What's faster stick or automatic cars

[qtrmile2]

It's Winter. I guess it's time to think about dumb things.
What do you guys think?
Will a race car have a better ET running a stick or automatic.
Why do you think a stick is faster than an automatic or visa versa.

We had big block vs small block. What about stick vs automatic?
My vote goes to the stick car.

[v8Fiero]

well, for the basic differances:

manual- lighter weight, less rotating mass, way more fun to drive, but much harder on the trans and rear end.

auto- much more consistant, can fine tune shift points more accuratly then a stick

both can have launch limiters like a 3-stage rev limiter for manuals or a trans break or foot break for autos, and both have good aftermarket parts avail depending on the car.

I would say if the car is slower then 12.00 a stick would generally be faster ETs, and if you run quicker then a 12.00 an auto will give faster ETs since shift points becomes more difficult to reproduce with a stick car faster then 12 sec.

that said, Im hoping to break into the 10s this summer with my manual fiero. :D

[bignastygs]

I agree with the above post and also think it has alot to do with driver. I have always ran a stick in my Buicks,but now crossed to the other side and am going with TH 400 with manual reverse pattern..Must be something to do with getting old and eyesight loosening a little..I always sucked at running an automatic car at the track,so all my buddies are licking their chops and wanting to line up against me. It sure is alot easier removing a 4 speed compared to a standard trans. Lots of weight difference.

[us7race]

I have a friend who had a Mustang it had a stick he ran some 6.60's on spray (160HP) we old him we figured it would pick up for sure with an automatic..and he ran the exact same didn't pick up anything..
Not sure if the converter wasn't the best one for the car or what but he bought it all new for his combo..He was really good at shifting it though.. :twisted:

[wfge]

what is the point\purpose of a reverse pattern automatic?

[spib]

I am not gonna get involved in this topic, but I sure think that your cam looks bad ass vince when you take off, and your boys put on a good show too!!!! 8)

[olds48]

WFGE, I wonder the same thing.I have a reverse pattern in my car,but only cause I got a shifter from a friend that was rev patt.Guy at the speed shop told me that rev patterns can run higher line pressure,but that don't make sense to me.Wouldn't your line pressure be what ever you set it up to be at the pump?

[Tod74]

WFGE, I wonder the same thing.I have a reverse pattern in my car,but only cause I got a shifter from a friend that was rev patt.Guy at the speed shop told me that rev patterns can run higher line pressure,but that don't make sense to me.Wouldn't your line pressure be what ever you set it up to be at the pump?

I just thought it was cause it is a more natural movement / easier to pull the shifter back rather than push it fwd.. :?

[olds48]

There's probably something to that.But MAN,when you're used to running a forward pattern Z-gate and swap over to a Rev pattern Q-stick.IT SUCKS TO GET USED TO

[lively]

I LIKED THE VERTICAL SHIFTER IN MY MUSTANG---I COULD SHIFT VERY CONSISTENTLY 8) 8)

[Tod74]

There's probably something to that.But MAN,when you're used to running a forward pattern Z-gate and swap over to a Rev pattern Q-stick.IT SUCKS TO GET USED TO

two words.

electric shifter :D

[lively]

[two words. ]

[electric shifter]

BUT MY CAR RUNS ON GASOLINE NOT ELECTRICITY!!!! :x :P :roll: :x :twisted: :x

[mytmouz]

Top Fuel cars use clutches...

[zipper06]

what is the point\purpose of a reverse pattern automatic?

The reverse pattern is no more than a safty feature to preventing you from going to nutural by accident, due to the fact that you have to pull the lever/extra handle on some turbo 400 shifters to change the gear, also to go to nutural.

On Vince's point (quicker) there's not much difference in weight with a PG and a 5 speed with all the extra heavy bell housing and heavy fly wheels with small inch motors etc..
The PG will 60' better in most cases due to the torque producing converter and is a lot more consistent. I personally run an electric shifter valve body tied to the MSD 2 step and never miss a shift and yes i have to push the trans brake button to back up, but that not a big deal.
Other point on a 5 speed you're smacking the driveline 5 times each pass, while with a PG with transbrake you're only smacking it 1 time leaving the line.

JMO

Zip.

[olds48]

Tod74.I want one soooo bad.Just don't want to get ribbed by buddies who make fun of "remote control" cars.One of these days though.........

[qtrmile2]

Good information here guys. I know your combo does mean alot when you running stick or auto. I will tell you one thing though the year before last when I was waiting to buy a Jerico I ran a reverse valve body T400 with a trans brake in my 67 Camaro with a 5500 rpm stall and 456 gears. I left around 4600 rpm on the brake. Best ET was 11.07 123mph
60ft 1.51 best.

Last year I put the Jerico 4speed in with a 19lb. aluminum flywheel and 488 gears. Best ET 10.40 128mph 60 ft best 1.38. I had the exact same motor and tuned it the same way. With my set up on the motor it liked the Jerico better than the T400. This is the only comparison I have cause I always run sticks. Don't get me wrong now the automatics leave awesome with a brake.

Now pro stock and alot of other guys run clutchless trans which I thing is even quicker and you could pick up a couple hundreds on ET.
I always heard the converters slow you down alittle.

[v8Fiero]

Tod74.I want one soooo bad.Just don't want to get ribbed by buddies who make fun of "remote control" cars.One of these days though.........

"remote control" cars run a whole lot fatster then no-box cars in bracket racing. :)

PS. If I do end up getting into the 10s next sunmmer, I will have the worlds fastest transverse (sideways) mounted fiero, 30lb steel flywheel, with your help.

[zipper06]

Good information here guys. I know your combo does mean alot when you running stick or auto. I will tell you one thing though the year before last when I was waiting to buy a Jerico I ran a reverse valve body T400 with a trans brake in my 67 Camaro with a 5500 rpm stall and 456 gears. I left around 4600 rpm on the brake. Best ET was 11.07 123mph
60ft 1.51 best.

Last year I put the Jerico 4speed in with a 19lb. aluminum flywheel and 488 gears. Best ET 10.40 128mph 60 ft best 1.38. I had the exact same motor and tuned it the same way. With my set up on the motor it liked the Jerico better than the T400. This is the only comparison I have cause I always run sticks. Don't get me wrong now the automatics leave awesome with a brake.

Now pro stock and alot of other guys run clutchless trans which I thing is even quicker and you could pick up a couple hundreds on ET.
I always heard the converters slow you down alittle.

Hey Vince i don't know what size motor you have but it sounds like you have a real tall cam and the motor like to be kept in a narrow power band which the 4 speed can do better than any automatic. You probably lost atleast 150lbs from the 400.
With my 3250lb Malibu (with driver)i have a lot of things wrong, too large cam, not quiet enough gear for the motor size. But with a PG it 60' from 1.41/1.45 with 5500 converter leaving at 4800, without bars it will stand on the bumper and runs 6.52/10.59 at Memphis but will only run 124mph with a 377" motor. It would run better with a 383" and shorter cam.
This yr. i hope to remedy that with the 434" motor with stacks injection, hopefully low 6's and some 9's.

JMO

Zip.

[olds48]

"remote control" cars run a whole lot fatster then no-box cars in bracket racing. :)

PS. If I do end up getting into the 10s next sunmmer, I will have the worlds fastest transverse (sideways) mounted fiero, 30lb steel flywheel, with your help.

Your right!! I think they're just jealous cause their Fords(oops didn't mean to cuss :oops: )are slow :D

I hope you hit a LOW 10!Can I get your autograph now before you get famous?

[v8Fiero]

lol, right now theres 3 other people that I know of that are building their fieros to try for the 10s this summer. I am the only manual trans and there is one other sbc otherwise they are trying with 3.8sc motors. there are some real nice fieros that are being built this summer. the rear suspension is the only thing that none of us really know what to do with for drag racing, you can only modify a CV axle/strut suspension so much.

[cepx111]

With auto's you can take roughly an extra 30 hp right out of the box.
Reason why sticks get better MPG.
You have to remember that you have that HP/ torque loss because your dealing with a fluid coupling which is never 1 to 1 (unless its a lock up unit) verses a clutch which is always 1 to 1, with that being said I'd say the stick would be faster if geared and set up properly, however the stick will be much harder on the drive line.
><Cp