Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Mine is a turbo 400 which is a pretty good auto, but I always thought a 4 speed would be cooler. It would be a ton of work to convert though. :m3:

What are you running and what is your first choice? :confused:

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

First choice for me would be what I originally had, '71 Fleetside long bed K10 4x4, 350 with sm465 4 speed and locking hubs. Drove my truck like that for many, many years until finally Arthur(itis) got to my knees making really rough on the old man to push the clutch in traffic. Could not wrap around the idea of getting rid of my 'ol truck and swapped in a TH350. Still love the truck but do miss my 4 speed. For me, I can live with the auto but still miss my 4 speed. Just turned 68 in April, swapped my trans 2 years ago.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

My K20 has a TH350, simply because that's what was in it when I bought it used. I would have been just as happy with a manual. They each have their strong points and I don't really prefer one over the other.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

My first two K-trucks had four speeds with granny first. My current K has auto ... I like it more. My body likes it more haha. But I can see where maybe you can get more versatility out of a four speed. I had to use granny a couple of times and it was pretty nice. But maybe shifting an auto in to low would be the same?

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Had a 66 Suburban with a 350 with a M21 4-speed. It was fun......for a while, but after a while it got tiresome.
When I got my 68 SWB I made sure it was an auto. It's all a personal choice, but I've had both.
If I had a pure race/strip/road course type then yeah, but Give me an automatic any day.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Depends on what you do with the truck. I had a 3 OTT then 5-speed T5 in a 66 swb because it was kind of a little hot rod scoot-around truck. In anything 67-72, I prefer an automatic, because I'm more likely to drive it to work, hit traffic, or actually use it for something around the back 40. I like shifting my own, but have to agree with above post, the fun factor can wear off over time (and perhaps with age for some). Also, having broken, ruptured, or fractured various parts of either leg, it came in handy to have an automatic to still be able to drive to work. Have had some injuries where there's no way I could have driven a manual for awhile. Being on my own at the time, that became an important decision. Seems like a corner-case until it's in your corner :)

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Automatic, no question.

If a custom "sport truck" with upgraded suspension and lots of HP, then 4-speed, no question.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I'm blessed to own K models with both auto and 4 speed transmissions. Not really a preference to me, I just enjoy driving the ole trucks. I do get a lot of positive feedback when people see my orange truck (And it's 4 speed - Cool!! they say). I guess because you don't see many trucks anymore with a stick shifts. When restoring, I've always kept stock setup except for one blazer I did several years ago. I converted it from 3-on-tree due to shifting problems to auto, and only to auto because of the extra parts I had available at the time.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I prefer 4 spd transmissions in my old chevy trucks....I removed automatics in my 72 and my 74 and put in sm 465 trans with 205 t-cases..

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Interesting question. I grew up learning to drive with only manual trans. Still lean that way but in getting older, it is easy to appreciate an auto when stuck in traffic. Many years ago, I swapped out a TH350 for an M-22 in a Camaro. Wasn't that hard, actually did everything in the barracks parking lot in one long day. Sue wouldn't try that now but is was worth it then.

I have been thinking of swapping the TH400 currently in my 72 C10. Howver would not go with a 4 speed, probably a 5 or 6 speed. My 69 Vette has the 6 speed out of a Camaro and having the 2 od's is nice. Not that I would want to take the truck to 150+. Not quite that brave... :) But it would be nice to take the rear gears to 4.11's and still be able to drive highway speeds.

Not sure an of this rambling helps any, just my preferences...

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

If I'm going to spend my time and money to do a conversion, it's going to have to have several benefits, so if I went from an Auto to Manual it would be for a 5 or 6 speed only.

I swapped my 65 Mustang from a C4 auto (no OD) to a modern T5, best upgrade I've done to the car.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Driving with my wife - automatic
Driving by myself or friends (male) - standard

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Automatics are for girls :lol:

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

That's good to hear because I was wondering the same thing... if after a while I'd get tired of shifting the thing. It's not like these have easy to push hydraulic clutches.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Then I guess I have one "Girl's Truck" and definitely one MAN's truck. MANual brakes, MANual steering, MANual windows, MANual choke, MANual transmission.:metal:

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I've always had something with a clutch around, my 70 GMC is a 4 speed and that wasn't a deal breaker.
Look on the bright side, a lot of people can't drive a stick, so the chances of theft are reduced...

Greg

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

3ott or double clutch (ing) is foreign to 95+% of people....

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

3 speed on the column preferred 4 speed in floor OK. Best if these are the original transmissions.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I much prefer the SM465 to any automatic. I had a '67 K/10 Suburban w/454/TH350/NP205. Not original, but the PO's junkyard scores. My main gripe with this set-up was, the drum brakes sucked, but I could not use downshifting for engine-braking with it effectively. The tranny would just shift back into high on its own. Never sure how to fix that, but with bad brakes, that thing is better off not on the road anymore.
I have 465s in the 2 trucks that run.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I'm having this same dilemma in my head right now. My old motor is tired and I'm getting ready to drop in a fresh motor. Currently I have the SM 465 in my 71 4x4 K20. I was thinking of getting around a 300 hp motor for it, but am thinking if the Hp will be useless behind the 465 with the long throws and big gear spacing. I have been saving a Turbo 350 and NP 205 setup if I do want to convert it to automatic behind the new motor.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Had both, prefer the standard (despite my advancing age).

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I have one stick & 1 auto. The stick is more fun. Both have O.D. and pretty low first gears, which make them pretty responsive off the line even with 3.08 gears. Both also cruise easy at interstate speeds. The 700r4 in the GMC shifts into O.D. at about 50mph. I've taught several people to drive a stick with the Blazer. Light effort hyd. clutch and a real torquey BB make it real easy to drive, have to try pretty hard to stall it.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

What is wrong with girls

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Turbo 400 which I have makes drinking :mm: much easier. :metal:

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I have a 700r4. I wanted to cruise without the fuss of shifting in traffic and I didn't want to climb back under it to change a clutch when the truck is finished and i'm enjoying it.
People can muster up any silly joke they want about automatics, it doesn't bother me. I've got some choice opinions about crap I see on these trucks all the time, sometimes the most and only lovable thing about them is their manual trans!

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Lots of the comments are that age pushes us towards the automatic. I drive three on the tree and love it. The knees hurt, but I love it.
I prefer to keep things stock but if the knees give out, I may need to switch over to an automatic...

Bill

P.S. 2017 Corvettes do NOT offer a standard transmission! The automatics today, shift much better than any person can.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I'm pulling the 4 spd out of my '67 and installing a T400.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Put paddle shifters in. LOL

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

4-Speed for sure.

Right now my '72 C-10 is a 3-Speed on the Column and I really don't mind it, but the 2.85 First is too high for me. I would prefer a 4-Speed anyway, but this way with a 2-Ring Saginaw, it will bring my First Gear down to 3.11. I would go to a Granny Gear 4-Speed, but to do it right I would need to change the Floor Hump, which I really don't want to do with this truck. My other two trucks are already Granny Gear trucks ('68 C-30 and a '72 C-30). I've been Shifting Gears for 48 Years straight now and have no plans on giving up my Clutch Pedal, lol.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

what a bunch of pus&%$s, that dont want to shift anymore!!! Lol,,,,just kidding...I am almost 60 and still love to manually shift my trucks......if you want a workhorse, go with a manual , if you just want comfort and occasional heavy towing, stay with your t-400

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I have always like the manual in my trucks.

My 69 K10 did a LOT of pulling on the farm, so I built it up to handle it (except for the semi-float axles) and I installed a puck-style clutch from a C60 truck. Until I got used to it, my left leg would start to shake while sitting at a stop light because the push was so hard.

I let my cousin drive the truck once, and when he got back, he grabbed my left leg and asked if I was doing workouts, just so I could drive the damn thing! By then I had forgotten that it was so hard because I drove it every day.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

Took the 3 speed on the tree out years ago and went through several 4 speed in the floor. Then I got smart and installed a 700-R4 drove it for almost 200,000 miles like that now I have a 4L80E in it. Want never have a manual again for a daily driver.:chevy:

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I have never owned an automatic equipped vehicle that I did not wish was a manual. The coolness - to me at least - factor would go up by about 7 points if my truck were a 4 speed behind my original 396.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I bought my truck with a SBC & th350 auto. I am nearly finished with my 433" BBC swap. It should be making somewhere in the 615-650 HP according to the dyno software. In addition to just wanting to shift gears, I want the added durability of an M22 Rock Crusher. Plus, I love the sound of the straight cut gears! I was thinking of going with something with an overdrive, but I've got everything to hook up a M22, so I'm thinking of keeping it simple with that.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I agree.

They sure do sound sweet.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I swapped from a turbo 350 to an sm465 and love it... I do plan to add a gear vendor at some point...

Between my wife and I we own 3 vehicles, all of which are manuals.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I would like the turbo better if it had a 2 gear start and stay, like period Ford autos. Heavy slow traffic patterns result in constant 1 2 upshifts and 2 1 downshifts, IMO, a lock in 2nd gear is much better in these situations, also they say 2nd gear hold is also better of starts on ice. The only period 4 spd. manual truck transmission I like is the 435 CR ( close ratio ). Gears are much more evenly spaced and you can carry out 3rd or down shift to 3rd at much higher road speeds. This box was known as the "camper transmission" by Chevy truck salesman.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I have both. A TH400 in my '85 1-ton, behind a stock 454 with 4.10 gears, and an NP435 behind a 350 with 3.73's in my Suburban. For a slight edge in fuel economy and brute reliability, of course the 4-speed is the winner. However, the TH400 is, I think, the "stick shift person's automatic", not constantly hunting for gears, stiff and responsive, and simple and durable as far as automatics go. Of course, my '85 would be even cooler (on top of being a white-on-blue SRW C3500 with Sierra Classic trim, A/C, and power everything) if it was a 4-speed, but I've pondered that possibility before and the more I use it for towing the more I'm happy to keep the automatic. Less to juggle when driving with a load in traffic, or through areas of stop-and-go, and ease of inching forward or back with heavy loads without riding the clutch excessively.

My 'Burb wouldn't be the same without the 4-speed I grew up watching dad drive. If it weren't for that I honestly can't say which I'd prefer in it. But I really think if it's a vehicle that will see a lot of slow, off-road or farm use, or most of the time it sees on public roads will be without heavy loads, then I'd probably chose manual - more desirable, trouble free, and fun. So IMHO it's preference with some attention to what type of vehicle it is and how it'll be used.

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I am very bias toward manual transmissions.
Automatics do have their place for handicapped folks, but my truck is a throwback
in time. I am the guy that loves driving without the radio on and just listening to the
single chamber dual exhaust. No offense, but I will put up with driving a 4 spd. in traffic to
retain the classic truck experience. To each his own, but a truck should have a manual
transmission. All The Best, Dirk

Re: Do you prefer an auto or a 4 speed in your Chevy truck?
 

I have a SM465 and I love it. to me it makes it more enjoyable to drive. I don't wheel it much and my town is pretty light on traffic. The few times I did get stuck in traffic on the high way, me left knee was sore for a while...