Is it worth staying stick for drag?
I am in the same boat, the car would be more consistent, more reliable, and more fun with a 350/400 but I'm stuck on my T56. I think I'm gonna go through it one more time and race it next season then switch.
Car has gone a best of 6.19 in 1/8th 9.63 in 1/4 and a best of 1.30 60'
Car has gone a best of 6.19 in 1/8th 9.63 in 1/4 and a best of 1.30 60'
9 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
I hated to give up the t-56, but after shredding it on the third run after having it upgraded, I just gave up. High 10, low 11 sec. car. It had viper shaft, cryo. treatment., faceplating, etc. Also took out a new drive shaft, DS loop, yoke, fuel line and cracked the block at the starter mount. I am going T400 RMVB from Coan. The T-56 is a great street trans., but I just cant justify the cost of racing with it. I should have some parts for sale soon. Street Twin, McLoud Lt-1 bell housing etc. What ever you decide, good luck!
If you want to stay with a stick shift, You need to look at a gforce or liberty transmission, and as soon as you see the cost on a liberty you will be goign right for the auto.
Honestly... you're already felt the wrath of trying to race a T56 car. They break, it's not a matter of when, it's how often. You put a Th400 in the car now, you will never look back. You'll be good to the bottom 9 second zone before you start seeing any issues with a th400.
I'd do it now, sell all the T56 stuff to finance the project and call it a day.
Put a set of 4.10-3.73 gears in with the auto too, you don't need to rely on rear end ratio as much to get the car out of the hole, converters do that for you
Honestly... you're already felt the wrath of trying to race a T56 car. They break, it's not a matter of when, it's how often. You put a Th400 in the car now, you will never look back. You'll be good to the bottom 9 second zone before you start seeing any issues with a th400.
I'd do it now, sell all the T56 stuff to finance the project and call it a day.
Put a set of 4.10-3.73 gears in with the auto too, you don't need to rely on rear end ratio as much to get the car out of the hole, converters do that for you
o.k., I'll put it another way. If you want to work on your car, leave the stick in it. If you want to leave it alone all season long, put an auto in it.
Sure you can be consistant with a stick but the clutch maintenance is a pita, and you're not putting a 100 passes on a stick car without addressing that clutch, meaning having the tranny out of the car, and replacing parts.
Sure you can be consistant with a stick but the clutch maintenance is a pita, and you're not putting a 100 passes on a stick car without addressing that clutch, meaning having the tranny out of the car, and replacing parts.
JL makes a extremely valid point. Especially for those who live near a track and frequently race, or heck just go to 5-6 events a year. Most times you have a min of 3-4 passes and maybe more and at that point your putting wear and tear on the parts and those that need matience, thats a sticking point with most people.
Hell, there are motor out there so big that simply have a drivetrain that is so harsh that a valve spring's life is determined by time and what RPM it sees, no passes NOR milage.
Hell, there are motor out there so big that simply have a drivetrain that is so harsh that a valve spring's life is determined by time and what RPM it sees, no passes NOR milage.
this is how going to auto work out for me
i love a good T56 but at some point having a T56 just turns into more work than fun (IE:turbocar). i have way more fun in my car now that it is a A4(IE:hand full)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-in...4l80-swap.html
i love a good T56 but at some point having a T56 just turns into more work than fun (IE:turbocar). i have way more fun in my car now that it is a A4(IE:hand full)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-in...4l80-swap.html
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I just made the switch this year to a Th400 and couldn't be happier. Before the swap I would go to the track and make 3-4 runs on a t&t night and maybe, just maybe get one good clean pass out of the car with the 6sp. Now what did i learn about my suspension? nothing... What did I learn about shift points? nothing... etc... Now I go to the track on the spray and so far it's been like this. 150 shot 10.62, 10.60, 10.60 then 200 shot 10.23, 10.20, 10.20 etc... Get my drift, you can make a clean pass, learn from it and adjust till your setup is tweaked to the max. You can do the same with the 6sp, just allot allot slower. For each is own I know, however for me it's auto all the way for track days BUT if i had my car to drive everyday again it would be 6sp or 4l80e.
i just made the switch this year to a th400 and couldn't be happier. Before the swap i would go to the track and make 3-4 runs on a t&t night and maybe, just maybe get one good clean pass out of the car with the 6sp. Now what did i learn about my suspension? Nothing... What did i learn about shift points? Nothing... Etc... Now i go to the track on the spray and so far it's been like this. 150 shot 10.62, 10.60, 10.60 then 200 shot 10.23, 10.20, 10.20 etc... Get my drift, you can make a clean pass, learn from it and adjust till your setup is tweaked to the max. You can do the same with the 6sp, just allot allot slower. For each is own i know, however for me it's auto all the way for track days but if i had my car to drive everyday again it would be 6sp or 4l80e.
for you guys that have made the switch how does launching off the transbrake compare to sidestepping the clutch at 6000RPM? Does it hit just as hard? I know the consistency is better but have you gone faster just from swapping to an auto?
With possibly the exception of Soft Lok clutch cars, swapping in a auto with the appropriate stall and t brake is almost always faster then the stick. Whether it be from consistancy, the proper amount of slip, or just enough RPMs on the hit to get you going.
mine is staying 6 speed. car is probably 90% street, 10% track. maybe 50 passes a year. its consistent enough for me to dial in suspension changes and shift rpms, hooks up great, and the stock trans probably has 300 passes on it and is still holding up. i cant complain about that. i told myself i would give it one rebuild, after that i would go auto.
not letting go of the 9 second six speed goal yet. after shifting the same car for 9 years, you get pretty good at it
not letting go of the 9 second six speed goal yet. after shifting the same car for 9 years, you get pretty good at it
mine is staying 6 speed. Car is probably 90% street, 10% track. Maybe 50 passes a year. Its consistent enough for me to dial in suspension changes and shift rpms, hooks up great, and the stock trans probably has 300 passes on it and is still holding up. I cant complain about that. i told myself i would give it one rebuild, after that i would go auto.
It hits about the same, leaving on the brake in a turbo car your @ full boost ( with a 2 step) but only leaving @ 3300 RPM, any faster and it blows the tires off.
My initial switch from the T56 to TH350 dropped my ET from an 11.88 to an 11.01. After some weight reduction and a swap from a 10" to an 8" converter it went 10.50's. I am running 4.10 gears and have been thinking about going to a 4.33 or 4.56 to get it crossing/leaving harder. If you make the swap you may want to try that 4.33 gear before you swap them out.
That being said... I do miss the thrill of banging gears. I still think about sticking the T56 back in the car and heading to the track. Although, I do mot miss the inconsistency of the starting line traction or missing third gear when it really counts. It is nice to go to the track and come home with the car in one piece. I look at it like this: for competitive racing auto is the way to go and for a test and tune/run for fun car go for the stick.
That being said... I do miss the thrill of banging gears. I still think about sticking the T56 back in the car and heading to the track. Although, I do mot miss the inconsistency of the starting line traction or missing third gear when it really counts. It is nice to go to the track and come home with the car in one piece. I look at it like this: for competitive racing auto is the way to go and for a test and tune/run for fun car go for the stick.
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,638
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From: Wallkill ,NY
It's not getting any easier for me.Especially when some local buddies of mine just went 9.96 and broke the cam only record in a auto car. And at the same rental there was another LS1 car with a soft-loc and I thought the car was dialed in the last time it was out and it ended up spending more time in the pits getting the pressure plate dialed in then racing. The soft-loc is new to that car so I understand that there is a learning curve in getting it dialed in but I don't know if I really want to go threw all of that. Still on the fence but leaning towards the auto side right now.
It is a huge learning curve to us. We've already killed that clutch. Definately not for everyone.
Even with all of our clutch issues, the G Force tranny has proven to us to be much more efficient then an auto.
ALOT more headaches also...