Why the rush to slush boxes, I'm guilty too....

I put a muncie 4 speed in a 31 ford and loved it. Then the next car I built, my 41 ford business coupe, I put a 4 speed in that as well. Then, I and really can't explain why, I took it out and put in a auto. I hate it. It's easy to drive, but it just seems like the car ain't a hot rod anymore. I bought a 5 speed and will change back. I guess I am wondering, why did you guys decide to put auto trans in your rods? I am believing that "if it ain't got 3 pedals, it ain't a hot rod"

 

Wouldn't even cross my mind to put an auto in a car... I built my Plymouth with one 18 years ago and hated it, so it has a Tremac now. I am actually dragging my heals finishing my girlfriends Falcon wagon because she insisted on an automatic, and with no availability of an overdrive for this particular setup, in my mind it's worhtless...

 

For the same reason I don't climb on a Hawg and go cross country any more. My legs are shot.

As far as not being a hot rod that saying doesn't account for the B&M hydro now does it.

 

I have a bad left arm it hurts to much to drive much left handed.

 

lol can have a coffee and a smoke while driving it to the track and not look like a circus clown juggling..spilt to many coffees on myself when it was a 4 speed ..plus my times are faster with the built auto

11.7 at 118 mph

 

If you really insist on three pedals put in a foot operated emergency brake.

I have owned many cars in my life, some were stick and some were automatics. I enjoyed them all for different reasons at different times. My first legal sanctioned drag race was in a '55 Ford 272 with three on the tree. I won three rounds then lost to a faster car. As the years went by the autos got better and the sticks stayed the same, if you wanted to win you had to go with a beefed up auto.

Today, cruising is more my style and the thought of spending an hour in bumper to bumper traffic dealing with a clutch is not fun. I just turn up the A/C and try to enjoy the ride.

Build your car the way you want it and drive the wheels off. Don't insist that nobody has the right to do the same.

 

my 56 has an auto trans but I left the third pedal in... That should cofuse some people

 

more room for your legs helps if your tall

 

I think the biggest reason is that it is easy. No clutch linkage to engineer, just an expensive cable shifter kit with instructions included and your done. no real thought required.

 

Rule of thumb, if it has an AC you can put a slushbox in it.
I've got an DN 5 speed in my old Anglia racecar project. However there's a PG with a brake in the corner, just in case the old knees and elbows won't work anymore. Is that backpedaling? (G)
Larry T

 

My feeling is that if you buy a running classic car with auto, leave it well enough alone. If its a ground up custom rod build, do whatever you want! My old mans 56 pontiac is an auto, my 51 chevy had a powerglide, we left them both alone.

I have a TH400 to go in a model A project I'll be building soon, but I'm only using an auto trans because I have a caddy motor and there is no bolt-on stick shift trans available for it

 

My parts hauler has 3 sticks.

I'm thinking about putting a lenco in one someday just so I can have an auto with more than one stick.

Ok heres a question if I build a clutch-flite does that count as a slush box?

 

Nothing 'slushie' about a clutch-flite!

.

 

evidentally people don't like sticks. my 2 month search for an S-10 resulted in 3 V6 5-speeds out of literally hundreds I saw on Craigslist.

stick shift cars are dangerous. especially if you have a loud exhaust. that combination causes people to drive in a different way than the same car with an automatic. 4-5 speeds cause parts to break, tires to smoke and then there are the tickets from "the man".

I have a 305 and auto for my 49. it will be nice and slow and the world will be a safer place because of it.

 

I only run an auto because that's what the car was set up for when I bought it, and I can't afford a manual swap right now. But, it shifts hard and burns the tires on the 1-2 change.

 

had stick shifts and loved them, but as i got older and my joints started aching all the time it was time for the auto.

 

good reasons all, but I ain't talking about racing, just reasons why a person decides to go with a auto in a hot rod..health, disabilities, OK I get that. But easier? come on, where's the challenge in sticking a slush box in a rod? How many with auto's will admit to having some nostalgic regrets for their decision when they a stick built rod???? Be honest......

 

x2

How many of you "three pedal" guys will admit that you and your car would probably have quicker ETs if you replaced your stick with an auto?

 

There are times that a manual transmission is a lot of fun, but most of the time I drive it's in traffic. Stop and go, even if it's just for the hundreds of stop lights is not fun with a manual transmission.

The Nash still has the clutch pedal with the shifter on the floor for the automatic transmission. Looks traditional, doesn't drive that way. I guess it's like all the Olds valve covers I see on sbc's, but harder to detect...

 

You would be surprised at number of people that I know that can't drive a stick. It's sad really.

 

been a long time since I had a fast car, but there is no way in hell any automatic installed in my old GTO would have been faster than it was with the 4 speed.... unless I had to move to Australia and speed shift with my left hand. I don't think I could ever get used to that.

 

There was a reason why the Ramchargers had one car called 'Candymatic'. It was faster with the Torqueflight than with the 4-speed.

I'm putting the 4-speed back in the Studebaker. But I'm looking to build a car as a 'company car' and it will have an auto in it. The older I get, the more my left knee barks at me.

 

Same here
Thinking of pulling the four speed for an auto.
Legs are gone left foot gets numb.
Old is a pain in the A**

 

all hotrods should be raced...period

not sure about the easier arguement, although it is a little easier, it's not like by putting a stick in your hotrod you have reinvented the wheel, i also wouldn't say that because someone choose an automatic they half assed their build, they did after all build a car which has alot more hurdles involved than whether or not they put in a stick gearbox

 

Depending on the car, some have very little foot room. I wear size 12's and sometimes hit the throttle with the outside of my right foot when braking. One of the problems with installing an automatic in an old car is the amount of room the trans tunnel requires usually requires that the foot feed be moved, usually to an awarded position. I look at all of the T buckets and wonder how anyone can drive one safely. I have a friend who is building a T bucket with swinging pedals and a T-5 and he wears size 12's also but the trans tunnel is a lot smaller for the T-5 than for a Turbo 350.

 

How is it half-assed if you chose to do it? If you chose to do something and fully achieve it, I would consider it mission acomplished. If you wanted a stick and put in an auto, that's a different story.

I can see both sides of the fence. To me, I really don't see why it matters. To me the arguement that it isn't a Hot rod unless it has three pedels is some BS that some DB came up with when his standard car got whooped on by an automatic car. It's the same argument as "it's not your car if you didn't build it". Stupid little jabs and attempts at one-upsmanship that will rarely ever be proven.

It's rediculous to try and make comparisons. There really are none. They are completely disimilar. It's a matter of preference and picking the right tool for the job.

I currently have a TH-350 in my car that has a manual reverse valve body with a transbrake. Yes, it's an auto, Yes it's a manual. No it doesn't have 3 pedals.... I guess it's not a hot rod........oh well, whatever.

 

id say, my coupe doesnt realy have the room. i wouldl ove for it to be a manual but i can hardly even fit my feet around the brake pedal

 

I love four speeds, all my cars (except the two mundane family cars) have four or five speeds in them.

I love the stock 440 with the aluminum flywheel and four speed in my Challenger. It's a quick revvin' rocketship! 13.9 @ 100 MPH so far. Better rear tires and cam swap should net some better times!

The Valiant has a slant six four speed, was supposed to be an overdrive, turns out its a standard ratio four speed. Anyone wanna trade Mopar short tailed trannies?

The Model A Roadster has 283 and a T-5 and a long legged rear gear with 30" tall tires. Need more rear gear to be more fun off the line but it will do 100 mph without breaking a sweat. I don't think I've even put it into 5th gear yet!

However, I've got a "top secret" (for now) '30 coupe project in the works that will get a 440 with a 727, half because I've got everything I need for it and half because an automatic will be a change of pace for me. I may eventually go with a four speed, but for now I'm kind of enjoying the Ron Popeil idea of "Setting it and Forgetting it!"

 

Left legs shot, can't work a clutch anymore but I still want to drive.

 

Forgot to say ...
if your really not making much power than a stick is or feels faster
once you start making some steam well check the track autos rule lol hard enough to keep my stuff pointed in the right direction click click i am done car was way to voilent with the stick plus its faster and less breakage