manual or auto?

[okyankee]

i am going to put the 480hp ls3 crate in my 65 chevelle for sure. i am going back and forth on a manual or auto trans. i know the autos have come along way the last few years as far as quicker shifting. are the new autos and manuals so close in performance now that it is just a matter of preference? i had a 2010 camaro and got tired quick of all the shifting, but the chevelle will not be a daily driver. any info is appreciated. or if anyone can point me in the right direction as far as a quick shifting auto, that would be great. a 6spd auto would be great. need one that can handle a supercharger down the road.

[Steve Chryssos]

Quick shifting autos are here. If it helps, go drive a 2010 auto and know that we can far exceed those shift times thru electronic calibration. And always remember that we can easily shift quicker than the time required to push in a clutch pedal, row a gear, and release a clutch pedal. That's easy

Other automatic benefits that many do not consider during direct comparison, is torque multiplication and precise lock up control of an oversized clutch and on demand engine braking.

[okyankee]

Quick shifting autos are here. If it helps, go drive a 2010 auto and know that we can far exceed those shift times thru electronic calibration. And always remember that we can easily shift quicker than the time required to push in a clutch pedal, row a gear, and release a clutch pedal. That's easy

Other automatic benefits that many do not consider during direct comparison, is torque multiplication and precise lock up control of an oversized clutch and on demand engine braking.

you as in twist? i see you sell bowler transmissions. i was looking at those last night. anything bowler has, you can get? i would like to deal with site sponsors as much as possible. where you at in ny?

[pitts64]

I've checked out a lot of different set ups and best best one I have found is the good old Turbo 400 with custom lower first and second gears with a 2.56 posi.. Coupled with a Continental converter...

Drive a 6 speed before you go through all that work.. The last one I drove was in a 64 Pontiac with a powerful dual quad 421 and wasn't impressed at all.. A big healthy V-8 doesn't need all those gears.. A lot of useless over laping of ratios if you ask me..

[okyankee]

I've checked out a lot of different set ups and best best one I have found is the good old Turbo 400 with custom lower first and second gears with a 2.56 posi.. Coupled with a Continental converter...

Drive a 6 speed before you go through all that work.. The last one I drove was in a 64 Pontiac with a powerful dual quad 421 and wasn't impressed at all.. A big healthy V-8 doesn't need all those gears.. A lot of useless over laping of ratios if you ask me..

thanks. my new truck has a 6spd auto. i have been looking at a ls3 combo from the start. after looking around tonight, that probably changed to a lsx 454.

[rohrt]

I've checked out a lot of different set ups and best best one I have found is the good old Turbo 400 with custom lower first and second gears with a 2.56 posi.. Coupled with a Continental converter...

Drive a 6 speed before you go through all that work.. The last one I drove was in a 64 Pontiac with a powerful dual quad 421 and wasn't impressed at all.. A big healthy V-8 doesn't need all those gears.. A lot of useless over laping of ratios if you ask me..

Now that actally sounds like a really good idea for a mostly street car that sees the 1/4 mile from time to time.

I would think you would have a heck of a gap between 2nd and 3rd. I would like to know how it performs in the 1/4 mile.

[pitts64]

Rohort I bought my gear set from CK Performance.. It has 2.75 first and 1.57 second gears.. No gap at all..
http://www.ckperformance.com/resourc...SMISSIONS.html

It performs excellently. Which is no small feat on Western Pennsylvania's hills..

The 13" 3000 stall Continental converter is a big part of the package..

Cliff Ruggles built the whole combination for my 4000 lb 64 Bonneville..
The motor is a basic 90s style 462, ported 6x8 heads 041 cam.. No Rhoads..

My car has brutal torque from 650 idle to 6000 rpms..
I am extremely pleased with this set up.. While flogging it I have the contentment of knowing I have the brute strength of a Turbo 400 under my rear end.

It's never been to the track yet but at the stop light I can hammer all the new super cars like GTOs, Camaros and Mustangs.. So I must be putting out some good power with this big old car..

On the highway it's a dream. Cruising at 70 mph@2100 rpms without the hassle of a lock up converter or a lugging OD. I connected up the kick down switch against Cliffs suggestion. I quickly disconnected it because the car moves out much better staying in third and going into the converter for additional power.. I was playing with a 90s Vette on a long straightaway here the other day and when I let him catch up to me he gave me a big thumbs up with a very surprised look on his face...

[okyankee]

does the turbo 400 bolt up to the lsx454?

[pitts64]

Rohort,
I saw your thread over at P-Y.. Like Cliff said, the 13" Continental converter is a very big part of the total package.

Remember, Steve was replacing a worn out trans with the 700r4. It always feels great with a fresh trans and his set up didn't have the Continental converter.. With my car I replaced a very fresh and well running 4 speed hydro..

I think the 3:1 first gear might be a little too much with the high torque of the big Poncho...

By the way I just re curved my distributor timing since I have the Robbmc hi torque starter now. I limited the vacuum advance to 10 and set the initial to 16 and switched to 89 octane. The performance is sensational!

[rohrt]

Rohort,
I saw your thread over at P-Y.. Like Cliff said, the 13" Continental converter is a very big part of the total package.

Remember, Steve was replacing a worn out trans with the 700r4. It always feels great with a fresh trans and his set up didn't have the Continental converter.. With my car I replaced a very fresh and well running 4 speed hydro..

I think the 3:1 first gear might be a little too much with the high torque of the big Poncho...

By the way I just re curved my distributor timing since I have the Robbmc hi torque starter now. I limited the vacuum advance to 10 and set the initial to 16 and switched to 89 octane. The performance is sensational!

I should just call Cliff to see if this set would be right for me. I have thought about the th200-r4 but I'm aways from doing anything with the transmission at this time.

[pitts64]

Rohrt, There's just something about putting a Chevette transmission behind a 500+ ft lb Pontiac in a 2 ton car that doesn't add up for me.. I see the Grand National guys go through them like paper plates at a picnic.. And they are the very expensive retro fitted units. With my tradesman pay check, it doesn't get any better then the Turbo 400. Another nice thing about this set up is the lower driveshaft rpm.

Good luck!

[Nothingface5384]

Rohrt, There's just something about putting a Chevette transmission behind a 500+ ft lb Pontiac in a 2 ton car that doesn't add up for me.. I see the Grand National guys go through them like paper plates at a picnic.. And they are the very expensive retro fitted units. With my tradesman pay check, it doesn't get any better then the Turbo 400. Another nice thing about this set up is the lower driveshaft rpm.

Good luck!

only two other things you may do to a th400 is add a gears vendor unit if you want o/d due to deep gears...or a switch pith converter conversion if you want Variable stall, which is essentially a lockup once youre cruising on the hiway :-)
and yes, pitt64 is correct!
I Always hear of GN guys paying 3k r so for a built 2004r( us buick guys are dummies as WE tend to say 200r4 haha) abd have them break...or constantly "refreshed" every 2 /3 years..

i'd rather take a chance with mating a lexus aa80e for extra gears and o/d then the 200r4..
simply put, you cant beat a th400 for price/reliability/performance combo