Hot Rods Auto or stick...but with a twist

Been changing gears on this Muncie in my 34 Tub since 1977 ,,nothing better,,,,,,

 

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That one was a factory 4 speed and the 348 /350 HP.

We hit a bridge in it right before I went in the Army in 1970. There were only 1500 factory 4 speed 61's.

 

I prefer a manually shifter Turbo 400 shifted with a Hurst Autostick I shifter... I always have a big motor, 454 and 462 in the photos..

I live in Pittsburgh and its all hills.. We have this new wave of mechanically retarded yuppies moving in around here that get right on your bumper at red lights..

 

56, and never owned an automatic. That's pretty much the norm where I live.

That said my dream gearbox is a manual-automatic hybrid: not so much a full-manual automatic as a manual built out of automatic parts.

 

The Buick is a big car, even the Special. It will never be a race car in the classic sense, but will be a good looking car for cruising and street use. I would expect that most people interested in that style of car will be older and looking for a cruiser, hence an auto would suit them more, but most would also be old enough to know how to drive a manual trans. I would use a 4m speed auto if I was building it, but you should build it for you, you only need one person to buy it so if the car is well done I bet you can sell it either way. Happy New Year, let us know what you do.

 

I'm 75 and I have 2 4 speed cars and 3 automatics. It just depends on the mood I'm in when I go to the garage as to which car I choose to drive that day.

 

I was in my buddies Hotrod shop last week and he builds rides for every age group. I told him I was thinking about adding a third pedal. I expected something like “Cool” or “Need some help with it?”. Instead I got a big “WHY”.

That might tell you something.



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build it for you!

but if you're going to just sell it, yea probably automatic.

 

The 38 Chevy in the Avatar has a four speed, I like it that way and when I built it in the 70's that was the only appropriate choice (in my mind). As I was building the Studebaker I leaned towards an automatic (after I purchased a SBC engine and 700R4). Later I purchased the third Hawk parts car to "fix" the Stude and included was a three speed with OD. If I would have had that earlier in the game that is what I would have used and maybe even used a Stude motor?? Too late now, it runs and drives around the yard until I get license and insurance on it.

 

LINE LOCK!

 

@ 65, my DD truck is a 5spd. I prefer the control of deciding when I need to shift, instead of leaving that descion to the (sometimes) confused computer.
Hotrods, always a 4spd!

 

We occasionally visit West Newton Pa, southeast of P-burg, I counld imagine learning to drive a stick there.

 

Admittedly, a stick is a lot more fun, except....

Once participated in a local Veterans Day Parade ('39 Ford Pickup 289/4sp). Only a 45 minute long parade, but I was directly behind the Cub Scouts and they hadn't quite grasped the concept that a parade is supposed to KEEP MOVING. Wasn't sure what would give out first...My clutch or my knee. After an hour of "cool down" the clutch was fine...can't say the same for the knee.

That would be my LAST 4/sp hot rod

 

If my knees go out before my Nova and roadster get finished I'll hire a kid to drive.

 

I have a friend that has built quite a few streetrods over the years. One of his early ones he built with a stick. He sold it shortly after. When asked-he said I'll never put a stick in another car that I build as long as I live!

 

There was a previous thread that showed a semi-automatic conversion available in India. Most of my cars have manual transmissions but this would be good for my wife.

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I grew up driving a stick, but like a lotta guys on here, the knees and back don't want to cooperate. My last few cars have been automatic...

 

I am still torn but I think I will put the automatic in it, should still be a lot of fun to drive.
Now to decide whether to do a truck arm rear suspension or put in a jag IRS. It is getting a jag IFS, and could be a pretty good handling car in the end.

 

Dave, does the coupe still have any of its driveline left?

 

there is a rear axle and part of the torque tube in it, but barely bolted in. I do have this complete extra 39 chassis though which has everything as far as rear suspension and driveline, all for sale other than the bare frame. Came from a 4dr sedan. No engines or transmissions.

 

I am currently building an old dragster. IE it was a dragster then got put away. The car is light, and the engine sets way back. It would be easier to build with an automatic and certainly easier to drive. I am building it with a stick. No real reason why I just am. I am well into the old guy age group.

I would buy a stick car if I was buying a car. More depends on if I like the car then what it takes to drive it.

 

What you are building is a Street Rod and not a traditional Hot Rod. In that traditional sense not much difference between a Mustang II and a Jag, neither belong in a traditional car build. The Jag rear can be made to work but you will need to strengthen the frame to take advantage of it. The Jag IRS has been around since 1961 ( first year it appeared in the XKE) I guess I don't see the need for it over a more traditional rear end.

 

That Buick had IFS from the factory, what is the departure from traditional in moving up to a more modern version of the same type suspension? And Jaguar IFS could well be well within the "traditional"crock a shit some folks want to enforce here, as they've been IFS since WWII, if not earlier.

 

I've got one of each. HRP

 

I prefer a clutch pedal in a car that screams for a manual transmission, but I'm not the one that's gonna buy your car! you're building a car that you have already said is for sale as soon as it's done. Automatic is a better choice, you'll broaden your audience in my opinion.

 

Put in a three speed on the column and 90% of the people couldn't drive it, excellent theft deterrent!

 

Not for sale when done, in fact may not be for many years, but when the time to thin the herd comes it will not be on the "will be with me until I croak" list. Problem is I like too may different cars, cant keep them all.
As for traditional nobody will know what is in or under the car without a closer look, that is how I like it. Unless I run mags on it the car will look like a stock 39 Buick from the outside, only a bit lower.
Reason for the jag IFS is I have a bunch of them, they work great, and my 39 currently has no front suspension at all lol.. I put a jag IFS into my 41 Cadillac and the car drives and stops great.
As for the jag IRS, I have I think 6 of them sitting around, but may still go with the truck arm suspension setup, just depends on what I decide on that day.

 

3-speed with OD 883 3-pedal transmission going into my project '36 3W coupe and I'll be 74 in a couple of weeks.

 

My coupe has a low power 6 cylinder motor in it. I can't imagine it would be near as much fun to drive with an auto trans, so I'm sticking with the 5 speed for as long as I can stand to drive it.
When the 6 cylinder "retires", it may get a V8. With a V8, the 5 speed may go away as well. Age has caught up with me. The last 2 rides I built were both automatic trans equipped, and the latest one will be an auto as well.

If I were to build something with the intention of selling it, there would be an auto trans in it for sure. Less then 7% of all the modern vehicles have manual transmissions. That should give you an idea of what the differences in the market are.

I also have to say, for those of you that think all automatic transmissions are power robbing, dull rides, you should test drive a modern car some day. Automatic transmissions have come a long way since 1965, and they don't require a degree in "How to drive and shift your manual transmission correctly". Gene

 

Interesting thought, but how did VW do it years ago? I rode on a Bug that the guy just moved the shifter handle to the next gear. Only two pedals in the car.