Update, Auto vs. Standard

Hey folks, been a few weeks since i really posted anything so I'll give a short update and present my current dilemna.

Update: Got my 4bolt 400 in today, all in and done it cost me $435 dollars for bore, deck, dip, brass plugs, cam bearings, and a black paint job. The spinning assembly is off to get balanced sometime this week. The heads should be going to the machine shop next week. ETA on the install of the motor should be around the first of August.

Now my dilemna. I have a good stout th350 that I built for this El camino right before I brought it home that I could run with. But for some reason I have the hankerin for a 4 speed. This is really just going to be a street car with SOME track time. (Every few weeks I might make a few passes just to show it off) Now that being said, I'm looking for more of a POLL type answer I guess. TH350 or Super T-10 OR Other, if you answer, please say why you chose this :)

My goal for this car is to have a good strong running 377 SBC, for it to be fun to drive, comfortable to ride in, but at the same time, really get up and haul some...well you get my point.

My personal thoughts on it are this: The car is currently an automatic car so I would have to convert it for a clutch. However, the floor does need to be replaced so this would be a great opportunity to convert it. The bench getting booted for a pair of buckets to make room for a floor shifter whether it be for standard or auto. Since this will be a driver, the extra gear from a 4 speed would really help it's economy. Also, I've always wanted a mean, loud, gnarly vehicle with a standard in it. Don't know if this matters but I will eventually put a small shot (50-100) of nitrous on it.

Also, I've always wanted a mean, loud, gnarly vehicle with a standard in it.


I think you've answered your own question...........if you always wanted one, go with the 4 speed. My vote is for the stick, for just that reason. It is fun going through the gears and listening to the pipes.


Don

To my knowledge 400sbc's and 454 bbc's are externally balanced and all 400sbc's came with automatics. If you run a standard tranny behind a 400sbc you will need a 454 bbc flywheel.

nah, the only thing I'm using from the 400 is the bore. It's a 377, which means that its a 400 block and pistons and a 3.5" stroke crankshaft. So it uses a SBC350 balancer and flywheel. I destroked the 400 into its high reving short stroked counterpart.

Maybe, I missed something, but the fourth gear is not an overdrive.

I understand that 4th gear isn't an overdrive, but 4 gears is still better than 3. Or maybe there's something that I'm missing. Also was looking at the t-5.

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Originally Posted by MI2600

Maybe, I missed something, but the fourth gear is not an overdrive.

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What I think he means is that 4 gears are better than 3.

Use the 5-speed(or maybe even a close-ratio 6-speed??), ittl save on gas and is better with any nitrous. With the automatic, the second the juice kicks, the torque converter is gonna slip a little, and slip alot when just driving it which wastes gas, which a good clutch wont do. Plus the stick's alot more fun to drive and quite the theft deterrent. Well, in my area anyways.

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Originally Posted by Hopper111

I understand that 4th gear isn't an overdrive, but 4 gears is still better than 3. Or maybe there's something that I'm missing. Also was looking at the t-5.

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in a 4 speed or 3 speed hi grear is 1:1 ratio. you get a better bottom end with the 4 speed. **)

some 4spd's are an overdrive tranny. the Granada/ Monarch 4spd has 3rd as a 1.1 ratio and 4th gear is an overdrive, that's what I'v been told anyway. no GM 4spd I know if is an overdrive.

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Originally Posted by Matt167

some 4spd's are an overdrive tranny. the Granada/ Monarch 4spd has 3rd as a 1.1 ratio and 4th gear is an overdrive, that's what I'v been told anyway. no GM 4spd I know if is an overdrive.

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the way i see that matt is, what ever the 1:1 gear is, when thats that the trans is. if 3rd gear is 1:1 and there is another gear then thats a 3 speed with overdrive. if 1:1 is 4th gear with another gear then its a 4 speed with overdrive, :confused: maybe that started back when you had to pull a cable to get overdrive. :eek: :LOL:

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Originally Posted by lt1s10

the way i see that matt is, what ever the 1:1 gear is, when thats that the trans is. if 3rd gear is 1:1 and there is another gear then thats a 3 speed with overdrive. if 1:1 is 4th gear with another gear then its a 4 speed with overdrive, :confused: maybe that started back when you had to pull a cable to get overdrive. :eek: :LOL:

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that's the way I see it to. same as if a trans has a granny first, if it's so low you start in 2nd, then it's a 3 spd low not a 4spd. granite, with the granada/ monarch 4spd you could still pound through all 4 gears if you wanted, they are a light duty top loader a lot of the insides will swap between the true toploader 4spd.:)

When I drive a standard after I while I want an auto, and when I drive the auto after a while I want a standard.

So I am anxious to try out the full manual auto in my deuce one of these days ..... :whacked:

Kitz

Ok, I've done some looking and to do this it will be rather expensive. However, this being my "toy" or "friday night special", I'm not in a big hurry to get it done so I can take my time and save my money.

I would like the 6 speed but it is so expensive. What I want is a cruiser with a lot of umph. The t-5 looks like it could be a good path. The super t-10 looks to be the cheapest route.

Anyone with some experience with these transmissions that could cough up some thoughts of how they perform, maybe some power ratings, ect. Thanks!

well the regular T10's are pretty weak as is most of the muncie's. the Richmond T10 is supposto be upgraded for more power and would likely be the best 4spd.