Auto VS Stick

I wanted to post here and ask the readers what kind of trans they use in what kinda of car they have, as well as what kind of driveing they do with it, road raceing, track, or just street sweeping?

I like the 4 speed stick, but nobody can shift faster then a shift kit Auto, my TH475 has a stage 3 kit with a 3500 stall, and I do mostly street with little strip raceing.

Is the Richmond 5 speed more for road races, I know the 6 speed is, but that has an over drive?

[MrPbody]

The Richmond trans is a good one for drag racing if it's the "crash box" version (no synchros). If it has the synchros, it's just about the toughest street trans on the market. It will take more power than any of the 6 speeds, and has a variety of gearsets available. The Richmond 5-speed has been known in the past as the "Doug Nash" 5-speed or "4-plus 1".

There was a dicscussion about this on another site last week. The concensus is, manual transmission, if driven by a highly skilled driver, will outperform an auto, all other factors being equal.
Some of the old timers that still run ONLY manuals, have hard data to back it up. The biggest point of contention was the converter versus the clutch. In the hands (or feet, as the case may be...) of a highly skilled (can't emphasize this part enough) driver, the manual gets an "edge" as far as sheer performance is concerned. As far as reaction time and "cutting" a good light, it could go either way. A converter makes it much easier to stay consistent for an average driver.

From my point of view, as an "engine" guy, a manual is the way to go. The manual trans will "use" less power to drive it. It also offers a "mechanical coupling" to the road (this is why you don't see auto transmissions in road racing) which provides at least the "illusion" of more control over the vehicle.

Jim

Your right about a stick being in the right hands.
If you were to boil down weight and total HP to the driveshaft it would be the Stick.
On my TH475 I use a stage 3 B&M, it has no real "Auto" to it and I get more control of how and when I shift, much like a stick.

I don't have the weight and drag savings tho. I do know that the trans I do have is very strong, I would even go as to say it's stronger then a M22 Chusher, or at least as strong. The 475 is stronger then a TH400, it's been used as a super rare option.

I just did not know the use for the 5 speed Richmond, it's not an overdrive, and you would think it would be slower in the 1/4 mile with that extra grear to the same end of a 4 speed.

Mr.P Did you see on the news last night about the guy with the 66 mustang (blue) that got hammered in the storm yesterday?