Hot Rods I heard it once said...

Driving an automatic, I can't get my mind off the fact that there under the floorboards, something is slipping, getting hot and not working in a mechanically efficient manner because I'm too lazy or inept to work an extra pedal. Pisses me off, knowing.

I'll be damned if I would refuse a perfectly good car just because it's an auto, but given the choice I'll pick a manual transmission every time.

There are lots of great applications for automatics, and my preference has more to do with private entertainment value than practicality.

 

Thanks guys for all your opinions, comments, suggestions and ideas, they are much appreciated! One thing i've learned from this thread as i do on many others on this forum ... to each his own

Thanks again for all your input fellas!
CAB

 

I don't think it really matters to each his own. Lots of the early drag cars used two speed Powerglides build were quick and fast. I learn to drive in a Automatic and prefer an automatic. I like to cruise and watch the world go by..........


CRUISER

 

Speaks volumes.

 

I have both.

DNE 4 +1 behind my bbc

TH350 behind my sbc.

I DRIVE the manual.

I am a passenger in the auto.

Yes, over the 1/4 it would be faster as an auto but, to my mind, an auto is like 'Playstation Motoring', just plant your foot and go

Manual gives you more control over your car and means you have to think about what you are doing plus it is much, much, much more fun.

To me it has to be 3 pedals, that is why the th350 has been sold and is being replaced with a ST10, well just as soon as I can work out the hydraulic clutch!

P.

 

Built my 57 with a 4 speed...seemed only natural. If I was building a weekend warrior for the strip it would have to be a slush box cause these old arms can,t move like they used to!

 

Just remembered...we have an 08 Hemi Challenger on the lot and its not selling because the guys that want one are holding out for the 09,s with the 6 speed standard. Hotrodding is still alive!

 

loved the fairbanks i had in my old sand floper....stab the clutch to launch, pull the front wheels about a foot and hang on.......skip the clutch and "click" the shifter into hi and blow their shit off the track........if it was boring day, ya could stomp the cutch on the shift and get it on.....best of both worlds......also was probably the hardest hittin sob i ever "rowed" the gears in..........

 

My favorite part of Two Lane Blacktop is that 4 speed whining and rattling throughout the movie. Reminds me of my cars 20 years ago.

 

Yea time and polio.

Oh you younger fellas don't remember polio do ya. Jonas did you a good deed.

 

My father in law had a 72 Chevelle with a 454 and a turbo 400 looked like an ugly green grocery getter. He asked me to move if for him once, so I fired it up and "gently" footed the throttle. Damn wheels wouldn't stop spinning till I applied breaks! Thing was a 10 second car on pump gas. Two pedals plenty of hot rod.

 

The Hot Rod or no Hot Rod thing has nothing to do with it.

For me its personal preference.


I dont like Automatics.

For me, they have too many drawbacks ( not as flexible with its shiftpoints, no push starts or flat towing, etc ), and I know how to shift.
Quite a few of my daily drivers were non synchro manuals...

So I prefer a stick over a slushbox.


But my Truck has an auto, so my wife can drive it in an emergency, and I have a Street& Strip kind of a car that really seems to fall off the boost at every shift since I put a turbo on it.
So it might have to be converted to a Automatic as well ( but if it does, it will get a reverse pattern manual shift with a transbrake...)

 

You can't make grinding noises with an automatic.

 

My heart wants a four speed, but my knees overuled with a 700R4.

 

Fuck... This Thread is so old, I didn't realise I posted on it already...

 

Watch Dick Landy shift his Hemi 4-speed in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnhruLK2468#

Note how he wipes his clutch foot deck sneaker off on the carpet, chomps his cigar just so and then BOOM.

This clip used to have the song "Dear Mr. Fantasy" but now it's got some goofy shit soundtrack. Just mute it and watch.

It will always be cooler to row a 4-speed than stab-and-steer an automatic. Period.

 

Apparently Jim Hall wasn't aware of this rule.

 

The '32 2dr has a T-400 because when I built it the wife was going to drive it. I think she has been behind the wheel 2 times. Now she has a '37 2dr with a T-350 so there are only 2 chances of her driving the '32..........slim and no.
I've got a couple of new DNE 4+1 transmissions that will be in the '32 5w and roadster. Can't wait...........tired of not using my left leg for anything but braking. Now that the knees have both been replaced it will be great to use 3 pedals again.

Frank

 

Frank can now MoonWalk better than Michale Jackson !

I still think it was a fantastic idea to have those zirk fittings installed in your knee caps !

 

If the kid behind the wheel thinks it's a hot rod, it's a hot rod.

 

My car has to please one person.
I could care less what anyone thinks it should or should not have.

 

I've got arthritis in my hip, so shifting is a literal PITA for me. Someone bitches about my cars being automatics? Fuck 'em.

 

hahaha


I have always owned a car with three pedals and it will stay that way unless i loose a leg.

 

I like driving standard 1000 times better. I think you get the feeling of speed even at low speed when you have to shift and have control over the RPM range. As far as a car being a hot rod based on auto or stick is bullshit. People always try to pick shit apart that doesn't matter.

 

His cars did have 3 pedals...

The 3rd one controlled the wing.

 

You got me there.

 

I love my 3 pedal cars, 4 out of 5 of mine are 3 pedal. I too am getting older and my current project will be my final 3 pedal build. Will keep bangin' them as long as the legs hold out!

 

I'm for 3 in a hot rod, but like breeder, I'm a little too large for 3 pedals in most rods. I barely have room for my "gunboats" in the '54.

 

Well what can I say. LOL


It was once said real men don't drive automatics or something like that.