manually shifting

[Anti-Ricer]

Just picked up project redheaded stepchild from my friends house.he installed the 3.73 gears in it.anyways this is only the 2nd time I drove it since I got it and the longest im drove it. I gotta say I'm not use to driving the old vehicles. Going down the interstate I had to keep turning the steering wheel back and forth to keep it straight plus I had to turn the a mile before the the wheels turned lol.the breaks we're just as bad you better start stopping a ways back or you are going thru whatever is in front of you.now the engine is a 2004 350 vortec from a boat.The transmission is a turbo 350 with as everyone knows is a 3 spd no over drive now remember I just got gears installed. going down the interstate it feels like I should have 2 more gears. I bet if the truck with a 4 speed I could lift the front wheels lol.the truck was moaning and groaning like a torque monster. I do have one simple question the trans has B&M ratchet shifter which I always manually shift it.now here's my question is it bad to manually shift the transmission? And here is the order of it.
P .N. http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/manu...ml#post1705954 . 3. 2. 1 now where is [D]rive at and can I put it in drive if it has it or do I have to continue to manually shift it?
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[jayoldschool]

Depends on how the trans was built. Put in 3 (D), and drive off. If it shifts up, you've got your answer.

[Anti-Ricer]

The previous owner never told me anything about the truck.not even about the 350 vortec.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Lugnutz65]

Originally Posted by Anti-Ricer

. . . . . Going down the interstate I had to keep turning the steering wheel back and forth to keep it straight . . . .

I would not drive it until you have inspected the steering box, steering linkage and ball joints. It sound unsafe. You could get hurt, hurt someone else, or worse . . . My advice, make it safe or don't drive it.

Originally Posted by Anti-Ricer

. . . . . the breaks we're just as bad you better start stopping a ways back . . . . .

Inspect your brakes and repair/replace whatever is needed to make it stop reliably. It sounds unsafe. You could get hurt, hurt someone else, or worse . . . My advice, make it safe or don't drive it.

[Captainfab]

The higher rpms at highway speeds is typical with 3.73 gears, unless you have fairly tall tires. You would have been much better off with 3.07 gears for highway driving.

I agree on fixing what ever is wrong with your steering and brakes, before you drive it any more.