Why spend $1500 on an AUTOMATIC transmission? I got my T56 for $900 complete with 28k miles on it.

You can get a quality clutch for around $400. I got a McLeod Street Twin for $900, but I'll never break it, EVER. So for around the same price you could have a far better set-up with a higher "fun-factor." It doesn't make sense why people even waste money on automatic transmissions, unless it's something purely for drag racing, in which case 700s are NOT the way to go, IMO.

Eric

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LT1Powered85Z
[B]Why spend $1500 on an AUTOMATIC transmission? I got my T56 for $900 complete with 28k miles on it.


Who is spending $1500
I bought a (6) T350 cores for $100 and bought the HUGHES performance kit......I have roughly $900 total in my tranny with
0 miles on it! Don't get me wrong......I like stick cars for a daily driver, but when i wanna get serious....Give me an Auto anyday

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Silver 3rd gen
[B] Who is spending $1500? The guy right above me...Ray86IROC, and lots of others out there too.

You like stick cars for daily drivers but when you wanna get serious you want an Auto? Please tell me you're talking about drag racing, and ONLY because of the consistancy that an auto delivers.

Answer this for me...how many "race cars"...all out race cars, in any version of racing, use an automatic transmission?

Once you have that answer...then you'll see what kind of transmission you use when you want to "get serious." I guess lots of drag cars run autos, but when you get into anything besides racing in a straight line (even then Top Fuel cars, if I'm not mistaken, use a form of a manual transmission) you'll see that they all run manuals.

I don't know of any racing that incorporates an automatic transmission. Road racing uses manuals, NASCAR uses a manual, Trans Am racing, etc, etc, etc...I could go on.

Being serious about racing, other than drag racing, involves running a manual of some sort.

Eric

 

I think i'm going to go agains everyone.

I would love to have a t-56 but i don't have those kind of funds right now.

I would also love to have a professionally built tranny, but again the funds arn't going to allow it

so I going to have to go with a rebuild from a local guy and try my luck.

We already picked out my parts for the rebuild. He is a distributor for the raptor transmission parts so that is what i'm going with.

I hope it all works out
I'll let you all know when it is all done

Plus Andrew to put something in your signiture all you have to do is go to the top of the page and there is a button called USER CP click on it and add a signature.

 

damn dude, we have like the same engine, almost. exc. I still have a waayyy too small conv. .

anyways, I have a 700r4 in mine and its great. I had another one that was built by my tranny guy at work (pont. dealership) that was never quite right. but he's not a high perf. guy. it handled the power fine, but didnt shift right from 1-2. I know the problem was in the valve body though. I broke that tranny case somehow and replaced it w/one from a buddy. its been pefect. good luck w/the tranny and let us know what happens.

 

Hey if you would have read this thread to begin with....we are not talking about All out race cars, Top fuels, Nascars or any of that other crap that you just said !!! We are just talking about a street-strip car. He asked for an opinion and i gave my .02
As for the T-56 ...I love to drive them, but while you are Dumping the clutch,missing gears and double clutching ...........I'm GONE!!!!
The T-56 is a good tranny, but not much of a hp tranny as you stated.....I know several people that have shredded that tranny when adding a few power adders to there cars and those bastards are not cheap to fix !

P.S. ......86 redbird I hope it all works out for ya !!!

 

The T-56 is far from the 'perfect' tranny. The street twin is overpriced, and a bitch to install if it's not a complete unit. I know more than 3 people that have broken T56 parts, shift forks, second gear, main shaft, for the money and a real manual tranny, the richmond 5-speed or richmond 6-speed are better trannies.

I'll take my 700R4 over a T56 anyday. Don't have to replace the clutch every 6 months like I used to. I'm hard on a manual tranny.

 

It's all a matter of opinion. But some try to pimp their's like they matter...
LOL...and what kind of driving are you refering to? I guess it depends on who you're comparing yourself to. You have absolutely NO idea what kind of driving skills I possess, so to assume that I'll be missing gears and mis-shifting in general...is FUNNY. But when your auto doesn't know what gear to be in around the track or when entering corners, I'll be the one leaving you because I decide which gear is appropriate.

Oh, and BTW...I have read the whole thread...thanks. But you have basically been saying that true race cars or cars worth anything all run automatics and that they're the way to go. That's blatent BS...and truely your opinion.

You've been talking about drag racing. Okay...when do you double clutch in a drag race? And...with drag racing using a Street Twin (which is supposedly over priced and hard to install IF you buy an INCOMPLETE USED kit, and not worth buying...eventhough most people with a high amount of HP in a 6spd car run them) and proper tires and the proper drive train items, you dump the clutch and you'll be cutting 60' times as good as if not better than auto guys. So...don't try to argue that point, as it is lame and full of holes.

Of course people break stuff...although most are due to driver error, more often than not. But there's a reason that the BORG WARNER T56 comes in some very high hp vehicles. Do you need me to list them? Given, the Viper has a stronger input shaft and shift fork than an F-Body unit, but the trans still holds TONS of power, without question. That is unarguable...against it. And not only that, but you can easily install Viper stuff for really cheap and you'll have a trans that can hold 500ft/lbs+, etc. Is that weak?

Oh...and onefastgta if you're replacing your clutch every 6 months...that explains your driving style and abilities. You flat out SUCK or you buy junk and replace it with junk, once you wear it out. I guess that's why you want an auto...just push the pedal and use as little driving ability as possbile.

That's unfortunate that that's all the skill you have. I'd be embarassed to admit that.

But yeah, anyway...

Eric

 

Damn ...We should just all bow down to ERIC and his abbilities Well I'm not going to be one ofe those people! You say the T-56 takes alot of hp! I will agree that they will take alot of hp, but they do NOT take the torque that you think they will. There is a Car over here that has the T-56 in and dynoed some awesome #'s on N20, 710rwhp /740rwtq.....it could handle the hp, but when he got his traction issue figured out ....well lets just say it couldn't hang with the torque(split the damn case in half)! Funny that you should mention the T-56 in the Viper ! I happen to know of a guy that owns one and the car is currentely in the shop, because that so called badass T-56 would take the Power or the Torque and it is going to cost him a little over 5k to get another one installed ! I guess that was because you weren't driving or even what gear they were in in the turns...huh??? I DON'T THINK SO !!!!When did I ever refer to all they other types of racing?The only person hung up on the othr types is YOU! NOWHERE in this thread did I Say that all real racers used Autos!!!! Get an Education man...If you cant read ...maybe you dont need to be on a message board!


P.S. GET OVER YOURSELF !!!

 

I looked into the T56, and by the time I got the tranny with the pedals, all the hydraulic clutch stuff, the flywheel, etc it was looking like $1200-$1500 being the average range, and I would still need a new crossmember, a good aftermarket clutch for several hundred and the cost of a manual shifter console plate thing, a good aftermarket shifter, etc. (Don't you need a new driveshaft as well?) Plus it would take a decent amount of work to install the thing (cutting the holes down near the pedals (with no one making a template that I know of, and I don't have a 5spd car to look at), shifter hole, etc. So in all it looked like it was going to add up to more money than the built $1500 700r4 and more install time, I can swap the 700r4 out in an afternoon easily... And seeing as how I don't have a whole lot of drive time behind a manual with a high hp car I'm sure I'd wear out the clutch pretty quickly, so I've got money and time tied up in switching that out pretty early...

 

it's all about persona preference so stop fighting guys, me personally I won't run a manual trans...it's not good for me...plus I wouldn't waste my time swapping in a T56 even if I wanted to...

I laugh at the "well look at the track cars, how many run autos?"

You do realize those trannies are built to ****...usually with no syncros and stuff..major major $$$...

 

Ditto

And LT1Powered85Z: I wouldn't go throwing around that $900 price. Add up everything else needed... Besides, you got a really good deal. Most T-56s I see go for a good bit more and aren't always in the best shape. As far as citing examples from racing - most of those organizations DON'T ALLOW autos. If he originally had a T5 and wanted to upgrade, the T-56 would be the better choice. But the conversion is just too costly. A properly built 700r4 will outperform a T-56 on the strip and keep up from a roll just fine. On the streets its the launch that matters the most, and that's where the T-56 falls behind.

 

LOL...ah sure...
Heh...we go from talking normal/common hp/tq numbers to outrageous 700+ hp. It's not the hp/tq that is the big deal, so much as the SHOCK, associated with applying that power. How many stock, strong, attainable transmissions can hold 700+hp? NONE OF THEM. So to say that a case was split from HOOKING UP with a STOCK T56...that is like saying cutting off someone's head will kill them. That's a given. C'mon man...that is a horrible example of a T56's strength. Geez. The shock alone of hooking up is hard on stuff, but 700hp hooking up isn't something that ANYTHING close to stock can handle. That is common sense.

You use the lamest examples. Where'd you learn to argue a point?

Yeah $5k to get one INSTALLED. I guarantee you almost half of that cost is the install cost, because he's not doing it on his own. AND...ask yourself why it broke, or ask him. Did it just stop working due to the hp/tq numbers? Plain and simple...the transmission is and has been used because it works and it works well. It handles a lot and when treated properly it will last.

And for the record...I never said I was a pro driver. There you're assuming. I just said that knowing what you're doing in a stick, whether at the track or not, will get you just as far if not further than doing it with an auto. So saying or implying I'm a good driver just because of what I type is quite the compliment. Thanks.

Here...I'll show you. You talked about when it comes time to get serious you should run an auto trans. Look...you said: So...going off of that, I gave examples of "serious" kinds of racing...and pointed out how none of the "serious" people run automatic transmissions.

So...for all of you that can't grasp the reason why I'd mention other forms of racing, you need to look no further than the last paragraph. Saying seriousness demands an automatic transmission is like saying that when I want a show car paint job on my car I'll take it to a blind man to paint it. It's an ignorant statement to make, period.

You're obviously missing the boat here. This has NOTHING to do with me or the fact that I have a manual transmission. I've simply been making points and shooting holes in your lame worthless argument. We all have opinions, yes...but true life facts and common instances (not instances of 700+ hp cars using STOCK transmissions) are what count.

How old are you anyway, Silver 3rd gen?

Marc: Yeah I got a good deal. BUT...I have seen T56's go for $1200 and below on a number of occassions, complete. So...yeah $300 more than I paid, but still a good price. There's a reason that there are a lot of posts in the for sale section requesting parts for auto to manual conversions. It's something a ton of people jump on the opportunity to do.

And yes...they don't allow autos. But being around the industry...you realize why. Even if they did offer them, I would bet $1k on the fact that NO ONE would run an auto trans in a road race car of any kind. You just don't have the control over the car like you do with a manual.

fly89gta: See above why I referenced those cars. It was in reference to him saying seriousness demands an auto trans. Completely ignorant statement.

Why do people constantly take something out of context and twist it around. I took something out of context, yes...but I used it regarding the context it came from...before you try to turn that on me.

Do any of you even have experience on a road course or around those sorts of cars? Doesn't sound like many of you do. I am definately NOT A PRO, but I pay attention and ask a lot of questions. It helps immensely to be informed...try it out.

But yeah...I'll be awaiting the flames from those who my points **** off.

Eric

 

Heh...we go from talking normal/common hp/tq numbers to outrageous 700+ hp. It's not the hp/tq that is the big deal, so much as the SHOCK, associated with applying that power. How many stock, strong, attainable transmissions can hold 700+hp? NONE OF THEM. So to say that a case was split from HOOKING UP with a STOCK T56...that is like saying cutting off someone's head will kill them. That's a given. C'mon man...that is a horrible example of a T56's strength. .

Ok...you have a good point here, but the when this tranny blew up it wasn't on a N20 pass...... all motor.Only 410 rwhp and 425 rwtq ...the only time he got to spray tha car was at the dyno.


You talk about horrible examples.....you went from a street -strip car to talking about Top Fuels and such





:

Yeah $5k to get one INSTALLED. I guarantee you almost half of that cost is the install cost, because he's not doing it on his own. AND...ask yourself why it broke, or ask him. Did it just stop working due to the hp/tq numbers? Plain and simple...the transmission is and has been used because it works and it works well. It handles a lot and when treated properly it will last.

For your info......The Viper is a daily Driver! The guy that owns it treats it like one of his kids! The car has a woppin 28K on it and broke while he was commuting to work...so where is the abuse???? When the dealership called him to come take a look......the clutch, flywheel, and everything else was still intact. Input shaft snapped in the tranny and took out the 2nd and 3rd gear cluster

Yes I said 5K installed
let's see (NEW ...Not rebuilt) T-56 6-speed $3500
flywheel (dealership policy) $650
hmmm..not much for labor...huh???

The only explination they gave was a torque issue......Hmm (if the dealership has no faith) What does that tell you??????






Here...I'll show you. You talked about when it comes time to get serious you should run an auto trans.So...going off of that, I gave examples of "serious" kinds of racing...and pointed out how none of the "serious" people run automatic transmissions


That's right!!!!!! I said ME....not YOU or anyone else !!!!
This reference was not pointed at any one person, nor does it say anything about the automatics being more dominant than manuals.

It says "when I wanna get serious give me an AUTO anyday"
hmmmm...dose it say " I Want an Auto in my Winston Cup car????"
"I wanna run an Auto in my Road Rally car???"
"I wanna run an Auto in my Top Fuel???"
i

I THINK NOT !!!!!

These are all fine examples of racing and Yes they do rely on Manuals, but I am not involved in any of these types of racing!


You claim that people are twisting your words....LOL




So...for all of you that can't grasp the reason why I'd mention other forms of racing, you need to look no further than the last paragraph. Saying seriousness demands an automatic transmission



I didn't say anything about ALL forms of SERIOUS racing demanding on Auto's. Automatics are just my preferrence and the T-56 is yours!

So let's just leave it at that

 

LMAO! Damn!