Thread: Automatic or Manual

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Have a 5 speed Doug Nash Manual Trans on hand....Ran it in My 57 Chev
with a 383 stroker and was fun to drive....Have since converted to a 400
turbo trans and a 600 hp bb Chev mtr...I do not race this car but do miss
the gear changing....I also am aware of the clutch hassle involved with
a big camed engine. The Doug Nash is geared for racing, but i only go
on short runs..Car has a 4.72 rear gear....I was thinking that with this
sit up the car would launch quicker....Just thought I would ask for different
opinions from you guys....Thanks R Dobbs

If you're not racing it, why would you want a quicker launch in the first place?? I would think that the torque multiplication afforded by a converter would work better than wingin' the motor and side-steppin' the clutch with less shock to the tires, but what do I know?

Too old for gear jammin anymore. I'd keep the 400 less stress on the drive line but that's me...Dennis

Still love playing with the gears, and the newer 5/6 spds with good OD gearing are nice for the highway. I'd run the Doug Nash, but that's just me.

If you got deep pockets you can have it both ways. Run a manual valve body in the 400 and a Gear Vendors overdrive and you'll have yourself a 6 speed automanual transmission.

Kitz

OR, you could just do what suits you!!

What we all think is what we would do, but the guy who has the right answer is the guy who's gonna be driving the car. Go for it!! Do what makes YOU happy!!

And, have fun

I still love bangin' them gears!!!! People have told me for years that I can't be competitive bracket racing or Super Class racing with a 5 speed, but I guess I've won my share and lost my share. I run them cuz when I started racing (street and track) if you didn't have a 4 speed you must be running your Mama's car cuz all the race cars had 4 speeds!!! I know the automatics are much better now then they were way back in the 60's----but I guess I just never grew up!!!!!! IMO, keep that Nash in the car, and enjoy the heck out of it!!!!!

i think you should sell me the nash because i really need one really think about it what do you want, to shift alot ot just put it in drive and have fun?

I have a Doug Nash in my roadster, and it is a lot of fun to row the gears, and with no top you can wind it to that perfect rpm before you shift.

3 Pedals

Thanks for all your inputs......I have decided to convert back over
to the doug nash 5 spd, with 11inch clutch, and 168 tooth alum/
fly wheel....I bought the doug nash new, and it has maybe 10 miles
on it....I am old school, started with a 4 spd and just like those gears,
especially with that hurst shifter...Only problem will be idling along slowly
having to clutch it. 600 plus hp and up to 800 hp with the nitrous..
sounds like fun to me..If it blows, so be it....Sounds like I have a
practially new 400 auto turbo with reverse valve body, and hurst
shifter for sale, plus a heavey duty flex plate, and 4000 stall converter
for sale now......r dobbs

I'm biased.
I love sticks (and hate autos) in Hot Rods + run a Richmond 5 spd. myself.
Run the Nash...IMO.

There ya go, Mr. Dobbs!!!! May they never call you "shiftless"!!!!

Having the diesel with a 5 spd and 4.10 gears gives me all the gear changing I like. Makes it more interesting however being a heavy coffee drinker. I can shift, grab a swig, shift again and grab a quick hot one, answer the cell phone with the left hand, steer with the knees, shift again have another taste and barely be across the intersection of a busy street.

I'm looking at a lap top too so I can stay up to date here. I could just put it on the middle of the front seat that way I take a look at the forums while I'm driving.

Now the Willys has a turbo 350 so I can just leave it in drive. It's fun to drive and I don't want to miss a second of the enjoyment. haha Certainly not boring.

Here's my take on this. my 46 Ford came with a turbo 350. It worked just great, was very streetable and trouble free. It really took all of the work out of the shifting deal and was a pleasure to drive and really never needed any work. A good street transmission.

But with that said something was missing. I didn't have a 5 speed but I did have a couple of BW 4 speeds and I'm old school anyway. The conversion was not fun, the biggest head ache was getting the automatic out of that Fat Fendered Fords X frame. The clutch linkage took some doing and it cost an arm and a leg. I even bought a 2 post lift becuase I got real tired of laying on that cold concrete.

Finally got it done and went for the first test ride. WOW it was just the ticket and made all of the difference in the world. I don't believe you will ever be sorry for making this change. Maybe these guys are right--- Real Hot Rods do have three pedals.

RS