Automatic or Manual? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dust Collector · 05-19-2014, 12:10 AM

I am working on a 71 that I got from my dad. I am converting it from two wheel to four wheel drive (much to his dismay!!). I can't decide what Trans to go with. I have a 4 speed out of a 78 chev with t case as well as a 700r4 and t case. I know the manual is good, it's in my pickup that I am using for a donor. The auto I traded for and "ran when I took it out". Anybody have any thoughts? I will tow stuff with the pickup but most of the time nothing super heavy. I am wanting to get good economy but have heard TBI will gain more than the overdrive in the R4. The 71 is a factory automatic.

Z10 · 05-19-2014, 01:47 AM

Check out my build thread. Just put in a 700r4 behind a 350 ZZ4 with TPI. I love this thing. Just turned 2000miles and the engine is loosening up. Went from 10mpg with a 400 SBC and and Turbo 350 to a little over 16mpg with the new set up. A whopping 60% improvement.

See link in my signature.

Cercious · 05-19-2014, 06:26 AM

Depends on what you want. Nothing wrong with a good auto, and although I hate automatics, I realize it's all opinion. Personally, I love the added "feel" I get from having a manual. Feels more connected to the road, to me. With that said, as much as I hate autos, if I had a factory auto truck, I'd probably go with that.

**Ironhorse** · 05-19-2014, 10:11 AM

When I first bought my '71 4x4 back in '85 I specifically looked for a 4 speed manual. Drove it like that for many years, sm465/np205, tough as nails granny 4 speed. Loved it until just last year when I converted to TH350 auto.
Getting older now with bad knees and arthur sucks. Just couldn't part with my ol truck so opted for the auto. Much easier now in traffic and even the wife drives it now, LOL. Both transmissions have their followings with good and bad attributes. Just comes down to personal preferance.

**kwmech** · 05-19-2014, 11:03 AM

Gonna mimic Ironhorse a little here. Love the 4 speed in my truck, converted from the original 435 to a 465 with a Ranger overdrive in front of it. Been driving it for over a year now and my wife HATES it. She is to the point of refusing to drive it, (too much to do while driving). Anyways, I've (we've) decided to change it to an auto, (turbo 400, with a gear vendor overdrive) this coming winter. Yeah, it'll be easier on my back and feet also. I can tell already I'm going to miss the manual. This is a truck I use constantly for towing and hauling.

05-19-2014, 12:10 AM	#1
Dust Collector Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Eden, Idaho Posts: 5	Automatic or Manual? I am working on a 71 that I got from my dad. I am converting it from two wheel to four wheel drive (much to his dismay!!). I can't decide what Trans to go with. I have a 4 speed out of a 78 chev with t case as well as a 700r4 and t case. I know the manual is good, it's in my pickup that I am using for a donor. The auto I traded for and "ran when I took it out". Anybody have any thoughts? I will tow stuff with the pickup but most of the time nothing super heavy. I am wanting to get good economy but have heard TBI will gain more than the overdrive in the R4. The 71 is a factory automatic.

05-19-2014, 01:47 AM	#2
Z10 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Midland, TX Posts: 1,267	Re: Automatic or Manual? Check out my build thread. Just put in a 700r4 behind a 350 ZZ4 with TPI. I love this thing. Just turned 2000miles and the engine is loosening up. Went from 10mpg with a 400 SBC and and Turbo 350 to a little over 16mpg with the new set up. A whopping 60% improvement. See link in my signature. __________________ 1969 RS/SS Z10 Camaro Pace coupe 1972 GMC Short Step buildhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post6356218 1979 Mazda RX7 1979 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 & 1979 Pontiac Trans Am 10th Anniversary 1999 Honda Valkyrie 2006 Corvette Z06 2010 BMW 650i

05-19-2014, 06:26 AM	#3
Cercious Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Rowlett, Texas Posts: 20	Re: Automatic or Manual? Depends on what you want. Nothing wrong with a good auto, and although I hate automatics, I realize it's all opinion. Personally, I love the added "feel" I get from having a manual. Feels more connected to the road, to me. With that said, as much as I hate autos, if I had a factory auto truck, I'd probably go with that.

05-19-2014, 10:11 AM	#4
Ironhorse Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Wellington, Ks Posts: 10,285	Re: Automatic or Manual? When I first bought my '71 4x4 back in '85 I specifically looked for a 4 speed manual. Drove it like that for many years, sm465/np205, tough as nails granny 4 speed. Loved it until just last year when I converted to TH350 auto. Getting older now with bad knees and arthur sucks. Just couldn't part with my ol truck so opted for the auto. Much easier now in traffic and even the wife drives it now, LOL. Both transmissions have their followings with good and bad attributes. Just comes down to personal preferance. __________________ 1971 Chevy 1/2T 4x4 LWB 350 V-8 Was sm465-now 350TH/np205 Tilt, Tach, Towhooks Original Truck AM/FM Wellington, Ks

05-19-2014, 11:03 AM	#5
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,596	Re: Automatic or Manual? Gonna mimic Ironhorse a little here. Love the 4 speed in my truck, converted from the original 435 to a 465 with a Ranger overdrive in front of it. Been driving it for over a year now and my wife HATES it. She is to the point of refusing to drive it, (too much to do while driving). Anyways, I've (we've) decided to change it to an auto, (turbo 400, with a gear vendor overdrive) this coming winter. Yeah, it'll be easier on my back and feet also. I can tell already I'm going to miss the manual. This is a truck I use constantly for towing and hauling.



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