View Poll Results: Auto or Manual?
Auto
147
54.04%
Manual
125
45.96%
Voters: 272. You may not vote on this poll
Auto or Manual
Auto or Manual Recently my t56 went to **** on me. Due to a Crappy build I believe. The setup is 391 LS2 w/ T88 turbo. I will be making 1000rwhp, race gas. high boost.. 750-800 on pump gas about 12-13psi. So I now have a few decisions to make. I talked to several companies and if I go manual I will be getting it rebuilt with t56rebuilds.com. Hands down. I'll have what I need for $5500 out the door. Warranty for a year. BUT getting an automatic would be cheaper.. But this is a street car. Daily driven. EVERY damn day! I would take a hit on gas mileage. And I LOVE my manual!! I really would prefer a manual. This car will be primarily street raced. But all the big money street races are from a dig.. Which is where the auto will benefit a bit. I know most of the BIG power guys run autos.. Whatcha guys think? Very few on a t-56.. Which makes me want to stick with a manual even more. One of the few. One of the proud.
I had the same problem with my stuff, sold my T56, clutch, hydrolics, clutch pedal, center console, etc for $1100 IIRC then got a TH400 which cost me about $2500 and involved.
Speed inc th400
B&M Converter
B&M Trans cooler - Forgot
Crossmember
Drive shaft
trans dipstick
B&M Ratchet shifter (donated)
Shifter cable (donated)
Overall I am pretty happy with the TH400, it has been bullet proof - I miss rowing through gears but I don't miss grinding, bent shift forks, slipping clutches, etc. I guess its all about getting the right tool for the job.
Speed inc th400
B&M Converter
B&M Trans cooler - Forgot
Crossmember
Drive shaft
trans dipstick
B&M Ratchet shifter (donated)
Shifter cable (donated)
Overall I am pretty happy with the TH400, it has been bullet proof - I miss rowing through gears but I don't miss grinding, bent shift forks, slipping clutches, etc. I guess its all about getting the right tool for the job.
A stalled up auto will kill a manual off the line with the same power. When i say killed i mean really really killed! Unless you are one of the best t56 drivers in the country you are at a pretty good disadvantage staying with the manual for what youw ant to do. I plan driving my car pretty much the same as you do, but with a procharger and not as much HP and im going to a th400.
Hardcore manual guy here! Got the GMR twin turbo and street driving it every day. Wouldn't have it any other way. If it was a strictly DRAG car then I would say go auto but you'll be bored to tears with an auto on the street after having a 6-speed. Get a G-force or RSGear Tranzilla and forget about it.
Originally Posted by 93formto98T/A
Get a G-force or RSGear Tranzilla and forget about it.
I thought about those two.. But can't really handle what i want to throw at it. G-force can't or won't do a 300M.. But I just know I'll be bored with an auto. I'm thinking 6 speed. 2 stepin.. and I'll reel ya in!
Th400, 9", 2.75 gears and you would have a streetable monster, just run a very tight converter, I think mine would be about 2600 if I took the turbo off. I can hold 5psi off the foot brake on the street because of my gearing, stall goes to about 3500 at 5psi, makes around 10psi at 4000 on the trans brake.
75mph = 2700 rpms, it's really really nice. Running from a roll, no problem there either, click down into 2nd from anything below 90 mph and shift again at 120mph.
When you never have to upshift in a race it's amazing how much more distance you put between a fast manual car that loses boost every shift. Someone would have to pay me a lot of money to put a t56 back into my car. If you stick with the t56, good luck getting a good clutch LOL.
Gas milage is the same or better with the th400 from when I was 6spd.
75mph = 2700 rpms, it's really really nice. Running from a roll, no problem there either, click down into 2nd from anything below 90 mph and shift again at 120mph.
When you never have to upshift in a race it's amazing how much more distance you put between a fast manual car that loses boost every shift. Someone would have to pay me a lot of money to put a t56 back into my car. If you stick with the t56, good luck getting a good clutch LOL.
Gas milage is the same or better with the th400 from when I was 6spd.
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I had the same plans as you for the long run of my Build. I wanted an auto(which I voted for) so I had a 4L80E built. I figured that would be best for my combo and retain some sense of daily drivability. I have sense moved to parting out that project and have the entire 4L80E setup for sale. PM me if interested.
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Originally Posted by Zombie
75mph = 2700 rpms, it's really really nice. Gas milage is the same or better with the th400 from when I was 6spd.
i went from built t 56 and 5 clutches befor a rock hit my head and i saw the light and went th-400 i get to shift it everyday just like a t56! thanks to reverse MANUAL valve body! only difference is i dont have to worry about buying a 800 dollar clutch set up ever few months!!! some of the clutches i had were ram hd spec 3 & 5 and more! never did justice.
Originally Posted by 93formto98T/A
Try 1500rpm @ 80mph. That's really nice. That gets the 25mpg w/750rwhp. Also some don't realize that auto severely limits top end due to just 3 gears and slippage. My car is geared for 245mph in 5th @ 7K rpm. So top end you can just say bye bye.
And GEARED for 245 doesn't mean ****, I assure you you won't hit it.
[QUOTE=93formto98T/A]you'll be bored to tears with an auto on the street after having a 6-speed.[QUOTE]
Unless you throw a TC in there. I had a M6 SS and now have the A4 with a Yank 3500. Very, very fun. A buddy is running a M6 with a turbo setup and it is a beast on the highway but a bitch at the track. 2-step is a must if you run the M6....I'd go TH-400 or 4L80.
Unless you throw a TC in there. I had a M6 SS and now have the A4 with a Yank 3500. Very, very fun. A buddy is running a M6 with a turbo setup and it is a beast on the highway but a bitch at the track. 2-step is a must if you run the M6....I'd go TH-400 or 4L80.
Originally Posted by 93formto98T/A
Also some don't realize that auto severely limits top end due to just 3 gears and slippage. My car is geared for 245mph in 5th @ 7K rpm. So top end you can just say bye bye.
BTW, 2850 @ 80 mph is prety nice too, and I can also down shift about 20x faster and already be in boost
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
You don't want to stay with a standard if you're making 1000 RWHP, end of discussion.
The biggest thing for me making that much power with a stick wasn't the reliability of it all, it was the **** your pants factor. Shift gears, unload the suspension, get back on it, reload the tires with power and you are all the **** over the place. With an auto it's much smoother and you can actually ENJOY the car instead of being able to think "How the hell am I going to keep it in my lane?"
The fun factor of a turbo car with an auto on the street is so much higher than with a stick it's not even funny.
The biggest thing for me making that much power with a stick wasn't the reliability of it all, it was the **** your pants factor. Shift gears, unload the suspension, get back on it, reload the tires with power and you are all the **** over the place. With an auto it's much smoother and you can actually ENJOY the car instead of being able to think "How the hell am I going to keep it in my lane?"
The fun factor of a turbo car with an auto on the street is so much higher than with a stick it's not even funny.