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

[Zone47]

Mine is a turbo 400 which is a pretty good auto, but I always thought a 4 speed would be cooler. It would be a ton of work to convert though.

What are you running and what is your first choice?

[Ironhorse]

First choice for me would be what I originally had, '71 Fleetside long bed K10 4x4, 350 with sm465 4 speed and locking hubs. Drove my truck like that for many, many years until finally Arthur(itis) got to my knees making really rough on the old man to push the clutch in traffic. Could not wrap around the idea of getting rid of my 'ol truck and swapped in a TH350. Still love the truck but do miss my 4 speed. For me, I can live with the auto but still miss my 4 speed. Just turned 68 in April, swapped my trans 2 years ago.

[Stocker]

My K20 has a TH350, simply because that's what was in it when I bought it used. I would have been just as happy with a manual. They each have their strong points and I don't really prefer one over the other.

[CG]

My first two K-trucks had four speeds with granny first. My current K has auto ... I like it more. My body likes it more haha. But I can see where maybe you can get more versatility out of a four speed. I had to use granny a couple of times and it was pretty nice. But maybe shifting an auto in to low would be the same?

[96blazr]

Had a 66 Suburban with a 350 with a M21 4-speed. It was fun......for a while, but after a while it got tiresome.
When I got my 68 SWB I made sure it was an auto. It's all a personal choice, but I've had both.
If I had a pure race/strip/road course type then yeah, but Give me an automatic any day.

[jocko]

Depends on what you do with the truck. I had a 3 OTT then 5-speed T5 in a 66 swb because it was kind of a little hot rod scoot-around truck. In anything 67-72, I prefer an automatic, because I'm more likely to drive it to work, hit traffic, or actually use it for something around the back 40. I like shifting my own, but have to agree with above post, the fun factor can wear off over time (and perhaps with age for some). Also, having broken, ruptured, or fractured various parts of either leg, it came in handy to have an automatic to still be able to drive to work. Have had some injuries where there's no way I could have driven a manual for awhile. Being on my own at the time, that became an important decision. Seems like a corner-case until it's in your corner

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Automatic, no question.

If a custom "sport truck" with upgraded suspension and lots of HP, then 4-speed, no question.

[72chevynut]

I'm blessed to own K models with both auto and 4 speed transmissions. Not really a preference to me, I just enjoy driving the ole trucks. I do get a lot of positive feedback when people see my orange truck (And it's 4 speed - Cool!! they say). I guess because you don't see many trucks anymore with a stick shifts. When restoring, I've always kept stock setup except for one blazer I did several years ago. I converted it from 3-on-tree due to shifting problems to auto, and only to auto because of the extra parts I had available at the time.

[El Dorado Jim]

I prefer 4 spd transmissions in my old chevy trucks....I removed automatics in my 72 and my 74 and put in sm 465 trans with 205 t-cases..

[Marine-58]

Interesting question. I grew up learning to drive with only manual trans. Still lean that way but in getting older, it is easy to appreciate an auto when stuck in traffic. Many years ago, I swapped out a TH350 for an M-22 in a Camaro. Wasn't that hard, actually did everything in the barracks parking lot in one long day. Sue wouldn't try that now but is was worth it then.

I have been thinking of swapping the TH400 currently in my 72 C10. Howver would not go with a 4 speed, probably a 5 or 6 speed. My 69 Vette has the 6 speed out of a Camaro and having the 2 od's is nice. Not that I would want to take the truck to 150+. Not quite that brave... But it would be nice to take the rear gears to 4.11's and still be able to drive highway speeds.

Not sure an of this rambling helps any, just my preferences...

[67ChevyRedneck]

If I'm going to spend my time and money to do a conversion, it's going to have to have several benefits, so if I went from an Auto to Manual it would be for a 5 or 6 speed only.

I swapped my 65 Mustang from a C4 auto (no OD) to a modern T5, best upgrade I've done to the car.

[Warrens69GMC]

Driving with my wife - automatic
Driving by myself or friends (male) - standard

[Grumpy old man]

Automatics are for girls

[Zone47]

Originally Posted by 96blazr

Had a 66 Suburban with a 350 with a M21 4-speed. It was fun......for a while, but after a while it got tiresome.
When I got my 68 SWB I made sure it was an auto. It's all a personal choice, but I've had both.
If I had a pure race/strip/road course type then yeah, but Give me an automatic any day.

That's good to hear because I was wondering the same thing... if after a while I'd get tired of shifting the thing. It's not like these have easy to push hydraulic clutches.

[Canuckvetter]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Automatics are for girls

Then I guess I have one "Girl's Truck" and definitely one MAN's truck. MANual brakes, MANual steering, MANual windows, MANual choke, MANual transmission.

[Greg58]

I've always had something with a clutch around, my 70 GMC is a 4 speed and that wasn't a deal breaker.
Look on the bright side, a lot of people can't drive a stick, so the chances of theft are reduced...

Greg

[Warrens69GMC]

3ott or double clutch (ing) is foreign to 95+% of people....

[In The Ten Ring]

3 speed on the column preferred 4 speed in floor OK. Best if these are the original transmissions.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I much prefer the SM465 to any automatic. I had a '67 K/10 Suburban w/454/TH350/NP205. Not original, but the PO's junkyard scores. My main gripe with this set-up was, the drum brakes sucked, but I could not use downshifting for engine-braking with it effectively. The tranny would just shift back into high on its own. Never sure how to fix that, but with bad brakes, that thing is better off not on the road anymore.
I have 465s in the 2 trucks that run.

[hitower]

I'm having this same dilemma in my head right now. My old motor is tired and I'm getting ready to drop in a fresh motor. Currently I have the SM 465 in my 71 4x4 K20. I was thinking of getting around a 300 hp motor for it, but am thinking if the Hp will be useless behind the 465 with the long throws and big gear spacing. I have been saving a Turbo 350 and NP 205 setup if I do want to convert it to automatic behind the new motor.

[palallin]

Had both, prefer the standard (despite my advancing age).

[RustyBucket]

I have one stick & 1 auto. The stick is more fun. Both have O.D. and pretty low first gears, which make them pretty responsive off the line even with 3.08 gears. Both also cruise easy at interstate speeds. The 700r4 in the GMC shifts into O.D. at about 50mph. I've taught several people to drive a stick with the Blazer. Light effort hyd. clutch and a real torquey BB make it real easy to drive, have to try pretty hard to stall it.

[painterljp]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Automatics are for girls

What is wrong with girls

[70cst]

Turbo 400 which I have makes drinking much easier.

[leftybass209]

I have a 700r4. I wanted to cruise without the fuss of shifting in traffic and I didn't want to climb back under it to change a clutch when the truck is finished and i'm enjoying it.
People can muster up any silly joke they want about automatics, it doesn't bother me. I've got some choice opinions about crap I see on these trucks all the time, sometimes the most and only lovable thing about them is their manual trans!