Real simple here. Would my car be more fun to drive with a 5-spd Tremec or my current 904 with a GV setup? Which would be a better investment, the automatic, or 5-spd? Originality is NOT an issue here. Nothing original about my Charger SE mild small block car. Will the 5-spd give me more power than the auto w/GV? I know they are both strong setups but I'm beginning to think that my car's potential will always be limited in front of the 904 tranny? My Charger is a driver, and I want to drive it alot and have fun while driving it, including to start taking it on a couple of 2-3 hour trips each year. The GV has a .78 overdrive and the Tremec that I'm eyeballing right now is the TKO-600 with the .64 overdrive. The car will keep it's current 3.91 SG's. Which would you choose for fun, if you could afford either one? Thanks

My opinion is a manual is always more fun to drive. As for faster, I guess that's what you mean. Automatics are human error free for the most part.
You are not going to miss a gear with an auto, and you dont have the slight time lapse - power loss shifting. You can rev up a manual and dump the clutch without doing a neutral drop like in an automatic.

It's all a matter or preference.

autos are quicker and more cosistant in the 1/4 mile only.
manuals require less stuff and maintnence and are much more efficent on hills and turns.
autos are easier to install if the car was originally an auto.
I built an auto car,if i did it again it would be a manual.

Replaced the 727 in my dart with a TKO-600 ,5-speed(.64 fifth). It was pricey but it's a blast to drive. Mike

Trick question. Stick is more fun, Auto is faster.

The thing about this age-old debate is that in almost all cases, low-powered cars are faster in stick form due to parasitic losses of the automatic. High powered cars can afford these losses (the rear tires/suspension usually become the limiting factor)

The big Q to answer is this.... does your mild small block have the cajones to pull that big Charger with a .64 OD ?

My opinion based post........

Manual is more fun
Manual is usually a bit faster (if it's an 833 trans that is) but NOT if it's a Kielser! They don't shift as Fast/Smooth as an 833.
Manual will get you better milage

Automatic is more consistant
Automatic is generally lower maintainance

If I were in your shoes I'd buy the Gear vendor unit regardless of if you run a 727 auto or an 833 4 speed if over drive is your goal, also look into Jamie Passons 4 speed OD unit, price is competitive and bullit proof..

MAN...
obviously some of you dudes never drove a manual valvebody trans car before.

Back in the day the 4 speed was deemed faster and rated according to NHRA as such. At that time there were numerous drivers out there both pro and non pro that new how to bang gears keeping the right to the floor and bearly touching the clutch pedal. don't see all that many now. They are there but in the numbers there were back then. Also the autos of the day were not quite as quick shifting as there were not the kits and valve bodies available then as now.

I agree with Scott - I run a "standard" Jamie Passon stick in a BB A body and love it. I had the same choice in front of me when I re-did the car between 02 and 05. Put the stick in and never looked back. Much like six flags, more gears = more fun!
John
72440Demon

Musclecars should have clutches and big, burly shifters. Automatics are for gir...oops, here comes my wife, gotta go.

Quote:

---

As you get older the more shiftless you get. I used to like it and knew how and could bang gears too but not no more.

---

I'm 45, how old do I have to be to get tired of shifting? I'll answer for you, It would be after I'm dead!

I've driven just about every kind of automatic combo out there (manual valve body, reverse manual valve body, SS/DA car with 5,500 stall converters, heck even drove a clutch-flite a few times, remember those?), some are more fun than others and all are easier to drive than a stick, but none have come close to the fun factor a manual offers, not for me anyway.

Stick is always going to be more fun. Especially an 833

4 speed will always be more fun

Manual all the way. Would not even consider owning an automatic unless I was hurt or had bad knees and couldn't work the clutch and shifter. To date I have never owned any type of vehicle with an automatic, hot-rod or otherwise.

If you go with something with a quick first gear I think you'll like it better. Alot of the advantage of newer cars is the gearing that they get away with because of 5th and 6th speed overdrive. First gear is in the mid 3s:1 and differential is often in the mid to high 4s in these little engined sports cars. You dont need that much torque when youve got all that mechanical advantage on your side.

You think a 225 hp 300 ft lb of torque 302 would have propelled a late 60s Mustang to mid 14s like the 5.0s of the 80s?

3.35 first gear helps those cars alot.