'm not too V6 savvy.

 

My first bird was an 89 LO3 with auto trans pretty damn slow and boring i then replcaced it with a 91 bird 5 speed LO3 with no power options what so ever you can realy feel the difference getting out of the hole much better performer.