auto vs. 4spd, the age old question

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magnumdust

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So i'm having a car build dilemma. Up until this last I was going to convert my car to a 4spd. I even have a 4spd/bellhousing/hurst shifter and the car originally wasnt going to be any type of drag car. Just a fun weekend race car.

Now comes the problem, I had the car out at the local mopar show and it ran incredibly consistent when launched correctly. Down to the 0.00x realm of consistent

So now i'm wondering if i should just keep the auto if the car is able to be consistent at the track and just live with the boring auto on autox days?
 
I wish I had a four speed in my duster, I think it would be funner racing with a four speed to. I think it's funner to watch the four speed cars to.
 
magnumdust said:
So i'm having a car build dilemma. Up until this last I was going to convert my car to a 4spd. I even have a 4spd/bellhousing/hurst shifter and the car originally wasnt going to be any type of drag car. Just a fun weekend race car.

Now comes the problem, I had the car out at the local mopar show and it ran incredibly consistent when launched correctly. Down to the 0.00x realm of consistent

So now i'm wondering if i should just keep the auto if the car is able to be consistent at the track and just live with the boring auto on autox days?
Click to expand...

Which do you do more of track or auto x?
That being said you can always manually shift the auto into each gear
 
for me, its a question of old age..i used to love bangin da gears.. but nowadays, the knees really rather drive an auto..
 
It all depends on what you like to do the most. If the car is mostly street and you love shifting gears, do the manual. If you like being consistent and winning bracket races and you do a lot of racing....keep the automatic.

I have the same dilemma, so my solution was getting one of each. LOL. My Duster is a great bracket car (auto) but pretty boring on the street. My Dart is a 4-speed and a lousy racecar. I keep it on street tires to make it easier on parts (manuals break stuff on the track) and that makes it even less consistent as it is very hard to hook up. But it is a HOOT on the street.
 
With these nice high stall converters today any auto can be fun on the street. Besides my left foot is always resting lightly on the brake pedal, I can start to brake before my right foot is completely off the gas.
 
when people see a car with a 4 speed , most envision themselves as Ronnie Sox...I have a 4 speed Demon and can still bang the gears well at 61, BUT if You want the best times on the track...automatic will beat a 4 speed most times out of 10. If You want the oooh's and aaah's....4 speed is the way. AND I agree with the "valve body" issue....You can manually shift an automatic and have alot of fun that way also. And for re-sale...alot of people pass on a 4 speed because of the "significant other"
 
My Duster had a 4-speed for the first four year's I've had it and it was a blast. So much so, I think my aggressive shifting habits finally scorched the syncros. My goal for this car has always been to get it to the track just for fun to see what it would do, and it came close this year. Now I'm putting an auto in it, for the track consistency angle.

I'm still not sure there's much more driving fun to be had than with a four speed behind a healthy V8 in one of these a-bods, tho. :burnout:
 
Dare to be different. Put a Lenco in it.

I had a Lenco in my Fairlane. Jumped out of it in the Valet lane at the Hilton, grabbed the ticket & ran inside to watch. They looked for a minute, then pushed it off to the side & left it there. No waiting for my car. It was 50 feet from where I got out of it.

B.
 
I have a lot of fun with my 4 speed on the street. Been to the track with it a few times and my times are all over the place But still have a fun time. Just need more practice making passes. I got another car I am working on thats going to be a drag only car that I am putting an auto in.
 
I would probably refer to a Lenco as a "manumatic."

WEB_Pg_6_ST1200_complete.jpg
 
now I understand we are talking about adding one of these! :burnout:


it's semi auto right? LOL
 

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Here listen to this: [/U][ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYR4wGk2oj4"]2010 -Thompson Raceway Park - Gasser Nationals - Gene Schwartz '52 Chevy - YouTube[/ame]
If that does't give you a cool-aid smile then throw an automatic in it.
 
I just made the plunge. Getting parts together to make the swap to 4 speed. Can't wait. Switched build Ideas from 408 727 full manual valve body. To high winding 340 4 speed. Reason for the change
This is my local engine builder
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273 9000 rpm monster
 
I have driven autos and manuals. No auto has ever been as fun as a manual. even the sloppiest of manuals is worlds more fun than an auto. I have an auto at the moment and even shifting on the column at 6000 rpm is boring as hell. This winter the 4 speed is going in. I am tired of this boring automatic. well yeah maybe its more consistent at the track but ill never be racing for any substantial amount of money so its all about fun! I don't ever want to own an automatic ever again.

When I get old if the government still lets me own a muscle car that wastes gas ill go with a hydraulic clutch to save my old knees. but for now I have youth on my side!:cheers:
 
ok "twist my arm" lol.

I guess i could always just learn to be more consistent with my driving in a stick. I've done pretty well in brackets with my stick DD. It just kinda confused when the car was consistent down to the thousandth's of a second.
 
From an engineering standpoint, wouldn't the extra gear in a four-speed allow your engine to stay closer to your ideal power band than would a three-speed automatic (or manual) trans? I am thinking of RPM drop when shifting and engaging the next higher gear. Is it correct to assume that an engine with higher torque would be less affected by the RPM drop?
 
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