Do you guys get tired of shifting gears? - Page 3 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71gmcburb · 10-22-2011, 10:49 PM

I drive my 66 Econoline everyday to and from Seattle in stop and go traffic. It has a manual 3 spd column shift and it doesn't bother me a bit.

I have had 60-60lb bags of concrete, 30-10' pressure treated 4x4s, 70-8' pressure treated 2x4s, compresser, nailer, hoses, saw and cords, plus a wheel borrow in the van and towing a trailer with enough 6' ceder slats to build the fence. I never had a problem with the clutch. Van drove normal and that was up and down hills! It also has manual stearing and manual drum brakes!

this is the van

Ackattack · 10-22-2011, 10:59 PM

My 68 is a 4L60E and its nice to not have to worry about it. I'm planning on getting a higher stall converter for drag racing.

My 69 is a 4 speed and for normal driving it doesn't bother me. One thing about these trucks is to get the shifter in a position that is comfortable to drive, its a pretty long throw.

Now, I had a 6 speed manual in my corvette and it was hella fun and really wish my G8 was too (not an option). The car would be SO much more fun with a manual.

Shaky · 10-23-2011, 08:17 AM

"If four-on-the-floor is no chore, then five-in-the-hand must be grand!"

I'm keeping the SM420 in my '67. I love that cast iron beast.

eldogg · 10-23-2011, 09:39 AM

greatest quote ever "I got a four on the floor and a fifth under the seat"

Hubscrub · 10-23-2011, 09:42 AM

I've got four under my floor 700r4!

chevychase · 10-23-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ackattack

One thing about these trucks is to get the shifter in a position that is comfortable to drive, its a pretty long throw.

Really good point here.

The stick vs. auto debate can definitely go on forever no matter what car/truck. Most stick guys will always "stick" to there guns no matter what.

For a daily driver it's pretty hard to beat an automatic especially if you've got an 700r4 with overdrive already with no issues. It would be really hard for me to justify pulling that tranny unless it was all busted up. And if it was time to yank it I would be thinking pretty hard about throwing a 4L80e with the ability to electronically adjust the behavior and street manners. But then again I'm a lazy a$$ so don't listen to me

Some guys wouldn't be happy with anything less than a stick so it's definitely all down to personal preference.

Longhorn Man · 10-23-2011, 10:52 AM

i have found that I tend to be too abusive when I drive a stick shift vehicle. Last stick shift I had I was ripping clutches every 6 months, and fraggin trannys every 12 months. It got old. (broke the clutch pedal assembly once)
With lower back problems, it sucks having to lift your foot all the time... esp if you have to wear heavy boots for work.
I'll stick with the slushboxes for now. I might get another manual one day.

powerdriver 1958 · 10-23-2011, 11:53 AM

I drive Big truck everyday I work . 9 speed and deep reduction in a 93 Pete ..But was an 18 speed in a KW lowboy truck .

So I want a break from all that . But I still feel in a tow rig I need a 5 speed , Just like the control .

Kidd-7 · 10-23-2011, 02:02 PM

Its personal preference. I miss my 5-speed though. Drove it 80 miles a day about 1/2 in fairly heaving downtown rush hour traffic. It sucked when I spent that time jumping between 2 & 3, but it was always great to have that tranny slowing you down beffore your foot can get to the brake when some jack off up front slams his brakes... That car had a hydraulic clutch which was nice; I don't think I'd want to drive my C-10 with the old mechanical clutch like that.

**jocko** · 10-23-2011, 02:23 PM

to answer the original quesiton, my answer would be "no, until I get stuck in traffic..."
Out here in cali desert, I love my T5. However, had I been pushing the pedal in and out a hundred times per mile in Washington DC traffic like I was a year ago, I'd probably have harry carried myself. But, bottom line, I love to row my own - feels more like I'm driving than being a passenger in the driver's seat. My 2 cents only - I do like automatics too, by the way. But for my hot rod (i.e. truck), prefer the manual trans.

*RUSHNBOBO* · 10-23-2011, 05:50 PM