Clutch switch

[Dinsdale]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

It's not that bad Ed, once you get used to it..You just use a little finesse..
I haven't started a stick shift race car in gear ,in about 40 years..
Once you have thrust bearing issues , you won't either.

I've never had a thrust bearing problem in the 40+ years I've had my car. Not saying it can't happen just I haven't seen it. I never trust the fact the trans is actually in neutral even if I put it there so I'll continue to start the car with my clutch pedal down. Maybe that's because of the freezer in my parent's garage I drove into as a kid!

[Ed Wright]

I never had a thrust bearing problem either. No soft clutches back then either. Always started them in gear, clutch down. Maybe I was just lucky?

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

Me neither, Ed... that's why I take my time putting the transmission into gear.

About this thrust bearing concern...
The only time I ever saw a thrust bearing worn for no apparent reason, was a factory 454 in front of a TH400. I've been told that these transmissions have a somewhat high internal pressure, particularily in reverse... causing the converter to push forward with substantial force.
I dunno
that's as close as I'll get to an automatic