Hot Rods How many are running a stick?

About the mid 60s, automatic transmissions became popular on the drag strips, once the "modern era" of autos became available. The older versions of the auto trans left a lot to be desired as far as shifting, and durability was concerned. By the mid 60s, more heavy duty auto trans showed up, and some performance parts started showing up. It took a hell of a 4 speed driver to out shift an auto trans, and the shock to the drivetrain from the auto trans was greatly reduced. A very large number of manual trans guys switched to auto transmissions for drag racing.

This forum is based on pre 65. Back in the early days, the manual transmissions were king, most early auto trans simply were power drainers or were fragile, hence the negative auto trans stance.

Nothing wrong with an auto trans, there are two of them here at my place, and both have proven to be pretty tough. I don't race the 5 speed in my coupe. Its more driver involved to drive it, so that adds a bit more fun to the story, as long as my left knee will allow me to use the clutch pedal. Some days, that is a tough job, and I'm pretty happy I have something with an auto trans I can drive.

If the day comes that I have to put an auto trans in my coupe so I can drive it and enjoy it, I think I'm going to leave the 3rd pedal in the car, just so I can say "I have a 3rd pedal." LOL! Gene

 

Lemme guess, he’s your copilot, right?

 

And mechanic

 

Hello,

The idea of owning car as a teenager was one of convenience. It was the car that drew one into the fray. Some were stick shift units and others automatic. It was all based on type of car, availability and convenience.

When my brother got his first 1951 Oldsmobile sedan, it had an automatic transmission. He drove it for several years and his next car was a 3 speed 1958 Impala. Now, he and his friends all had stick shift cars. Whether from the factory or custom installed LaSalle transmissions, like the one in a 34 ford 5 window coupe with a big Oldsmobile motor a stick shift was the way to go for those early teenagers.

Later, we even put in a LaSalle 3 speed behind our 671 292 cubic inch SBC motor for the 1940 Willys Coupe build. There were only a few race cars that had an automatic transmission in the popular classes. Slowly, the auto transmissions at the drags, came into play in the later 1960 era.

On the street, driving a stick had its moments, as a teen and adult. Today the classic opinion is to own a stick shift car and no one would know how to steal it and be able to drive it away… Ha! Somehow, the activity in driving, coordinating the feet and hands all work together to get moving. Once learned, it was something to be a part of the hot rod, cruiser or family line of cars.

The first thing I learned was the “Hill Brake Start” motion for the LaSalle transmission in the Flathead Ford Sedan Delivery.

Many years later, I even taught my wife to drive (Including the dreaded Hill Brake start...) her 5 speed sporty car on slopes and hills of So Cal. Then gave her a road test up the coast through Big Sur to San Francisco for the final test. She passed with flying colors and her ownership for that second car was 13 years before she got a new 5 speed car for the next 11 years and another 5 speed adventure.

She was getting good. The key to security and feeling the road through stick shift driving motions all were made possible by learning the Hill Start maneuver. Once that was a part of the learning process, then everything else falls into place.

Security in stick shift transmission cars, and the feel of being a part of the whole driving scene was a wonderful set of moments. Part of the stick shift driving test was used on an off-camber hill start at a stop sign in Morro Bay. The line up of cars behind us was definitely a pressing moment approaching the stop sign on a off camber, curved road at the top of a hill.

But, as practiced, my wife went right up to the sign, pulled up the emergency brake and calmly used the standard red stop sign moment to check the cross traffic. Despite the line up of cars behind her causing some anxious moments, she handled it with a professional motion and attitude. No roll backs, no stalling, just a simple clutch/brake/gas forward movement to continue our long road trip.

Jnaki

When our son was ready to learn, we had two stick shift family cars. He wanted to learn to drive a stick shift car, so we practiced from the basics to the more advanced “hill starts.” He took to shifting/clutch/braking like a duck to water. He was getting good driving all over So Cal coastal roads and freeways. So, after months of practicing and us getting a larger station wagon with an automatic, he as ready to take the test. The automatic made the driving portion of the test easier.

For the next 6 months to a year, he put on 24000 miles on our automatic station wagon. He just liked the freedom and was very good about keeping the family station wagon clean and spiffy. But, when he was ready for his own car, he reverted back to wanting a stick shift car. The good thing was, he learned to be a safe driver and now he knew the responsibilities of being in his own car, not ours.

The only drawback to owning a stick shift car is when the numerous knee injuries swell up and make the clutch work almost impossible. It was definitely a non driving situation and most of the time, I had to be carted around by my wife. In her stick shift car of all things.

These days, after numerous stick shift family of cars, it is all automatic transmission cars for ease of entry and driving. Even when an old man knee injury takes command, it is still possible to stay mobile in an automatic transmission family station wagon. It then becomes a process to get in and out of the driver’s seating area…but at least we are mobile… YRMV

 

Real Hotrods have three pedals

 

And no valve covers!

 

2 with 5-speeds and one with a 6-speed.....

 

I've got an AX 15 with a Novak adapter to go behind the 292 in the 48 but the left knee has started throwing a fit when I drive my 77 flatbed or moms 77 F250, both with stout clutches and granny 4 speeds. I don't need a super stout pressure plate for the 48 though.

 

Excuse the non era correct cylinder heads….

 

Great Grand daughter likes the T-10 4 speed!

 

302 and 4 speed top loader. Though I always wanted to upgrade to a 312 y-block. Never did though .

 

My Tub - 4-speed toploader






View attachment 5474416

 

We have 3 "hot rods" running a stick. The race truck has a Jerico, the '56 has a Tremec TKX, and our blue daily driver has an early Tremec 3550.
Oops, I guess I must be going brain dead. I know I have posted pics on here before, but I don't remember it asking for a URL. If I can get it figured out, I'll post some pics of the vehicles.

 

327/5-speed.

 

Looks good! Your shifter landed in the "sweet spot" and the fabrication of the crossmember looks really sharp. Nice work.

I thought I might have to do that with mine, too. But, after a bunch of measuring, I lucked out. I did have to move my shifter over though.

 

I've technically just inherited 50% of two Mercedes Benzes, and in those are the very first automatic transmissions I've owned in my almost 60 years.

 

Thanks Brent! Appreciate the comment! Means a lot coming from someone who has one of the most bada$$ A’s on here! Your car is a huge inspiration.
I cheated with trans tho….planned on an early T10 but after measuring a zillion times, I went ahead and switched to a Tremec TKX 5 speed. Plan to long haul the crap out of this one so was an easy choice to switch.

 

My avatar--

 

My Beater Bird--

 

My Model A--

 

My '29 Peerless--

 

1962 Studebaker wagon with T5



1930 Tudor with Super T10



1931 roadster pickup with 3 speed soon to be T5



Unfortunately 1932 Bantam altered didn't offer enough room for pedals so th350, but is towed by 5 speed wagon.





Warren

 

Four speed with a Hurst Comp/Plus:

 

331 Hemi and Ford 4 speed.

 

Well this one has large valve covers with holes in them. Also an A-833 4spd