The disadvantage to so much of the new equipment (as I see it) is the electronics involved. Half the reliability issues with newer auto trannies seems to be computer related. But they are advancing in other areas. I'm really itching to try that B&J air shift 3 speed.

 

maybe you guys have never been stuck out in the middle of nowhere with a burned up auto. My buddy's C6 burned up for no aparent reason and left us to haul a deer out by hand. Kinda ticks you off. I drive a stick cause they are, like pro said, much more simple and bulletproof. When it comes to my trucks, durability comes before convienence. Yeah, it takes a while to get through those gears when you are drag racing with a standard, but I've never been one of those idiots that race off stoplights like its somethin cool. I'll wave and smile when I fly by you stuck in a mudhole with a burned up auto. Fishman - I wouldn't say you could whoop me with your auto until you come out west where we have real mountains and real rocks.

 

guess you've never visited my local playground I like to call Tellico, have you?

-cutts-

 

Let's get something straight. Autos don't just burn up for no reason . . . anymore than a clutch burns out for no reason. Either it wasn't built for the application, filters weren't changed, a fluid cooler wasn't used, etc. This is no different than a person incorrectly installing a clutch and having it burn up or riding the clutch and destroying it (and I'll bet he didn't go through 3 C6's in a year either). If either system is properly built and properly maintained then there will be no problems. C6's are some of the toughest trannys out there which is why they're still used in almost all Ford racing applications with the exception of a few guys who have gone to powerglides or aftermarket auto trannys. But again, they're going to an auto.

I'm not saying this makes them a better overall transmission but they are the preferred transmission for most offroading and racing applications. So my point is when you assume that people who run an auto do it because they can't drive a stick stop to consider the fact that maybe 5 decades of experienced builders are racers are using them for a reason OTHER than not being able to drive a stick.

Btw, it's hard to fly by anyone waving when you toasted another clutch.

 

just one more point and I'll shut up...you can love your auto if you want too, but what you gonna do when you got a dead battery or starter failure and you gotta start your truck to get home? I can usually find a little hill and bump start my truck. I'd like to see you do that in your auto. You win though. Most, almost all, TTC guys use autos and competitors use autos. I just don't got the money to rebuild a tranny all the time and am not rich or cocky enough to compare myself to those guys. I can get a clutch, now that I know how to put them in right, for around $60.

 

i run a dual battery setup so all i have to do is switch to my second battery (which i do with my bling bling battery switch mounted on my dash)

not stepping on toes here i just don't want ppl to think that autos suck and sticks are the only way to go!

-cutts-

 

Well I have dual Optimas with an isolator so chances of me getting stuck with a dead battery are slim. Remember what the Marines say: Prior Proper Planning Prevents Pizz Poor Performance! As for the starter failure . . . sure, that's possible but I could just as easily throw a rod, snap an axle, etc. If something breaks it breaks and that's life.

I'm not saying you need to compare yourself to the TTC guys but we're discussing offroad driving here (hence the name of the forum). If 90% of them are running an auto offroad there's got to be a reason for it.

 

I have been, just this year. However, like Ivan said, there was a reason for it. Just the week before I'd pulled out a big chevy with a seized tranny out of tank trap, through another trap and up a hill. Actually, I think I burst something in my tq...anyways, that trauma is what caused it to let go the next weekend when I went wheeling. Now I'm thinking of re-using that C-6 in a trail rig so that should tell you I have plenty of faith in them.

Who are you calling an idiot? Ah well, I got a new highangle drive shaft outta that one....

 

[QUOTE=muddy4x4lane]maybe you guys have never been stuck out in the middle of nowhere with a burned up auto. My buddy's C6 burned up for no aparent reason and left us to haul a deer out by hand. Kinda ticks you off. I drive a stick cause they are, like pro said, much more simple and bulletproof. QUOTE]
Nope never been stranded by an auto but have been stranded by a flywheel scattering behind a well built 390, and a clutch preasure plate shattering behind a stock 454, and stuck in the field with broken input shafts in granny 4 spds in 73-79 fords. I actually like manual transmissions, and have had several, and for not knowing how to shift as why I have an auto, I drive a truck and have for the last 10 yrs with anything from 8-18 gears so I do know how to shift, and think manual trans are great in vehicles without enough power to pull an auto like 4cy rangers.
I run an auto in the race truck because it shifts faster, and when a manual trys to compete they lose no questions asked, and infact have seen them stop dead when they tried to shift. and the last one to try was a jeep with a mild, and I mean very mild sbc, and a 4spd, when he went to take off he shattered the flywheel, which was new as he just finished building this thing with all new parts, shattered his bellhousing busted the back of the block broke the inputshaft, and trans case cut his exhaust like he was using a sawall, and bent his front drive shaft in a 90deg angle plus punched holes in the floor board, and missed cutting off his leg by less than an inch, plus pieces went clear through, and ruined his $1500 paint job, and broke his windshield. yep thats is definatly the way to go

 

No no Pro, he said "idiots that race off stoplights". You raced off a go light which makes it okay.

Monsterbaby, that's some crazy stuff about that Jeep. I've heard of flywheels coming apart before but never heard of one doing that much damage. Scary about the leg thing.

 

yea that is why they made a new rule starting this year that any vehicle with a stick must have a scatter shield even the stock class, because that was a stock class jeep, iron intake, and exhaust manifolds 33in tires street legal (he drove it down, and had to pay someone to trailer it home)

 

Damn monster, thats extreme! Yea, ballistic blankets are our friend

 

now I see what happens to everyone when I go on vacation for 4 days..

With that said, both manuals and autos suck equally. I prefer vehicles that are powered by my own good w9ill..

needless to say, I don't go very far.