Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?

[bill3rail]

Lots of the comments are that age pushes us towards the automatic. I drive three on the tree and love it. The knees hurt, but I love it.
I prefer to keep things stock but if the knees give out, I may need to switch over to an automatic...

Bill

P.S. 2017 Corvettes do NOT offer a standard transmission! The automatics today, shift much better than any person can.

[superchevy]

I'm pulling the 4 spd out of my '67 and installing a T400.

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by bill3rail

Lots of the comments are that age pushes us towards the automatic. I drive three on the tree and love it. The knees hurt, but I love it.
I prefer to keep things stock but if the knees give out, I may need to switch over to an automatic...

Bill

P.S. 2017 Corvettes do NOT offer a standard transmission! The automatics today, shift much better than any person can.

Put paddle shifters in. LOL

[C10 - C90 Bill]

4-Speed for sure.

Right now my '72 C-10 is a 3-Speed on the Column and I really don't mind it, but the 2.85 First is too high for me. I would prefer a 4-Speed anyway, but this way with a 2-Ring Saginaw, it will bring my First Gear down to 3.11. I would go to a Granny Gear 4-Speed, but to do it right I would need to change the Floor Hump, which I really don't want to do with this truck. My other two trucks are already Granny Gear trucks ('68 C-30 and a '72 C-30). I've been Shifting Gears for 48 Years straight now and have no plans on giving up my Clutch Pedal, lol.

[El Dorado Jim]

what a bunch of pus&%$s, that dont want to shift anymore!!! Lol,,,,just kidding...I am almost 60 and still love to manually shift my trucks......if you want a workhorse, go with a manual , if you just want comfort and occasional heavy towing, stay with your t-400

[BILT4ME]

I have always like the manual in my trucks.

My 69 K10 did a LOT of pulling on the farm, so I built it up to handle it (except for the semi-float axles) and I installed a puck-style clutch from a C60 truck. Until I got used to it, my left leg would start to shake while sitting at a stop light because the push was so hard.

I let my cousin drive the truck once, and when he got back, he grabbed my left leg and asked if I was doing workouts, just so I could drive the damn thing! By then I had forgotten that it was so hard because I drove it every day.

[Andy4639]

Took the 3 speed on the tree out years ago and went through several 4 speed in the floor. Then I got smart and installed a 700-R4 drove it for almost 200,000 miles like that now I have a 4L80E in it. Want never have a manual again for a daily driver.

[AnotherWs6]

I have never owned an automatic equipped vehicle that I did not wish was a manual. The coolness - to me at least - factor would go up by about 7 points if my truck were a 4 speed behind my original 396.

[nikwho]

I bought my truck with a SBC & th350 auto. I am nearly finished with my 433" BBC swap. It should be making somewhere in the 615-650 HP according to the dyno software. In addition to just wanting to shift gears, I want the added durability of an M22 Rock Crusher. Plus, I love the sound of the straight cut gears! I was thinking of going with something with an overdrive, but I've got everything to hook up a M22, so I'm thinking of keeping it simple with that.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by nikwho

I love the sound of the straight cut gears!

I agree.

They sure do sound sweet.

[Mr Handy]

I swapped from a turbo 350 to an sm465 and love it... I do plan to add a gear vendor at some point...

Between my wife and I we own 3 vehicles, all of which are manuals.

[factorystock]

I would like the turbo better if it had a 2 gear start and stay, like period Ford autos. Heavy slow traffic patterns result in constant 1 2 upshifts and 2 1 downshifts, IMO, a lock in 2nd gear is much better in these situations, also they say 2nd gear hold is also better of starts on ice. The only period 4 spd. manual truck transmission I like is the 435 CR ( close ratio ). Gears are much more evenly spaced and you can carry out 3rd or down shift to 3rd at much higher road speeds. This box was known as the "camper transmission" by Chevy truck salesman.

[Alex V.]

I have both. A TH400 in my '85 1-ton, behind a stock 454 with 4.10 gears, and an NP435 behind a 350 with 3.73's in my Suburban. For a slight edge in fuel economy and brute reliability, of course the 4-speed is the winner. However, the TH400 is, I think, the "stick shift person's automatic", not constantly hunting for gears, stiff and responsive, and simple and durable as far as automatics go. Of course, my '85 would be even cooler (on top of being a white-on-blue SRW C3500 with Sierra Classic trim, A/C, and power everything) if it was a 4-speed, but I've pondered that possibility before and the more I use it for towing the more I'm happy to keep the automatic. Less to juggle when driving with a load in traffic, or through areas of stop-and-go, and ease of inching forward or back with heavy loads without riding the clutch excessively.

My 'Burb wouldn't be the same without the 4-speed I grew up watching dad drive. If it weren't for that I honestly can't say which I'd prefer in it. But I really think if it's a vehicle that will see a lot of slow, off-road or farm use, or most of the time it sees on public roads will be without heavy loads, then I'd probably chose manual - more desirable, trouble free, and fun. So IMHO it's preference with some attention to what type of vehicle it is and how it'll be used.

[gvw5400]

I am very bias toward manual transmissions.
Automatics do have their place for handicapped folks, but my truck is a throwback
in time. I am the guy that loves driving without the radio on and just listening to the
single chamber dual exhaust. No offense, but I will put up with driving a 4 spd. in traffic to
retain the classic truck experience. To each his own, but a truck should have a manual
transmission. All The Best, Dirk

[shane0331]

I have a SM465 and I love it. to me it makes it more enjoyable to drive. I don't wheel it much and my town is pretty light on traffic. The few times I did get stuck in traffic on the high way, me left knee was sore for a while...

[profe56]

My C10 69 : 700's, when I bought it was manual. I'm glad with auto.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Originally Posted by gvw5400

No offense, but I will put up with driving a 4 spd. in traffic to retain the classic truck experience.

I agree. Even if driving one of these all day, lol.
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