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[gollum]

Hey everybody I am in the market for a new car my old car has basically bitten it. The engine locked up just before I had enough money to fix/find out what I suspect made it lock up in the forst place but that's how it happens sometimes. Anyhow to the point I have never owned an older car I have always wanted a muscle car like a Dodge demon, Plymouth duster, and such but it seems that when I look through the local paper and auto trader all I can find are automatics. A friend of mine assures me that a powerful muscle car doesn't need to be a manual to be fast and that even if I got an automatic their are some kind of clutchless shifter that are made to go onto an automatic transmission. First off is he correct about the muscle cars not needing to be manuals and also about the shifter. I happen to enjoy driving manual it makes the driving experience so much more fun and I would rather have a manual VS an automatic but if he is right on both counts then that would open up a few more viable options of cars to possibly buy.

[kratefan]

Originally Posted by gollum

Hey everybody I am in the market for a new car my old car has basically bitten it. The engine locked up just before I had enough money to fix/find out what I suspect made it lock up in the forst place but that's how it happens sometimes. Anyhow to the point I have never owned an older car I have always wanted a muscle car like a Dodge demon, Plymouth duster, and such but it seems that when I look through the local paper and auto trader all I can find are automatics. A friend of mine assures me that a powerful muscle car doesn't need to be a manual to be fast and that even if I got an automatic their are some kind of clutchless shifter that are made to go onto an automatic transmission. First off is he correct about the muscle cars not needing to be manuals and also about the shifter. I happen to enjoy driving manual it makes the driving experience so much more fun and I would rather have a manual VS an automatic but if he is right on both counts then that would open up a few more viable options of cars to possibly buy.

The fun of driving is what's important. As far as performance, you can either shift an automatic manually or set the shiftpoints to an optimum RPM. It's hard to beat the automatic as far as shifting speed is concerned.
Jeff

[gollum]

so they do make a shifter "mechanism" for automatics I just like to shift and feel the control that I have over the performance I just think that manual are more fun but they seem to be harder to find so how much does either option cost and what would I be looking for if I wanted to get the above said shifter for an automatic.

[kratefan]

Originally Posted by gollum

so they do make a shifter "mechanism" for automatics I just like to shift and feel the control that I have over the performance I just think that manual are more fun but they seem to be harder to find so how much does either option cost and what would I be looking for if I wanted to get the above said shifter for an automatic.

The shifter mechanism is included with automatics. Just start out in "1" (on three and four speeds) or "L" on two speed automatics. Then, move the lever forward one click for each gear advancement. The automatic will only shift "automatically" when the lever is placed in a slot higher than the gear it is in.
Jeff

[gollum]

What I am talking about is something my friend tried to explain to me but it just isn't clicking I know every car has a shifter but in he was saying stuff about a manual valve body with a stall converter I have never seen any car with these so I was hoping I could get some info on this and is it as effective as a manual for keeping you car in a good power range and i=does it give the same feel as driving a manual?

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by gollum

What I am talking about is something my friend tried to explain to me but it just isn't clicking I know every car has a shifter but in he was saying stuff about a manual valve body with a stall converter I have never seen any car with these so I was hoping I could get some info on this and is it as effective as a manual for keeping you car in a good power range and i=does it give the same feel as driving a manual?

A manual valve body is an aftermarket racing part that replaces the regular valve body in an automatic trans. It will engage whatever gear the shifter goes into, regardless of your speed or RPM.
The transmission would NOT shift automatically at all.
Its pretty specialised, but not really a substitute for a manual. Some of these have a reverse shirt pattern, where reverse is there 1st is and the rest of the shifter points are moved around.

[gollum]

Are they safe to use on a car that will most liekly be a daily driver and taken to the tracks during the spring and summer months? Also is it worth the money or is a shift kit a better option like I said before I like manuals, they are just so much more satisfying to drive, but I am having trouble finding any manuals in the cars I want. I like having the control of whre the car shifts and at what RPM to launch at when I race someone and I haven't been in any cars with a modified auto tranny.

[challenger72rt]

Gollum,

Automatic Dodges and Plymouths came with the 727 transmission, which has the 'slap-stik' feature. My Challenger, for instance, has a 'T' handle shifter, so I start out in 3rd gear, hit the go-pedal, and when the RPM's are right, 'slap' it into 2nd, then 1st. It acts as a 3-speed manual. Or, I just leave it in Drive, and away I go, and let the tranny do all the work. The slap-stik allows for nicer launches, but you HAVE to learn how to use it properly, or it'll hurt your performance. The 727 is a GREAT tranny, I assure you. Just watch out for column-shift cars. Go for a floor/console-mounted. If you have any further Q's, feel free to ask.