Manual Trannys

james schaechter · 04-13-2013, 07:26 AM

I agree. They are fun, the clutches and transmission choices are flat out good!
Too many think back to what was around 30 years ago.
The trick auto stuff will set you back plenty of cash too. Plus you don't have to go through torque convertor hell testing and sending them back in etc.

The best part is listening to some of the automatic guys that swear that they need an autoshift since their car is too badass to move the shifter one inch!

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=JbdziClJLjU

Troy Henderson's sister Trista racing her Nova in A Stick.

04-13-2013, 08:02 AM

I'll weigh in on this.
I ran a G stocker with an auto trans on and off for 10 years. I now have a D car with a manual Trans

The Pros
The cool factor of racing one of these cars

You can adjust your light from real red -.050 to as late as you want with the clutch setup. It's all in the adjustments.

You can take power away from the track with a clutch adjustment. Also when a stick car spins it usually dosen't mean the end of the run. When you are on a bad track with the auto it's bend over and hope for the best.

The transmissions are more durable, and if you buy one you can buy either a Gforce or a Jerico and they will run about the same, different gears to make it how you want. Running an auto, If you don't buy a Pro Trans for a Ford or Mopar and at least a very good metric for a GM you will be pissing up a rope when you have to run a car that does. Or leave .13 on the table. If you car spins the tires with one of the mentioned transmissions above it will beat up and eventually destroy the low roller clutch.

The last thing is the clutch. I started running my car in 2011, and when I made mistakes with a clutch and drove through it a few times. I could take it out, sand it, and make the next run no matter what. When you break a converter, you better have a spare or 2, and hope they work.

The Cons

It's much more labor intensive to get one of these cars set up.

If you are a white collar, golf hat wearing drag racer that doesn't work on your own car it is tough to race one of these without being able to fix it yourself.

When bracket racing these they present their own challenges. Clutch heat changes your RT quite a bit.

I think it is harder on an engine with a manual trans than an auto.

Finally, the suspension
With an Auto you can get away with autozone parts in the car and it should go down the track.
With the manual Trans car, you better have good pieces or the car will be tough to drive or get to work.

I've enjoyed my experience racing the stickshift car, and look forward continuing to do so.

Dwight Southerland · 04-13-2013, 09:02 AM

Other Pros:
1. When your friends ask you to help change their converter, you can say "I don't know how." (Right, Woodro?)
2. You never smell like ATF or have red t-shirts.
3. No stupid "warm up the converter" rituals.
4. No more having to workout in the gym to get your arms in shape.
5. What does "percentage of slippage" mean?
6. You learn without a doubt who makes the best driveline parts.
7. Clutches are adjustable between rounds; converters are not.
8. You never have to worry about mistakenly putting the trans into reverse after you cross the finish line. (Push in the clutch!)
9. What's a "Park"?
10. You can change the transmission without a floorjack or someone to help you pick it up.
11. If you start losing mph, you know you can't blame the converter.
12. You can drive their car but they can't drive yours.
13. There's always something to do while going down the track.
14. You perfect the "driving a race car with one hand" skill or your life as a racer is really short.
15. Changing first gear ratios is easier and cheaper.
16. The stick racer community is "instant friends".
17. You don't have to worry about throttle response or bog on the starting line, just crank it up a few more RPMs.
18. You can intimidate the hell out of your opponent in the other lane; there's nothing like the sound of a big block at a sustained 7000 rpm to scare the hell out of somebody who is not used to it.
19. The sensation of engaging the clutch at 8 grand on 14x32s is a cosmic experience.
20. Fewer heads-up races.

A Con:
1. You learn without a doubt who makes the best driveline parts.

Run to Rund · 04-13-2013, 09:54 AM

Living through the "old days" I remember when almost all the cars were 4 speeds, and that doesn't mean overdrive automatics. To me, racing is a 4 speed. An automatic would seem like sitting on your couch watching youtube.

442OLDS · 04-14-2013, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Run to Rund

To me, racing is a 4 speed. An automatic would seem like sitting on your couch watching youtube.

Not everyone that races an "automatic" has it shift "automatically".

Yes,there is no clutch pedal involved when making the shift,but how many 4 speed drivers use the clutch to make the shift?

Run to Rund · 04-14-2013, 10:17 AM

I use the clutch!

SuperStockDodge · 04-16-2013, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 442OLDS

Not everyone that races an "automatic" has it shift "automatically".

Yes,there is no clutch pedal involved when making the shift,but how many 4 speed drivers use the clutch to make the shift?

I use the clutch in the gear changes...

Don't you know your 10 Commandments?

"Though shall not shift without clutch engagement"

joespanova · 04-19-2013, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperStockDodge

I use the clutch in the gear changes...

Don't you know your 10 Commandments?

"Though shall not shift without clutch engagement"

True , very true........clutchless trannys make everybody look exceptional , dont they?

04-13-2013, 07:26 AM	#1
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,994 Likes: 1,299 Liked 1,440 Times in 301 Posts	Re: Manual Trannys I agree. They are fun, the clutches and transmission choices are flat out good! Too many think back to what was around 30 years ago. The trick auto stuff will set you back plenty of cash too. Plus you don't have to go through torque convertor hell testing and sending them back in etc. The best part is listening to some of the automatic guys that swear that they need an autoshift since their car is too badass to move the shifter one inch! http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=JbdziClJLjU Troy Henderson's sister Trista racing her Nova in A Stick. __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK Last edited by james schaechter; 04-13-2013 at 07:29 AM.

04-13-2013, 08:02 AM	#2
Todd Hoven Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Manual Trannys I'll weigh in on this. I ran a G stocker with an auto trans on and off for 10 years. I now have a D car with a manual Trans The Pros The cool factor of racing one of these cars You can adjust your light from real red -.050 to as late as you want with the clutch setup. It's all in the adjustments. You can take power away from the track with a clutch adjustment. Also when a stick car spins it usually dosen't mean the end of the run. When you are on a bad track with the auto it's bend over and hope for the best. The transmissions are more durable, and if you buy one you can buy either a Gforce or a Jerico and they will run about the same, different gears to make it how you want. Running an auto, If you don't buy a Pro Trans for a Ford or Mopar and at least a very good metric for a GM you will be pissing up a rope when you have to run a car that does. Or leave .13 on the table. If you car spins the tires with one of the mentioned transmissions above it will beat up and eventually destroy the low roller clutch. The last thing is the clutch. I started running my car in 2011, and when I made mistakes with a clutch and drove through it a few times. I could take it out, sand it, and make the next run no matter what. When you break a converter, you better have a spare or 2, and hope they work. The Cons It's much more labor intensive to get one of these cars set up. If you are a white collar, golf hat wearing drag racer that doesn't work on your own car it is tough to race one of these without being able to fix it yourself. When bracket racing these they present their own challenges. Clutch heat changes your RT quite a bit. I think it is harder on an engine with a manual trans than an auto. Finally, the suspension With an Auto you can get away with autozone parts in the car and it should go down the track. With the manual Trans car, you better have good pieces or the car will be tough to drive or get to work. I've enjoyed my experience racing the stickshift car, and look forward continuing to do so. Last edited by Todd Hoven; 04-13-2013 at 08:32 AM.

04-13-2013, 09:02 AM	#3
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 2,002 Likes: 64 Liked 783 Times in 195 Posts	Re: Manual Trannys Other Pros: 1. When your friends ask you to help change their converter, you can say "I don't know how." (Right, Woodro?) 2. You never smell like ATF or have red t-shirts. 3. No stupid "warm up the converter" rituals. 4. No more having to workout in the gym to get your arms in shape. 5. What does "percentage of slippage" mean? 6. You learn without a doubt who makes the best driveline parts. 7. Clutches are adjustable between rounds; converters are not. 8. You never have to worry about mistakenly putting the trans into reverse after you cross the finish line. (Push in the clutch!) 9. What's a "Park"? 10. You can change the transmission without a floorjack or someone to help you pick it up. 11. If you start losing mph, you know you can't blame the converter. 12. You can drive their car but they can't drive yours. 13. There's always something to do while going down the track. 14. You perfect the "driving a race car with one hand" skill or your life as a racer is really short. 15. Changing first gear ratios is easier and cheaper. 16. The stick racer community is "instant friends". 17. You don't have to worry about throttle response or bog on the starting line, just crank it up a few more RPMs. 18. You can intimidate the hell out of your opponent in the other lane; there's nothing like the sound of a big block at a sustained 7000 rpm to scare the hell out of somebody who is not used to it. 19. The sensation of engaging the clutch at 8 grand on 14x32s is a cosmic experience. 20. Fewer heads-up races. A Con: 1. You learn without a doubt who makes the best driveline parts. Last edited by Dwight Southerland; 04-13-2013 at 09:10 AM. Reason: Adding stuff.

04-13-2013, 09:54 AM	#4
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 585 Likes: 9 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Manual Trannys Living through the "old days" I remember when almost all the cars were 4 speeds, and that doesn't mean overdrive automatics. To me, racing is a 4 speed. An automatic would seem like sitting on your couch watching youtube.

04-14-2013, 10:17 AM	#6
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 585 Likes: 9 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Manual Trannys I use the clutch!