What makes an Auto Trans so slow?

What is it that makes an automatic transmission so much slower than a manual? Is it the fact that it takes longer to shift between gears in an automatic, or is it cuz the automatic doesn't pull to redline? Because I was wondering...If it were the later, is there some way you can adjust the rpm's at which the auto trans shifts? I mean, there has to be a little piece of computer or something somewhere that tells an auto trasmission "SHIFT NOW". That being the case, wouldn't one be able to "reprogram" (for lack of a better word) that computer (or whatever) to "SHIFT NOW" at redline instead of 500 or so RPM's before? I've always wondered.

it shifts probably faster them most manual drivers can.. and it doesnt ever miss gears.. it is slower cause there is not a direct conection.. like a clutch on a manual.. see when you let the clutch out your tires are going to go exactly what your motor is revving.. however in an auto you have a torque converter.. emagine if you will two fans one hooked to the motor turning and one to your tranny.. and emagine them in a little case togeather with ATF.. when the motor spins if spins the fluid making it spin the tranny.. does that make sense?? leaving it with a lot of lag..

Jason

this is a better explaination.. haha

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm

Jason

Depends on the the setup you are running. If you are looking to have a true drag car autos are the route you want to go if all you want is the lowest ET time possible.

yea, also depends on the car and tranny

First gear is exceptionally long in 3s's. Thats the main killer in them.

alright guys thats all i wanted to know thanks! And Jason Bet, thanks for explaining it to me i completely (more or less) understand now. thanks again guys

Because autos are generally designed to be smooth and ride well. They can be setup for speed, and when they are they are much faster than manuals, but also eat more power.

eat more power? Do you mean more gas?

both

auto trannies are really good if you are making a lot of torque, if your not, then it will be slower.

hot shot!! haha.. still waiting on those pictures.. hahahaha just playing its all good i figured I wasn't getting any a long time ago

Jason

Stock for stock the manual will take the auto from a roll and from a dig. However..most people do mod their cars. With the proper gears, tc and even a built tranny you can walk manuals all day long. Now..auto are NOT good for the street due to the fact they do not downshift very fast. Upshifting as in the track autos shift very fast. Manuals also can not handle big HP which is why autos are a top choice at the strip. Now..autos also loose more HP in the driveline than manuals. Rule of thumb is 10%-15% for an manual and 15%-20% for an auto. It will very per make and model of course. Gears are the best bang for the buck and the difference is incredibly. Autos gearing are made incredibly safe from the factory when infact there is sooo much more there. Good luck-Shane

Very few people have gotten good performance out of the 3s ATX. I'll repeat the same story again, BrettRT on 3si put a shift kit, tranny cooler, high stall torque converter, down pipe, test pipe, and other misc bolt ons on his 92 RT. He bested a 16.08 is a DOHC. My SOHC Stealth did 16.04 100% stock. Flat out the gearing kills these cars.

^ True, in these cars, ATX's suffer severly from a dig. The ATX DOHC does much better from a roll since it can access the higher end of the power band by downshifting. However, from a stop, they start from a near idle and are geared very tall which makes it hard from the get go.

Very few people have gotten good performance out of the 3s ATX. I'll repeat the same story again, BrettRT on 3si put a shift kit, tranny cooler, high stall torque converter, down pipe, test pipe, and other misc bolt ons on his 92 RT. He bested a 16.08 is a DOHC. My SOHC Stealth did 16.04 100% stock. Flat out the gearing kills these cars.

which brings you back to my first post in this thread. Autos need lots of torque to perform really well. Non-turbo 3/S's don't provide enough torque.

which brings you back to my first post in this thread. Autos need lots of torque to perform really well. Non-turbo 3/S's don't provide enough torque.
Yep, I was just countering Shanes post.

That is why a 75 shot is incredible, pure torque right of the bat in my atx transmission with my long gears.

Yep, I was just countering Shanes post.

a little OT, but whats TANP up to these days, i haven't been on 3SI in a while

Ha, most of us have been laying low. :p Well Im surprised most of us didnt get a vacation after lambasting some idiot who INSISTED 3s's were DSM's. There was a very large thread where he kept arguing and saying blah blah this, blah blah blah that. We flamed him so bad there werent even any ashes left. :lol:

the kid probably didn't even know what DSM stood for, i hate ignorant little kids that think they know everything yet in reality know nothing.

No he knew what it stood for, yet couldnt understand in order to be a DSM it has to be built at the DSM plant. :lol:

I'm not acting like I know what it means, so I'm NOT ignorant, but... :P

What does DSM stand for?
And on that note, what exactly does 3s stand for?

DSM = Daimler Star Motors

3/S = 3000GT/Stealth

DSM = DIAMOND Star Motors ;)

DSMs were assembled in (i forgot, but i know its in the ohio/illinois area)
3/S's were assembled in japan

therefore logic states they are not DSMs

DSM= Diamond Star Motors

The plant was in Normal, IL and Mitsubishi and Chrysler were merged at the time, but in Japan 3000GT were being built, also known as GTO in Japan.

DSM = DIAMOND Star Motors ;)


Hahahahahaha sorry! I knew it too! In my defense I had been drinking like a sailor the entire day and when I posted it was 2:20am LOL. Thank God we have Stealthee here to correct my drunken faux pauxs. :lol:

Aren't Eclipses DSM?

3kGTs were made in Nagoya, Japan, if I remember correctly. I'm gonna go look for the assembly plant when I go there to study abroad in a year (and see if I can't snag some of those JDM tail lights with the amber turn-signal cases for cheap and take 'em back with me).

Yes Eclipses are DSM's. They were built in Normal IL at the DSM plant.

Parts are hard as hell to find in Japan.

yes. <'99 eclipse/talon/laser = DSMs

and yea...all 3/s's were build it mitsu's nagoya plant

ps. get me some Kaze tails while your there :P

Tecnically only 91-95 TEL's are DSM's. Even though nothing else really changed till after 99, when Chrysler bowed out the DSM name was dropped.

There was also the Avenger, Sebring, Cirrus, Endeavor, Outlander, and something else all built in the Normal plant. The Normal plant is still there but it is just considered a Mitsu plant now.

hmmm...but wasn't the talon made until '97?

I could never understand why the talon was so easy to find at a cheap price while the eclipse is always sold high.

Cheap parts for DSM's are a blessing, especially since they are so abused they need many, many, many parts lol.

*edit*
Dont hold me to it but maybe people pay more for eclipses because who doesnt know what an eclipse is. There have been many of times i've hade to explain to some morons in this area that claim they are car junkies that a talon is basically an eclipse. Same as Captain Crunch vs. the generic Kangaroo Crunch...still amazing, yet not brand name lol.

Good call on the brand recognition, Ive always know about talons because my older sis had one, but Im betting most people dont recognize them as similar to eclipses.

well it's kind of like 3000GTs and stealths alot of people know what a 3000GT is but never heard of a stealth. most people who do know what both are then they think there DSMs to because of the whole mitsubishi eclispe and egale talon thing. how they know that egale was owned by Chrysler and didn't know what a stealth was or thought that 3/s were DSMs beats me:shakehead:screwy:

Dont know...it IS labeled right in the engine bay