your opinion: keep stock automatic trans. or stick in a manual?

although if i get a thousand people say to put in a manual i may still keep the stock trans in, and visa versa. i just want to see what others think. im going back and forth about. its a big body four door mopar, i have the motor out and about to go to the machine shop, and now would be ideal to do a swap. if i did switch to a manual id go with a 4 speed with overdrive. yalls thoughts?

 

My thoughts are that hot rods have 3 pedels.

 

I'm with Crusty on the 3 pedal.

Only way I see putting in the auto is if it is a sled or there are physical limitations to the driver operating the third pedal.

 

i think so too, its going threw the gears that is most of the fun. but the motor im keeping mostly stock, a 241 hemi, just a little higher lift cam, 30 over pistons. so the motor isnt a big power plant. so i thought i could keep it just a cruiser with the auto, but the manual is way more fun to drive....if i put some more power into the motor, which is an easy option right now.

 

What year is it? If it's a big four handle cruiser I'd keep the automatic in it. If it's a small car like an early coupe or a Dart the stick shift would be better. Just my thoughts. To me if you use a stick shift you should also use a manual secondary carb. I just don't like va***n secondaries with a manual trans. Have fun,Smokey

 

Manual trans all the way dude. The 241 will have way more pep with the 4spd compared to the 2spd.

 

its a ninteen houndred and fifty four. big *** car.

say there Tom, you kept the three speed i yours, yeah?

 

Yep still a 3 on the tree. Check out my thread. It's at the bottom of the first page as of right now. It's called progress pics. ****ty ***le I know. Should be rowing through the gears and burnin some rubber by next week!

 

Hot rods should have 3 pedals. Land yachts are fine with slushboxes. Kustoms, shop trucks, and really old hot rods work with a 3 on the tree.

 

I've always enjoyed the stick, but it may depend on how much of a pain in the *** it is to set it up with a manual.

 

that was another thought, i drove a 54 chevy around for a few days, playing CAR sitter for a buddy. and i loveddd the three on the tree. off teh top of your heads, is there a way i can put one on my car? its pretty much just like toms, except he has the flat 6.

 

They did have the option of the 3spd with the Hemi in 53-54. Probably really rare though. No idea if the bell housings or input shafts would be anywhere near the same. My guess would me no. There are a lot of Chevys that run around with 235 and 3spds converted to the floor and I think there pretty cool. Do what you want!

 

Nickles car- http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=159573

 

How old are you?
How much do you plan on driving it?
Is it hilly where you live?

If your older, drive it a lot OR it's hilly where you live then a stick is a pain in the ***.

BTW, speaking of standard trans and hills. One of the coolest cars I've had (I'm 60) was a 56 Studebaker President with a 289, three on the tree and overdrive but the best part was it had a hill holder clutch. You could have the clutch in, step on the brake and the clutch would hold the brakes untill you released it.

 

here yall are, no need to go rumaging around on that. sorry for the size.

 

im 17 and i plan on driving it every chance i get. its not hilly all that much here.

 

I've had 4 vehicles and they all have had 3 petals. Doesn't bother me yet but I know its because I've only had my license for 4 years. I think your car would be 10 times more fun with a stick. It is supposed to be the car you take out to have fun. All of my friends love the 3 on the tree because most of them have never even seen one before.

 

i looked at wilcap and they didnt have anything for my engine. trans. swap wise, so if anyone knows of somwhere else, let me know please.

 

My wife can't drive a standard, so, that's partially the reason I want to put an auto in my truck. I also like the idea of just sitting back and cruising without having to shift. I've also got a small cab truck and I'm a big guy (6'3" and 275# - but dieting!) and swinging the shifter takes up extra room.

Am I making excuses for me just plain being a bit lazy? Yeah, but its my truck and I'll build it the way I want.

You should too...

 

..ok. iv decided to go with either stock, or three on the tree. a floor shift would look a little out of place, to me at least.

my question still remains, anyone know of a trans that would work, or if there is an adaptior plate out there johnny cash style?

it would be VERY helpfull. thats what this glorious place is for.

 

Does the 241 you have have the extended bell housing (the one that is part of the block that looks like it already has the stick bell bolted to it) on it? If so your options are very limited. You can run what you have, or maybe a stick set up from that era Dodge truck might work. Take note that the the early standard transmissions will probably not hold up to much abuse. The autos were a bit tougher, but not much.

If the back of your motor looks like any other motor, things are different. The bell housing bolt pattern is the same as a small block Mopar (272/318/360/340) and with a spacer from Hot heads (maybe) you can bolt up either the modern 727 auto or the HD 3 speed and use modern clutches and such. Gene

 

no, it is not the extended bell housing. thanks for the help, my friend.

 

or at least four manual gears

 

Real Hot Rods have 3 pedals and at least 4 forward gears. Anyone can drive an automatic.
I aint nobody .....****, Bob Falfa

 

Someone has a whole OD setup with the clutch, bell and all from a little Hemi for sale in the clasifieds. Its in CA but a HAMB relay might get it closer to you. Gene