02SOMWS6

iTrader: (6)

I have been on the fence on staying stick or going auto.If I stay stick I'm going with a McLeod soft-loc which will require me getting a quicktime bell with the access to the pressure plate . Just those parts will be around $2400
My trans is stock besides a steel 3-4 fork and a set of billet slider keys.My trans has less then 1,200 miles and I have a spare that has never seen any abuse and also low milage. So if I stay stick there is always the chance that my trans is going to break. The soft-loc will soften the blow but will it be enough. I have always been a stick guy and love banging gears. But I hate breaking stuff. I have had torque arm bolts rip out one time and the next time I blew gears apart in my 12 bolt and get towed off the track at Pinks all out. Not the way I wanted to get on TV. Also when the rear blew it over revved the engine and bent valves. I love swinging the stick and banging gears but it's taking me longer and longer to get the car back together when stuff breaks. Would love to hear about anyone running a stick at this level or from anyone who has switched from stick to auto

BarneyMobile

iTrader: (4)

Im still a 6spd guy and just this passed friday, I pulled off a 10.08 @ 136. I plan on staying a 6spd car into the 9's. I run the Mcleod RXT twin and its been working so far.

02SOMWS6

iTrader: (6)

Thats great to hear. What mods if any have been done to the trans?

TOSTO RACING

iTrader: (37)

When I ran the six speed I went 9.71 at 141 at 3450 pounds the trans was totally stock down to the plastic fork pads. I did have it proshifted just for easier shifting at high rpm.

fergymoto

iTrader: (129)

I'd like to hear the honest truth from the guys with fast stick cars about how much trouble they have. You see all these guys running fast with 6 speeds but I imagine they only post up the good points.

My car was running 11.0s (not that fast) and I just switched to an automatic and miss rowing gears. I had broken a torque strap on one Textralia pressure plate and they sent me a new one and I bent a torque strap on the new one and just got frustrated. I already had the automatic and only needed to buy a converter to use it, so I bought a converter instead of a new clutch and made the switch.

I would keep the 6 speed if I could get a realistic idea on if you can and what it takes to make a stick car work and stay together.

TRMIN8R

iTrader: (42)

I switched to a th400 about 3.5 years ago and love it. Its a FMVB so I still shift it, just no clutch. But it's a little different with a turbo car, it's nice to never fall out of boost. When I had the 6 speed it was fun cause I had nitrous back then, so it was there with every shift. Only thing I ever broke on the t56 was the output shaft bushing. But I only went 11.1 with it too.

HSESWS6

iTrader: (3)

I still have the T56 and have gone 9.63@145 and 1.30 60' 3360 race weight. Only mods to the trans is steel shift fork, tick hydraulics and a spec 3+. I plan on switching to proshifterd or faceplated gears this winter when i go through it.

tomz28

iTrader: (20)

i was a guy M6 but i went and you can see how it work out in this thread
also what mods do you have on your car????

https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-in...4l80-swap.html

02SOMWS6

iTrader: (6)

Your giving me hope. How many passes are on that trans? Not to many people to talk to about the soft-loc but from what people are telling me it takes a lot of stress of the trans.You say when you go threw it this winter, is it acting up at all?

Gordon0652

iTrader: (4)

I just went with a stick, still building my car... And i will be in the single digits.

fergymoto

iTrader: (129)

IMO it doesn't count when someone is running a shitty ET for their power lever (which is obviously going to be easier on the drivetrain). Like say running 9.90 at 145. Obviously the car didn't leave very hard thus not a realistic gauge IMO

tomz28

iTrader: (20)

my car had a better 60 foot with the T56 than the auto 1.61 with the M6 to the 1.68 with the auto

fergymoto

iTrader: (129)

Mine didn't improve much. I need to get some suspension. Best of 1.51 with the T56 and it went a 1.51 with the auto on my 10.88 pass. I got a 1.47 at the local 1/8 mile track, but it only did that good once.

02SOMWS6

iTrader: (6)

The choice doesn't get any easier when some local buddies of mine just broke the cam only record and went 9.96 with a auto. Still on the fence

melsie68

iTrader: (8)

I was a die hard straight gear 4-speed (and 5-spd and 6-spd) guy for a long time. I have had just about every transmission, clutch and rear suspension you can imagine in my car. It was a street car that I used to drive to school, work and out everywhere. It got to a point where I had the transmission out changing pressure plates, discs, etc so often that it just wasn't fun anymore. I had been towed away from the track more than I drove home. I was on a first name basis with the tow-truck guy around the corner from our track. You name it, I BROKE IT! Pressure plates, discs, transmissions, driveshafts, axles, ring/pinion, carriers- all of it has gone flying out from underneath my car one time or another. The techs that stage the cars used to back up when they heard that motor singing at 5,000 knowing I was about to side step the clutch pedal. I ripped the center section right out of a 9" Ford one time sending pieces of the case through the fence. My buddy brought me a chunk of it for a souvenir...

You have to make a decision on how much street time your car will see and whether or not having a stick shift is worth it. To do it right, it is very expensive and not really very streetable/street friendly- ie: Soft-Lok and Pro Gears. If you have a motor that makes enough steam, it is a joy to have a well built automatic and maybe even a trans-brake. It will live for a long time and remain very streetable.

These days if I want to see a stick car, I enjoy watching Stock Eliminator from the bleachers. Nothing sounds better than a 4-speed car going down the track, its just not practical for me being a guy that still wants to drive to the track and cruise on a nice afternoon. Best of luck to you!

Cheeks

iTrader: (1)

I'm a die hard stick guy, I've had them my whole life, literally THIS weekend I'm going to a th400, I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

02SOMWS6

iTrader: (6)

looking forward to seeing how this works out for you

WS6sleeper

iTrader: (1)

If you're going to get serious with it on the track then the real way to do it is either faceplated stick or auto. If you're just going to keep it on the street and don't care for track times then enjoy your 6-speed brother, I know I will

02SOMWS6

iTrader: (6)

It has 4.33 pro gears in the rear so it won't be on the street. I have a vert for street duty.

melsie68

iTrader: (8)

"vert"?

If you already have the pro-gears, might as well buy a real transmission like a Liberty or G-force and a real clutch like a McLeod Soft Lok. It will be time to get to it. As I said before, nothing sounds as good as a clutch car going down the track.