Manual vs Automatic
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 933
Likes: 426
From: Dutchess county New York
You know what you want so don't settle. 'vette needs a stick.
Don't know where you are located but this morning in this thread "Buying first Corvette. What to look for?" I just saw that KingRat posted a few links for someone else.
Just thought this one looked clean https://racine.craigslist.org/cto/d/...625476996.html
On the unlikely chance that you're ever in Racine looking at Corvettes do yourself a favor and go to Oh Dennis' on Douglas Ave. Best rib & steak place on the planet. Unobtrusive little shack. God I'm drooling right now thinking about ribs ....
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 428
From: Aarhus, Denmark
The car is not on the street yet, so I don't know how it drives :- (
But my 69 convertible has a sbc 355 with T5WC 5 speed transmission (1352-176)
This car has EFI, AFR heads, G-Team intake, Be cool, hydr roller cam/lifter, 1.6 rocker arms, headers and 2½ exhaust ec ec ec
BUT THE BEST UPGRADE OF THEM ALL...….. IS MY 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION !!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 343
From: Allenton Wisconsin
Nice setup, my 69 Coupe has a sbc 427 and TH2004R with 3.70 rear.
The car is not on the street yet, so I don't know how it drives :- (
But my 69 convertible has a sbc 355 with T5WC 5 speed transmission (1352-176)
This car has EFI, AFR heads, G-Team intake, Be cool, hydr roller cam/lifter, 1.6 rocker arms, headers and 2½ exhaust ec ec ec
BUT THE BEST UPGRADE OF THEM ALL...….. IS MY 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION !!!!
The car is not on the street yet, so I don't know how it drives :- (
But my 69 convertible has a sbc 355 with T5WC 5 speed transmission (1352-176)
This car has EFI, AFR heads, G-Team intake, Be cool, hydr roller cam/lifter, 1.6 rocker arms, headers and 2½ exhaust ec ec ec
BUT THE BEST UPGRADE OF THEM ALL...….. IS MY 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION !!!!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,905
Likes: 4,479
From: Virginia
The 3.08 rear with a 4-speed is a fine solution. Plenty quick, and tolerable on the highway. If I were to swap it out, I'd consider a modern wide-ratio M22 clone, keep the 4-speed originality, and add the gear whine coolness.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 428
From: Aarhus, Denmark
What 5 speed do you have?
Agree, with 3.73 or 4.11 "you" need a 5 speed.
My 5 speed has a nice 0.63 in 5th gear, that is very nice. 60mph @ 1650rpm...…...with factory 3.70 rear.
Thx,
John
Last edited by c3_dk; Jul 13, 2018 at 04:00 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
https://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/4842482?ad_cid=13
From description and pictures it looks like a nice car at a reasonable price.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 343
From: Allenton Wisconsin
Tremic T500, lousiest shifting tranny I ever drove. Will not shift over 6000 rpm and the 2-3 shift is horrible, no such thing as speed shifting like the old Muncies with a Hurst Comp+ shifter. The old top loader in my 67 ****** CJ5 Jeep shifted better. T
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 597
As for the conversion manual to manual 6 speed ( Cross member needs to be converted to removable )
auto to manual ( Requires a clutch pedal installed )
both are a pain to complete, but if you don't have fabrication tools the auto to manual is just time and no fabrication.
So before deciding test drive a C6 corvette manual and see if you like the shifting vs a C3 4 speed. That is what helped me. After driving a few C3 4 speeds you couldn't get me to buy a C3 factory manual car.
As for 5 speed options (cheaper) but the 2nd-3rd upshift at higher rpm (Unless modified by the vendor) don't shift like the T56 6 speed.
My car being a 78 with a 6 speed for track days.
Last edited by cagotzmann; Jul 14, 2018 at 10:43 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,905
Likes: 4,479
From: Virginia
I would purchase a 80-81 auto car as it is a easier conversion to a modern 6 speed . Why 6 speed, because you get everything you need for performance and highway driving. Then add in hydraulic clutch with a twin disc, you get the feel of the modern C6 corvette in a C3.
As for the conversion manual to manual 6 speed ( Cross member needs to be converted to removable )
auto to manual ( Requires a clutch pedal installed )
both are a pain to complete, but if you don't have fabrication tools the auto to manual is just time and no fabrication.
So before deciding test drive a C6 corvette manual and see if you like the shifting vs a C3 4 speed. That is what helped me. After driving a few C3 4 speeds you couldn't get me to buy a C3 factory manual car.
As for 5 speed options (cheaper) but the 2nd-3rd upshift at higher rpm (Unless modified by the vendor) don't shift like the T56 6 speed.
My car being a 78 with a 6 speed for track days.
As for the conversion manual to manual 6 speed ( Cross member needs to be converted to removable )
auto to manual ( Requires a clutch pedal installed )
both are a pain to complete, but if you don't have fabrication tools the auto to manual is just time and no fabrication.
So before deciding test drive a C6 corvette manual and see if you like the shifting vs a C3 4 speed. That is what helped me. After driving a few C3 4 speeds you couldn't get me to buy a C3 factory manual car.
As for 5 speed options (cheaper) but the 2nd-3rd upshift at higher rpm (Unless modified by the vendor) don't shift like the T56 6 speed.
My car being a 78 with a 6 speed for track days.
Otherwise, I agree with everything. If you can find a nice Auto, and a 5 or 6-speed manual is your upgrade path anyway, you don't need to mess around with the 4-speed first. My 4-speed is a notchy mess, but I love it. The Hurst Competition Plus makes 2-3 shifts a lot easier, but good luck finding an install kit for 80-81.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 597
A modern transmission with a twin disc (light pedal feel ) is great for us seniors as we age.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,640
Likes: 121
From: Farragut,TN
.I'm past retirement age and love manual 4 and 5 speeds. Age 78 what's not comfortable about them? I can drive my '69 4 speed with out using the clutch 2-3-4 shifts except starting out from a stand still start..
Last edited by 694speed350; Jul 15, 2018 at 05:05 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 943
From: Lake Tahoe, CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,984
Likes: 494
From: Michigan
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
Even the super car Ferrari now come with automatic transmissions. This was unheard of a decade ago. "Gotta change with the times"
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
"Last week, the National Corvette Museum published a detailed breakdown of 2016-model-year Corvette production, and it revealed that only 9249 of the 40,689 built came with manual transmissions. That works out to be a little under 23 percent of production."
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
in the last week I have seen 3 listings for corvettes for sale, "specifically stating selling due to health issues".
and no longer able to drive them, i looked each of them, not automatics.
like it or not as your body ages, your clutch days are numbered.
and no longer able to drive them, i looked each of them, not automatics.
like it or not as your body ages, your clutch days are numbered.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Its not that hard or expensive to convert a manual to an automatic, so I wonder how much of that is problems with pushing in the clutch.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 231
Likes: 39
From: Imboden Arkansas
I'm almost 69 and when I started looking for my vette I had 3 criteria. 1. A C3 that I could afford, 2. red exteriors, 3. It had to be a 4 speed. I'll drive it till I can't then like someone said earlier, I'll sit in it and pretend. Love running through the gears. One more thing, not too worried about some kid stealing it.
Last edited by Oldriceguy; Aug 3, 2018 at 11:07 PM. Reason: Spelling