Auto or Manual honest opinions please

[EBFalcs]

your all gonna hate me for this, but when i first got my licence i was more of a holden man, but iv'e changed now. but i do still have my first car which is a HQ 4 door with a 202 and an aussie 4 speed (which i fitted myself), but i spent about 3 months on the body and preparing it for the gts paint job it has now, which was done four years ago. and i can't bring myself to sell it, so i've decided to do some real big mods to it and i'ts gonna be fast, very fast, as i'm going to V8 it,

and was wondering what is the best trans to put in, manual or auto as i have to buy a V8 trans with a V8.

[trick_xd]

go a 2 speed power glide
if you want power
and to go fast
then get a Glide and a good stall

[AWD Chaser]

Manual, hands down...., or better yet, custom ratio manual box!!!!

[LeMans]

The best option is the sequential auto in the new Falcons.

But back in the real world of HQ Holdens, my choice by a country mile would be a manual. If there is one thing that bothers me with autos, it’s that they do what they want when they want it, and usually when you least want it. I like to have total control of all aspects of the car. Combined with the fact that a manual will generally be more economical and more power to the wheels (all things being equal) there is no choice.

Now back to fantasy land, a Falcon sequential would be awesome. A quick smooth shift when you want it and only when you want it.

[EBFalcs]

a B&M shifter will make a trimatic just as good as a sports sequential and a stall converter = shift kit will make a good challenge for a manual, in fact most people use worked autos in drag strip cars cause their quiker, but on the other hand a manual is so much more fun.

[Steffo]

Depends on what you do with it.

Drag race? Auto.

Corners? Manual.

Cruiser, street driving etc? Auto.

[Falcon Freak]

Originally Posted by EBFalcs

your all gonna hate me for this, but when i first got my licence i was more of a holden man, but iv'e changed now. but i do still have my first car which is a HQ 4 door with a 202 and an aussie 4 speed (which i fitted myself), but i spent about 3 months on the body and preparing it for the gts paint job it has now, which was done four years ago. and i can't bring myself to sell it, so i've decided to do some real big mods to it and i'ts gonna be fast, very fast, as i'm going to V8 it,

and was wondering what is the best trans to put in, manual or auto as i have to buy a V8 trans with a V8.

If you want heaps of opinions about auto or manual transmissions then click here

FF

[EBFalcs]

i deffinately dont want it for corners, and old HQ on corners, i might as well pushe the thing into a tree or off a cliff, atleast i won't be in the car then and it will still have the same fate

[MoreHPformyXR6]

If u want to drag auto I had a 327 Chev in my HJ with Turbo 400 & Shift Kit & my mate Had 327 Chev in his HQ GTS with Turbo 350 & both went very well.

[AWD Chaser]

Yeah, Pure drag car.... CVT - lol

[CAMS290]

If you go for a manual, do yourself a favour and put in a Supra 5 speed or something similar, stay away from the old M20/M21 Aussie 4 speeds, as most of them are stuffed now, and they cant handle much HP anyway.

2 Speed Glides aren't much good unless you run pretty big stalls with them, i would look at a modded Tri matic (traumatic) you can get lots of good bits for them now,

[Falcon Coupe]

Turbo 400 & Shift Kit .

[EBFalcs]

yeah i think i might go auto because first of all it's probably cheaper and easier in the first place but what would it be like cruising around town and on the open road with a 2500-3500 stall converter, and also will a stall converter light up the tyres every time you take off. cause as far as i know the car won't hardly move untill it locks up. but manuals also have an advantage, you an have a tall diff and you got more gears to make up for it.

decisions decisions hey

[xe351]

hhmm, id go the manual, but if you go the auto i've heard the trimatics are not a good choice, apparently they are called truamatics

[macca_779]

Mate get an EFI 304 for the old girl. Personally go AUTO (T700) as its going to be a cruiser yes. As much as i love manuals and have always owned them, old cars are better suited to AUTO'S in my opinion

[bwhinnen]

T700 is the go, neighbour has one in his 383ci (chev) HQ Monaro. Has tricked it up himself and says it's the easiest thing to do when you have the correct workshop manuals... Mind you he does a bit of mechanical work on the side.

[EBFalcs]

alright! it's like this. CRS make a bellhousing so i can adapt a 6 cylinder manual to a V8 (i think they do anyway). Now! i have a chioce of a 4 speed all synchro or 3 speed all synchro, so if i have say, a 3.55 diff or somewhere around that ratio with a 300-400 HP motor what do you think would be best to use. i was thinking possibly a three speed because it is one less gear change and with that much power another gear down low shouldn't make much difference, so what do you all think.

[EBFalcs]

no comment, NO COMMENT

[460cixy]

this old chesnut. i would be intrested to know who has actualy owned and drivan a manual on a daily basis. or are we all arm chair race drivers ?

[INJECTED_250]

YUp i drive a manual every day EB falcon with the heavest cluch ever its a pain in the *** .... used to have a manual in my cortina, with a 260@050 cam, and at one stage 2.92 gears, to say it was a pig is an understate ment used it have to use 3rd at 60-80 km/ph or it would be bunny hopping and stuffing about . Fitted a c9 and a big of converter, and its the easiest thing to drive about, any one that says big converters arnt streetable hasnt driven a car fitted with one. Defently fit an auto t700 seems the go, the old trimatic can be built tuff 2

[BlueRaven]

Personal preference? Manual.

But I think an auto is best suited for you.

[BI6TIM]

INJECTED 250 has it covered. I also drive a manual daily at the moment and some days I hate the car, yes it's fun for racing and drifting and all that stuff but a daily driver is so much more enjoyable when it's my wifes Fairmont Ghia (Auto obviously).
If you go for any of the turbo boxes (t350, t400, t700) there are so many aftermarket parts for them it's not funny.
They are only traumatic if they're stock, you can build them sooooo tough!
Personaly if I had your car, if your talking about a 350 chev motor, I would fit a t400.

[460cixy]

thing that gets me is i can drive a 6 banger falcon in to the workshop with the worst gear change and heavy clutch known to man yet its onl;y a pov pack 6cyl falcon. then i could drive in a gtr skyline with twice as much grunt and nice slick box and good clutch feel. that i could drive every day. when a falcon has a decent manual and a decent clutch i will go back to driveing one as for now my old 4 speed manual range rover has a better shift quality

[XRchic]

Drive every day and race my manual BA. Its fine with me, I hate autos and Im not good at driving or racing them. However, it very much depends on the car and the person.

If you intend to drag race, then go for the auto - the autos always get better times.

If you intend to race on a track, go for manuals - much better for curves and changing speeds.

If you just want something to cruise in, either manual or auto would be fine, depending on your preference and what sort of cruising you plan to do (city or country).

If you plan to drive mostly in the city/in traffic, most people prefer autos. I drive in peak hour nearly two hours a day and my manual doesnt bother me in the slightest (and I have a poorly healed broken left foot and ankle) but most people dont like manuals in traffic.

Many older cars are better in auto, just depends.

Good luck mate.

[SpoolMan]

I read there is an article in this month’s Motor magazine where 98% of all XR6T and F6’s sold are being purchased with the 6 speed auto.
This will make it very rare to find a manual if your looking for a 2nd hand one in years to come.
Why change gears enjoy your driving, automatic's are that far advanced now, we will see a decline across the board a manual will be a thing of the past.
Its just like a dish washer or a washing machine why do it by hand..lol..

A quote from another thread.

Originally Posted by FPVGT

Manuals are only good for large trucks.

[xfalconz]

Originally Posted by SpoolMan

I read there is an article in this month’s Motor magazine where 98% of all XR6T and F6’s sold are being purchased with the 6 speed auto.
This will make it very rare to find a manual if your looking for a 2nd hand one in years to come.
Why change gears enjoy your driving, automatic's are that far advanced now, we will see a decline across the board a manual will be a thing of the past.
Its just like a dish washer or a washing machine why do it by hand..lol..

A quote from another thread.

There is something to be said for the 6speed manual in the XR6T. Depending on when and how fast gears are changed you can get the turbo and wastegate to make some great noises!
Probabaly sounds a bit stupid but its satisfying to get a good change on a good piece of road with the Turbo whistling.
When it all comes together its definitly grin inducing!

[351ciofgrunt]

Manual all the way, i hate autos

[EBFalcs]

the problem i have is all the manuals i have are 6 cylinder ones, i don't know if there is any difference in strength, i doub't a car manafacturer would cast stronger parts and have twice the work to do, when they can just make one box and that's it. but iv'e also heard that the holden manuals can't take much grunt, but iv'e thrashed the out of the manual i have and have had no probs.

[XRchic]

Originally Posted by EBFalcs

the problem i have is all the manuals i have are 6 cylinder ones, i don't know if there is any difference in strength, i doub't a car manafacturer would cast stronger parts and have twice the work to do, when they can just make one box and that's it. but iv'e also heard that the holden manuals can't take much grunt, but iv'e thrashed the out of the manual i have and have had no probs.

Gearbox or clutch? Clutches tend to be the weaker point in BA 6s, but the gearbox seems to be ok for the most part. Ive had loads of problems with weak Ford clutches in mine, but no issues with the gearbox to date except for dodgy synchro on 5th which is getting fixed shortly.

[bazzalong]

not sure what the problem is with the BA's, but you guys have it real good, hydro clutch, twin cam, and a turbo option.

i drive an AU XR6 manual, every day, and i love it.
i have a heavier rated clutch, with old school cable technology.


my advise, go with what you want, if you like auto, do auto, but go for the T700, the fourth speed helps with the economy, but for the manual, you need to get the V8 box, otherwise you will be throwing money down the drain, and they are a to change out by yourself, you definantly should go for the four speed box, because with a three speed you run out of legs at about 120kph, depending on your diff gears, and petrol is not cheap now, so think economy as well as power.

happy hunting