4 on the floor or console auto?

Keep it auto or swap to stick?

  • Rebuild the auto (904), sell the 4speed

    Votes: 20 16.1%

  • Swap to the 4speed

    Votes: 80 64.5%

  • rebuild the auto and keep the 4speed to have a choice

    Votes: 24 19.4%
  • Total voters
    124
-
65_valiant

65_valiant

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
399
Reaction score
14
Location
Wichita
4 on The floor or console auto, sorry I butcherd the title....

I have everything to swap my valiant over to a 4 speed except the trans hump and pedal assy. The manual came from a 64 cuda V8, if that really even matters.

Other than the "fun factor" would you guys go thru the trouble of swapping to the 4 speed? The trans in it needs rebuilt so either way i'm looking at dropping some coin into either project.

I've been kicking the idea around of selling the trans and everything to go along with it, but It could be pretty cool to have a 4 speed signet too. Choices...:burnout:
 
both have there benifits and there draw backs auto put it in gear drive it, stick you have push in the clutch and shift the gears. you can rebuild the automatic to shift like a stick when you are in to it and when you are just crusing well no thought just go. it is not that hard to rebuild an auto, look on you tube there is lots of videos and get a manual for it
 
If itr didnt cost too much- Id trade you a 727 and some $$ for the 4 speed and stuff
 
I don't know why you're askin' us it's YOUR car and YOU have to drive it. If I had the legs I'd have a 4 speed/ OD/ etc/ stick.

dnyh37.gif


But I don't----

so now I have a manual shift A-727 and JUST LOVE IT
 
4 speed cars are soooo much more fun to drive - my vote is 4 speed unless it is an all out race car. Why not 4 speed & console?
 

Attachments

  • 4 spd installed 009.jpg
    85.4 KB · Views: 522
  • IMG_1984.jpg
    81.3 KB · Views: 550
I have had A four speed for over 30 years and as you know a good one is ...well nothing like it, but its a love hate relation ship and if you want low maintenance stick with a auto .but if ripen throw a box is to you what it is to me dump the clutch and get some!!
 
i like the automatic.. the wife loves the car.. but if if were a 4sp... nah, she would not drive it.. and probably complain about a car she cant drive.. so..... we all know... when mommas happy everyones happy. lol
 
I've always been a 4 speed guy, so take a wild guess what i chose!
Not a big fan of console automatics in A Bodies either.......
 
Last manual trans vehicle I owned was a Chevy p\u. About a year after buying it discs in my lower back failed. Under the knife 3 times in 15 months.
While I knew the clutch pedal wasn't the cause, I knew I couldn't keep it.
So for the young and healthy, getting caught in crawling traffic and working the clutch pedal for a long period wouldn't be a big deal. It is a big deal to many others. The number of potential future owners is reduced by a large percentage.
I have to add that the hydrolic clutch in that chevy truck was a heck of a lot easier to operate than the spring loaded mechanism found in the classics.
Even with the automatic in my 67, lack of a cup holder is a issue.
I'm considering going back to column shift to expand my console options.
If this reads like I'm getting old... who isn't ?
 
I just changed mine from the column to a Hurst Pro Matic ratchet and really like it.
The car went through a few big changes as of late to bucket seats, floor shifted auto, and a real nice "cup holder" screwed down right behind the shifter so it doesn't move.

It's my daily driver and I am all over a four town area almost daily with it as part of my job.
I had a five speed stick vehicle for 12 years before this, so the auto is kinda nice.
 

Attachments

  • 1.jpg
    128.3 KB · Views: 443
rlevs said:
both have there benifits and there draw backs auto put it in gear drive it, stick you have push in the clutch and shift the gears. you can rebuild the automatic to shift like a stick when you are in to it and when you are just crusing well no thought just go. it is not that hard to rebuild an auto, look on you tube there is lots of videos and get a manual for it
Click to expand...

What? This is the first I've heard of this. Details?
 
Sully1190 said:
What? This is the first I've heard of this. Details?
Click to expand...

I have always wished I could put a converter between the crank and the flywheel.
You would still have a clutch pedal, but you could stop in gear or take off without using it.
You would however still use the clutch to shift, and to disengage or re engage the trans at RPM's.

Think about what that would mean about how you drive the car.
 
My 65 is an auto, I want it as a 4spd. I have a 904 with a stage 3 and full manual valve body!! And it still isn't fun enough. When I get it back on the road it WILL have a 4 spd. I vote 4spd!!!
 
Well, what gears are you running in your car, what height tire, what is the car for?

If you have a 64 4 speed does it have the trunion tail shaft or the slip yoke and what is the part number of the trans so we can get the actual gear ratios?

Considering your rear end ratio, purpose for the car and the gear ratios of the transmission and your engine build (purpose of car) will help answer your question.

How about answering those questions and then you will have your answer on whether to switch. Personally if I were running a small block I would most likely go wide ratio 4 speed with 2.94 or 3.23 rear ratio and 26" rear tires (if it were a street car that needed to have a reasonable cruise rpm and lots of fun).

For example, if you have a 64 4 speed trans with the fixed tail shaft it likely has a 3.09 first gear which allows a higher / taller rear gear ratio which will allow for quick take offs and still allow for low rpm cruise speeds.
 
71cuda1990 said:
That console looks awesome!!! 4 speed all the way. The driving experiance is so much more rewarding imo.
Click to expand...

Hey, thanks - started as a 225 auto bench seat car, I converted it to 408/4 spd/console & buckets. I sold the car a few years ago.

Hey trailbeast, your dart looks like one I had....bought it out of boise, I sold it too as we were building a new house...
 

Attachments

  • 72swinger2.jpg
    94.3 KB · Views: 363
Rice Nuker said:
Well, what gears are you running in your car, what height tire, what is the car for?

If you have a 64 4 speed does it have the trunion tail shaft or the slip yoke and what is the part number of the trans so we can get the actual gear ratios?

Considering your rear end ratio, purpose for the car and the gear ratios of the transmission and your engine build (purpose of car) will help answer your question.

How about answering those questions and then you will have your answer on whether to switch. Personally if I were running a small block I would most likely go wide ratio 4 speed with 2.94 or 3.23 rear ratio and 26" rear tires (if it were a street car that needed to have a reasonable cruise rpm and lots of fun).

For example, if you have a 64 4 speed trans with the fixed tail shaft it likely has a 3.09 first gear which allows a higher / taller rear gear ratio which will allow for quick take offs and still allow for low rpm cruise speeds.
Click to expand...

The car will be a street car, not driven daily or really more than 60 miles on the hiways at a time, and only two or three times a month at absolute most.

The gearing and tire sizes are still undecided, I don't even have the car to my house yet. So options are open there. Plans are spring relocation to frame rails, mini tub for a fatter tire/wheel combo. I was kind of hoping that a 3.91 gear would be a good one to go with. If I remeber correctly, the trans is the type that the drive shaft bolts to.
The engine is a 318, .030 over, stock heads and cam is currently just an rv cam, but will be swapped with something more aggresive without being an all out race cam.

I think all I need for the swap is the pedals and trans hump. I have the cross member, z bar and ball studs for the frame side and trans side, pressure plate that probably needs turned, and I have a stock 4 speed drive shaft. Have I missed anything?
 
Honestly, unless all you ever do is in town driving, in my opinion 3.91 is too low. I personally would not go any lower than a 3.55. You have the older style of 4 speed, and it requires the ball and trunnion rear joint, as it has a flange at the front and not a slip joint. The ball and trunnion allows for shortening and lengthening of the driveshaft as the suspension loads and unloads. Is your car a '65? If so it should have a slip yoke at the trans and a conventional u joint at the differential. What this means is that with the flange style output on the 4 speed you will need the corresponding driveshaft and differential flange. Perhaps a slip yoke style transmission is the way to go, which brings me to my next point. Someone else mentioned using one of the wide ratio 4 speeds and I totally agree. I like having a low first, and a nice range of gear ratios. Another option is to get one of the overdrive four speeds that came into production around '74. Most of them are in aluminum cases, and they are essentially the same as the old 4 speed, except that 3rd gear is a 1:1 ratio, and 4th is an overdrive......allowing you to run a low rear end ratio, have great off the line performance, and still have a decent cruise. These were produced in both A body (short) and B/C/Truck & van body(long) lengths. They are generally not as sought after, and therefore cheaper than the old cast iron 4 speeds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top