I've had both, and I will say that I like any kind of manual transmission for a performance application, just because I like being able to control the timing of the shifts, without letting the transmission think for me.
But, for a stock type daily driver, or just a nice cruiser, it's an auto tranny all the way! If I'm not worried about getting there fast, and I just want to cruise, I'd rather just drop it in Drive and roll!
That being said, my F-100 is getting an AOD in the future (presently 3 speed on the column manual). I want to cruise!
I saw this posted on another site and thought everyone might be interested. After seeing this, I'm glad I have manuals.
Just in case you're curious, power loss for various auto transmissions:
Please remember these are approximate values, and were provided by Car Craft Magazine.
Powerglide_____18 hp
TH-350________36 hp
TH-400________44 hp
Ford_C-6______55-60 hp
Ford_C-4______28 hp
Ford_FMX______25 hp
Chrysler_A904__25 hp
Chrysler_727___45 hp
John Member #1549 71 F100 Sport Custom__________1967 F350 Gone, but not forgotten
71 LONG BED wrote:I saw this posted on another site and thought everyone might be interested. After seeing this, I'm glad I have manuals.
Just in case you're curious, power loss for various auto transmissions:
Please remember these are approximate values, and were provided by Car Craft Magazine.
Powerglide_____18 hp
TH-350________36 hp
TH-400________44 hp
Ford_C-6______55-60 hp
Ford_C-4______28 hp
Ford_FMX______25 hp
Chrysler_A904__25 hp
Chrysler_727___45 hp
I have run some of these on the dyno myself (owned a tranny shop for a number of years) and these #s are very close to what I came up with also, except the Th400 and C6 3s were reversed. I showed 42 hp on the ford and 61 on the chev.
The th400 were really no heavier built than a 350, just set up to rob more power from the big blocks so they would stand up!
Just for sh*ts and giggles, I looked up some old records I kept from Aug-Sept 1995.
Total auto rebuilds-48
GM TH350-8
GM TH400-3
GM 700R4-21
Ford C4-1
Ford C6-2
Ford AOD-5
Chrys 727-1
Chrys 904-7
Made my first million.....too bad it was mistakes..not dollars! Now pass me that crescent hammer.
Just for sh*ts and giggles, I looked up some old records I kept from Aug-Sept 1995.
Total auto rebuilds-48
GM TH350-8
GM TH400-3
GM 700R4-21
Ford C4-1
Ford C6-2
Ford AOD-5
Chrys 727-1
Chrys 904-7[/quote]
I think the 700r4 being that high of a number is becuase they are in most everything now. Fullsize trucks, camaros, s-10's, everything from a v-6 to a v-8 has one. I even had one in my jeep cherokee from the factory, but that was built from leftover crap jeep from the factory.
I personally like both in different circustances. I tow with an automatic. I think they can hold up very well. I like a manual for driving around and for a sportier feel. As far as off road goes if I was to be in nothing but mud then manual all the way. For what I like doing in my offroader (rocks) I prefer the automatic. It all depends on driver and personal preferences.
Has ford ever made a "his/her" trans/shifter like GM and Dodge played with a few times? Just curious?
The 700R4 was only used for a few years before it became the the 4L60E. Both garbage transmissions. Sadly, my dad's a chevy guy. He drives a '96 3/4 2wd 5.7 vortec/4L60E truck. Only has 93K well maintained miles on it and it's had 2 transmissions and I've done the intake gaskets for him 3 times (took 3 times to finess them into sealing). Now the crap cpsfi unit is starting to go out. The gov-lok rear posi bangs and pops. What a fine truck.
I can honestly say I could take that truck with it's brand new $1800 performance built 4L60E, hook my empty car trailer to it and blow the tranny up in one day.
One of my best friends drives a '72 chev 3/4 4x4 with a 350/350/205 in it. He's had it for 2 years. He works his truck just as hard as I do my ford, always towing trailers and equipment, racking up a ton of miles. He's on his 3rd engine, 4th TH350, and second 205 in the past 2 years and just the other day his new tranny started acting up again. I told him with all the money he spends on fixing his autos he could have put an NV4500 in it by now, but nothing will make you feel like a bigger turd than trying to tow a heavy trailer with small block/manual truck, so he'll keep fixing his autos.
so I pick the auto if its a heavy duty C-6 and a V8. mostly because its way easier to fit three in the cab, drink and drive , coffee not booze.
Also the old school clutches, and spring pressure plates sucked really, if you add to much power they slip like mad. in my one tonne I was replacing them every 2 months, if they didn't slip they chatter because the torsion springs would snap, or the hub would rip.
and yes I drive my truck very,very, hard. but thats not the point.
:):):)