I currently have a 350 with stock transfer case and tranny in my '76 40. I am looking into putting an Atlas in and keep going back and forth with what transmission to use. Automatic or manual. What are your thoughts? Thanks

the auto is definatly the way to go for a wheeler IMO. i have run both and i'll take an auto any day. for the type of wheeling i do it just works better. now if i can just keep from breaking the cases i'll be doing good!

Hey thanks for the reply.

If you have the gearing than I say manual, when I wheel I hardly touch the breaks, when I had a auto I was always on them. Also for longevity I think a manual will out last a auto, and a manual is shorter so this is better for rear driveline length.
Not to mention heat, an auto will generate way more heat so have a good cooling system!

-Scott

I recently did a th350 to an atlas conversion in my 77 FJ 40. The only problems I have experenced with that setup is that my front drive shaft hits my tranny pan when fully flexed. Minor problem and fixed it by adjusting my bumpstops. I cannot say enough about the gearing. It has made a world of difference from my 4 speed manual transmission. If you have any questions feel free to pm me,

Originally posted by Cruzilla
Not to mention heat, an auto will generate way more heat so have a good cooling system!-Scott

i have always heard people metion auto's getting hot but i have never had this issue. i put a tranny temp guage in my rig because of all of the stories. run my fluid through the cooler in my radiator and also an auxilary one in front of the rad. even wheelinf in 100deg+ weather my tranny has never gotten hot.

another thing people metion is no compression braking. well this is just not true.....well at least not for a th400. when i lock my tranny down in first i can compression brake dwn hill. it isn't quite as good as when i ran a granny low 4speed but it does work. yeah if i put it in 3rd it'll scream down a hill but not in first.

the thing i really like about the auto is useable gearing. with a manual you have how many ever gears the tranny came with 3-4-5-or even 6 i guess. the auto's torque converter almost seems like it give you gearing bands. i can crawl in 1st and hit the skinny pedal and have instant wheel speed if i need it. when i ran a manual i just sometimes needed a gear that i didn't have. 1st and second may have been too low but 3rd was too high. the auto fixed that and more.

Manual all the way!

But then I have always liked manuals, and every rig I have had - except for the 75 Bronco with the 302- has been a manual, even my F350 is a manual 6 speed.

Guy

Originally posted by G_Stratton
Manual all the way!

But then I have always liked manuals, and every rig I have had - except for the 75 Bronco with the 302- has been a manual, even my F350 is a manual 6 speed.

Guy

I agree. mostly because I dont understand completely how autos work. I have never seen anyone need a tow home due to their manual blowing up. Vs I have seen a lot of auto problems.

If you want to look like you know how to wheel, get an auto, worked for Nolen, High 5 and Drunk Monkey......:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Butch

Originally posted by texican
If you want to look like you know how to wheel, get an auto, worked for Nolen, High 5 and Drunk Monkey......:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Butch

SHMAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Auto all the way. Unless you wanna rock crawl. I prefer auto no matter what........call it getting lazy.

Originally posted by texican
If you want to look like you know how to wheel, get an auto, worked for Nolen, High 5 and Drunk Monkey......:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Butch

:rolleyes:

Get the auto for wheeling. It is amazing.

Auto is the only way to go offroad. On road i prefer the manual but offroad i am glad i have the auto. :)

When I built my rig, I went for an auto just for the reason that I will have to worry about clutch'n on up a technical area. It has made wheel'n easier/safer for me.

Someone also told me the torque converter will give you a 2:1 reduction in ratio.

Something else to think about. Since an auto will slip more as your wheel'n, it will take some shock out of your driveline when it hooks up from slipping. Thus reducing your chance of breakage.

If you do decide to go with it, go with an auto tranny that you can get a manual valve body. You can then choose the gear you want. Also never wheel in drive. It will shift on you. Right Nolen? :flipoff2:

HTH,

Originally posted by warpdriv
Also never wheel in drive. It will shift on you. Right Nolen? :flipoff2:

HTH,

I wheel in Drive now. I just learned how to control it better.

I was 2 trips into going from 90hp to 300hp, I have learned a lot since then.

I like it to shift sometimes...gives you a little bump when you need it :D

Auto. Accept no substitue.

Ed

I voted for auto. However, I have a reverse pattern manual vb so I have to shift. :flipoff2:

I prefer manual. I prefer being able to control the gears. It's part of whats fun about a cruiser

wheeled both

was manual first then went to 700R....

Night and Day...AUTOS RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thats right B, AUTOS RULE!!!!!!

worried about compression braking?! run a 700 or a 350 lockup (did i just spill the beans on darth 2?) so you can lock up the converter manually thereby eliminating all slippage and it definetly won't get hot!



i'll say it for the 86millionth time: AUTOS RULE!!!!!!!:flipoff2:

PS: no need to run a manual valve body. just run a shifter that lets you select L or 1st!

I love my auto w/dual case Crawler. With the crawler gears I can get compression braking for downhill.

To control heat, I run a Permacool w/thermosat controlled fan up under the rear of the vehicle.

No Worrys :flipoff2:

Phil

another point:
just look at the majority of rock crawling competitors; they're all switching to autos. tiny and it's never brother scrapper, lance himself are running powerglides amongst many others. and there are tons of em running 350s and 700s.;)

Originally posted by wngrog


:rolleyes:

Get the auto for wheeling. It is amazing.


Autos are cool, mine is fully manual in the shifting, but its still heaps different to a manual. no stalling, slow as you like, then!!!! talk about wheel speed when you get on it, and there is so many benefits.

Originally posted by orangefj45
PS: no need to run a manual valve body. just run a shifter that lets you select L or 1st!

I got the manual vb and reverse pattern so you have 1st gear next to reverse. Got tired of having to go from R to N to D to 2 to 1. AFAIK, all aftermarket shifters lets you go into L or 1st.

auto, for serious rock crawlin, trail riding a stick is great. i do prefere a stick in my tow rigs. i don't miss a stick at all since i went to a auto on my trail rig.

I vote for a nv4500. Sick for snow wheeling, fast shifting. In four low 1st,3rd,5th shift is super cool. My 420 is great in all but the 3 to reverse shift is a tad slow when breaking trail. If you are rock only I would go auto. Depends were you are in colo. and if you like the white stuff imo.

Autos are cool, but I like manual. Probably because of my lack of knowlege of the auto. There are times when I have wanted an auto, cruising around on the street because im too lazy to shift, but then the versatility and reliability and simplicity of a manual is what I use them for.

You cant bump an auto!
When you fry your auto its $2500, when you burn your clutch its like $300.
The heat factor, its just more unnecesary heat.
Also, Im not about to run an auto with my F engine.


WHy do you think they made 40s, 45s, 55s only with manuals?

its because they are simpler, and the simpler stuff is, the less there is to break. and when you break, its just that much easier to fix.

Just my opinion, but im definitley biased cuz all I drive is manual.

Originally posted by Cruiser4242
Autos are cool, but I like manual. Probably because of my lack of knowlege of the auto. There are times when I have wanted an auto, cruising around on the street because im too lazy to shift, but then the versatility and reliability and simplicity of a manual is what I use them for.

You cant bump an auto!
When you fry your auto its $2500, when you burn your clutch its like $300.
The heat factor, its just more unnecesary heat.
Also, Im not about to run an auto with my F engine.


WHy do you think they made 40s, 45s, 55s only with manuals?

its because they are simpler, and the simpler stuff is, the less there is to break. and when you break, its just that much easier to fix.

Just my opinion, but im definitley biased cuz all I drive is manual.

Actually a clutch is not much cheaper than an auto for repair. I saw a post about how much a clutch job for an FJ40 costs and it was like $700.00. I can get TH350 or 400 rebuilt for less than $700.00. I have no clue where you're coming up with $2500.00.

I will say a manual is generally more reliable than an auto, however, with proper cooling, an auto is very reliable and safe to run on the trail. It all comes down to personal preference. I've wheeled both a manual an auto and I'll never go back to a manual. My Cummins tow rig is a manual for obvious reasons.

Wow this is coming out to be a close vote. BTT is anyone hasnt seen this yet.

I wonder how many of the voters have wheeled both. Before I wheeled an auto, I was sold on my T18a. Now that I have wheeled hard with an auto, I have a different outlook.

Ed

I vote for an AUTO. Unfortunatly, I have an SM420 and I like it, but I have wheeled autos before and they are much smoother and easier to control going up and over big rocks and ledges since you can use one foot on the brake and the other on the gas. If I ever get to build another rig it will have an auto.

Or....

If I ever get a real motor and ditch the 2F, I may consider an auto. As of right now, my rear driveline would be too short if I swapped to an auto.

Originally posted by Rock Taxi
I wonder how many of the voters have wheeled both. Before I wheeled an auto, I was sold on my T18a. Now that I have wheeled hard with an auto, I have a different outlook.

Ed

for hard core rocks ... auto all the way ..... but I like a deep stick for trail and ranch work .... but if your not geared right a auto will always win out ;)







and when all you see is sky and your spotter say...
STOP.... BACK UP .... AND HIT IT AGAIN .... WITH A BUMP ....... you'll wish you had an auto if you dont ....


...t18 and auto ... back to stick cause it came in the truck but works great on the ranch ;)

done boht.

auto is the way to go:D

Ive wheeld both and a lot of both. I like a stick, but man that CRUTCH That the torque converter gives you is MASSIVE!



TB

Originally posted by Rock Taxi
I wonder how many of the voters have wheeled both. Before I wheeled an auto, I was sold on my T18a. Now that I have wheeled hard with an auto, I have a different outlook.

Ed

man i was the same way. when i had a np435 i thought i loved it. like i said earlier there were times i just thought i needed another gear. the ratio between 2nd and third was just too big of a jump. that is why i decided to try an auto when i swapped in the vortec. i was actually scared that i would not like it. boy was i wrong! i loved it!

if i did not wheel as hard as i do i would probably have a stick. i enjoy driving a stick but for full on wheeling i will stick to the auto.

I voted auto, even thought my junk is still a SM465, but it only took me one time of wheeling an auto in someone else's rig to become a believer.

(but my all-new clutch set from Zoom was only $116, plus $35 for machining the flywheel - but I pulled the engine.)