Is an Automatic really superior ?

Just came back to this thread. Buzz, kinda defensive, I don't htink you were there in 05 when I ran my T. I don't have anything to prove but stand by my statement that most of the stick cars there were shifted like grannies. I dont remember your runs looking weak however. I will check out some of the vid.And, I understand the fact that we are just playing racer for a day, most of us dont wanna think about an engine swap to get our broken cars home on Monday.

And you might wanna meet my pops before you make bold statements, he raced profesionally and did break his class record in the summer of 70. He also has nothing to prove but a wealth of info we can all learn from. I hope he can make it down next year. The Vagabonds would like to have one or two purpose built dragcars.......time will tell.

 

Whatever dude. My old man ran a 904 Torqueflight behind his injected sbc in 63. It was the old push button Chrysler. He got tired of trashing the Ford trannys.
Here's a pic of the non-traditional drag car.

 

Dude, I wanna see this....................

 

What was this thread about again,i forget?

 

Just a little excerpt I thought you might like to see.

The TorqueFlite transmission was Chrysler's mainstay from its introduction in 1956 through the early 1990s, remaining in duty in modified form (for front wheel drive) through 2001 in the Neon, and continuing even today with electronic controls for trucks.
Though the first TorqueFlite was the revolutionary A-488, called the best automatic transmission in the world, the most legendary Torqueflite model is the A-727, which replaced it in 1962. Assigned to the most muscular engines, heavy duty applications, and trucks, the A-727 used an aluminum case (rather than the A-488's cast iron case), saving about 60 pounds; in some models, it used a pawl (lock) for parking, actuated by a lever (1962-64 models) or by putting the transmission into Park (see sidebar).

The first generation of iron TorqueFlites had a rear pump as well as a front pump, allowing the automatic-equipped cars to be push started!

 

Build your car and have fun with it. Auto,stick whatever. I enjoyed watching most everyone run down the track at MOKAN.

 

Since we are all changing the subject anyway.The disapointment that some people noticed on my face at the drags, wasnt because i thought my car was faster .It was because i know it was faster and the traction was terrible for me off the line.I know the limits of my bank account and my little motor ,despite what some may think.Nothing against the track or anything else, but i get better traction every morning on the onramp going to work .I will have some slicks at the DOTD next month and i will make a better showing...

 

My first year was 2006, so no I didn't see you run. But I knew you did. My defensiveness came from you saying that your Dad would be laughing his ass off at the shifting.

I'm not sure what bold statements your talking about. But I'm not doubting that he set a record or trying to talk bad about him in any way. Now, if he actually comes and laughs in the stands I'll have something to say. I do stand by my statement that I bet he wasn't so great the first couple of times down the track. Ask him and see if he doesn't agree. If he says he was a bad ass from day one, then I'll take it back.

I hope to hear some other video's, for my own learning. The only one I've see so far was my first pass. I always run 85-90% the first pass of the day, so that doesn't tell me anything. Just like you said, I don't have anything to prove to anyone but myself.

And I will have a faster car there next year. Maybe we can line 'em up, but I won't be shifting that one. I want to got fast...

 

As for my pops, he was like a lot of us, he ran a Buick I8 until it blew and he moved on to a string of 55,and 56s. His fist runs however were at the age of 16 or so, much different in his day.

Damn, I thought you were there for year one or two?

You were pitted with Ken and his wife right? We talked for a minute, should have done a propor intro.

As for goin fast, we agree.

 

We all have $$ considerations. I only know of a few folks on the HAMB that can spend like pro. Like I mentioned in another post, your car sounded great leaving the Ramada, even the nastiest streetcar looks a little tame when something like that Orange HenryJ or one of those gassers fires up!

 

I wasn't at Mokan, but it looks like everybody had a good time. You seem like your the only one that was dissapointed with the way your car ran...

 

Haha, we talked for a while on Sat. night. You had your drink goin' pretty good by that time. I used to be in the car business, so getting Saturday's off was next to impossible. So I missed the first two. Not anymore, though!

 

And I was dead tired from the flood bullshit up here we dealt with. For the first time at the drags, I crashed hard and early both nights. See you next year.

 

I still had a blast anyway and i plan on going every year from now on. Yes ,i was a little ticked about the traction part, but i didnt exactly cry myself to sleep at the Ramada,or get so sad i couldnt drink beer after the races .I havent had any sudden overbearing urges of suicide since i've been back ,but i will keep you informed.What is your question? ,or is this just another way of trying to get an argument going again?

 

not trying to start argument, question? I don't have one... you started this thread. But you can start a new thread about your urges of suicide you might or might not have....

 

Auto. Can't go wrong, unless its all stock, in that case you might find yourself in the shop sooner than later.,. stock auto trans are meant for driving, not racing. Build it right and dial it in.
-Anthony

 

I already have a thread like that on a PYCIATRIC web site i go to...

 

Thanks Root, I don't think anyone asked, but good information. I have a rebuilt 56 cast iron torque-flite on the shelf next to my new B&M Hydro-Stick and I have a push-button shifted Clutch-Flite hooked to the 354 Hemi in my 48 Ford. the only 4 speed I own has a Granny Gear (that needs to be double clutched) in my 55 Cad powered 54 GMC work truck/tow rig (not on the road yet, but getting close). so I like old Hot Rods and Old Automatic's. and stick shifts in my tow rigs and sticks with overdrive in my customs and cruiser's. I guess I was in the DARE TO BE DIFFERENT crowd when I was in my teens (50+ years ago) I started running Hydro's (in '62) then torque-flites and C-6 and C-4's not because I don't like to row gears rather because I want the best I can buy (being on the bottom of the food chain dollar wise) I've alway felt automatic cars needed to run bigger inches and more power to run against the stick cars.
anyway what I'm thanking you for is telling me I can push start an early torque-flite. I've always thought that was a plus for the Hydro's.........Jim

 

I appoligise X-Gasser i misunderstood what you meant till i read it again.I thought you were saying that i was the only one feeling sorry about how their car did.I guess you meant that it didnt as bad as i think.I still know it wasnt up to its potental cause i drive it hard every day and i always get it to stick better in first gear when i am just playing around than i could when it counted...

 

no problem! Keep practicing and you will suprise yourself the next time out... Keep the 3 pedals

 

How about some more on this one, just to shut up the SBC and auto-bashers. Deserves it's own thread, to see how it was DONE, not what is claimed, often claimed by guys who weren't even born in '62(like me.).

 

back in 87, I ran a 727 Torqueflite with a manual valve body behind my 440. I always thought shifting sucked in traffic.
Now I have a weak left knee, and I still think shifting sucks in traffic.

My hot rods have 3 pedals...... GAS, BRAKE AND PARK BRAKE

 

He just built his own adaptor. He also tried a clutch flight from B&M but the spider gears were the weak link.

 

It seems like they should've had separate classes for manual and auto trannies.
The auto-s got alot of technology goin' for them,
and the stick-s got alot more technique.

In recreational drags its challenging to beat personal times by shifting right.
I can only imagine speed-shifting some crazy blown hemi monster though.
TP

 

I am keeping the auto in the 49 when it gets the new motor. This little sixer just doesn't have the balls or the sound.

I thought about a stick, and it would be fun, but I already have all the automatic parts.

 

Zibo, the drags are about more than that. Most of the fun comes from good natured grudge racing and seeing how fast you can get your car to go. Nobody was throwing helmets because they got beat.