[Old Blue 66]

I may have the chance to buy a super nice car (Im going to leave the car unknown because of who owns it) but its a 4 speed. Ive owned modern day stick cars (many of them) but never one from the glory days.

I guess my questions is this - has anyone ever moved from auto to 4 speed and how did you feel when you made the switch? I guess Im just used to an automatic and a bit afraid of how Ill like it if I were to buy the car.

Thoughts?

[Chris65LeMans]

I drove exclusively manual (modern) cars when I was younger, but switched to an automatic for a daily driver in 2005. My Pontiac is just for fun - so I went with a 4-speed. I love it, and will admit that I think "too bad it's automatic" every so often while checking out cars at the shows.

I am, however, threatening to add a road runner to the stable - and am thinking of going with an automatic for that one.

[salem1912]

I prefer the 4spd over a automatic, for the amount of time I drive my older cars it's no problem. That said my '68 is a automatic on the tree. My '69 Vette is a stick but a 3spd so it's a little boring.

[tigergto]

Mine is an automatic and I often wish it were a 4 speed. Except when I'm in heavy traffic. To me there is something cool about looking at an old car an seeing that stick poking up through the hump. The newer cars are much easier on the left leg than the old muscle cars.

[arbys]

When it comes to cars of the 60's and 70's automatics don't even enter my mind. To me there's nothing cooler than driving a 4 speed convertible in the summertime. Many times I don't even have the radio on 'cause I'm hearing the sounds of motor as I'm running through the gears. That doesn't happen with an automatic.

[Simple Man]

Turbo 400 is a lot easier on the left leg in traffic.

[Jeff Hamlin]

Made for each other

http://s412.photobucket.com/user/SPR...IVE66.mp4.html

[taalltheway]

...depends on your driving...if you do a lot of city driving it will get bothersome very quickly. Compared to new manuals the shifting is clumsy and the clutch is very stiff...that can be a plus if you like the feeling of driving a manly car that you have to fight with a little...i replaced all the original 4-speeds on my cars with modern 5-speeds...sometimes even with a hydraulic clutch...shifts are much better plus you have the overdrive for the highway...best of both worlds. In general manuals are better for a sporty type of driver while an auto is better for a cruiser guy.... depends what you are. I have both and switch according to my mood.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Originally Posted by Simple Man

Turbo 400 is a lot easier on the left leg in traffic.

Been my preference after owning/driving OHC-6 4speed, and 428/455 4-speed.
So, studied how to make the TH400 shift smartly, now greatly prefer the TH400.

Also, Hurst CP 4-speed shifter mounter to the TH400 tail gets the Switch -pitch high/low. That will be the basis of the 4l80 manual-shift planetary 4-speed. clutch pedal will unlock the converter (bypass switch will keep it unlocked for full time converter mode).

HIS

[67droptop]

Automatic for me! Waaaaay back in my street racing days I sent all but one stick car to the house!

[goatmanmitch]

Changed mine to a four speed then a five speed and absolutely love it! Besides, Chicagoland is pretty flat so that makes it even easier.

[goatless]

Both have their merits. I don't own any classic 4 speeds, but I've always owned at least one manual trans car at any given time.

I don't mind automatics in my Pontiacs since they have sufficient torque to motivate quickly no matter what. The way my Lemans is set up is fun, the th400 can be manually shifted and the higher stall converter allows me to light 'em up any time I feel like it.

That being said, I would like to get a second gen T/A with a 4 (or 5 or 6) speed transmission for some spirited back road driving.

[71SportRagtop]

I've NEVER owned an automatic Musclecar.

Every single Musclecar I've ever owned has been a 4 speed. Frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way. My Musclecars are all weekend cruisers. I don't drive them to work so I never really sit in traffic. Honestly, I just can't ever see driving an automatic.

Do this, drive that V8 Musclecar with a 4 speed. Don't listen to the radio, don't talk, wind it out, downshift a few times and listen to the exhaust. Hear that brum, brum. brum, pop, pop, pop when you downshift coming up to a curve, and then listen again as you wind out the gears coming out of that curve. Trust me, you'll never look at an automatic again.

I'll probably ruffle some feathers with this statement but in my opinion, unless your Musclecar sees regular track time it has no business being an automatic.

[tom s]

REAL muscle cars have 3 pedals!PERIOD!Tom

[Txbobcat]

I have always loved manuals however I do own a few automatics. I do have 2 four speeds and a 6 speed in the Vette. I just have a lot more fun in the 4 speeds and the 6 speed. I dont mind shifting.

[giddygoat]

I like the manuals for the non daily drivers, some prefer to do upgrades to make the muscle cars of the 60s better/easier to drive which is ok, but it is not the same experience as driving the car as they were built. They are the true time machines.

[GOAT WHORE]

Originally Posted by 71SportRagtop

I'll probably ruffle some feathers with this statement but in my opinion, unless your Musclecar sees regular track time it has no business being an automatic.

Originally Posted by tom s

REAL muscle cars have 3 pedals!PERIOD!Tom

X2 on both of these!

[Norwood]

Paul on a car that is not a daily driver the 4 speed is the way to go, its just a better driving experience. You know how I am one of those "stock" guys but I have considered putting a 5 sp in the T/A just to bring the rpms down at Highway speeds. I don't care what its worth I'm going to drive it and shift it and enjoy it till they won't let me anymore.

[PMD1969]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hamlin

Made for each other

http://s412.photobucket.com/user/SPR...IVE66.mp4.html

Sweet Cammer Jeff!

[importsmasher]

All of my classic cars are 4 speeds. I am in process of converting the wife's 66 Mustang from 6 cylinder/auto to 5.0/T-5 at her request, because she prefers a stick as well. I even converted my station wagon from an auto to a 4 speed, and I towed cars all over the western US with that car. Up until I moved to Utah 3 years ago and had to deal with snow, I drove my cars every day, even in traffic, and I still prefer the stick cars to an automatic. My daily driver Ford truck is an automatic; I would have preferred that to be a stick too, but when you trade a $100 Neon for something, it's hard to be too picky....

Importsmasher