Does anyone here regret their auto to manual swap?

[UnlocatedStig]

My th350 is toast just as the fun season begun and now i struggle with what i want to do next. I'd really like a overdrive gear but all the options available to me is quite expensive so I'm seriously considering a T56 magnum swap.
These are my options :

-Th350 just like it. boring, but cheap
-200-4r unobtanium where i live
-700r4 Would need to be beefed up and that gets close to 3 grand
-4l80e price especially with a new torque converter and stand alone computer is big $$$. Might as well do a t56 at that point
-AR5 I can maybe find one in sweden but the costs add up fast and i think the t56 is a better option if I'm already going to bankrupt myself
-T56 Magnum The shifter location with a bench seat scares me a little bit, I'm 5 foot 6

've always dreamed of having a t56 in some project and now i have a good excuse to go that route. My floor already has rust holes and would need to be patch up so I'm not worked up about having to cut a hole in the floor.
My biggest fear would be if i regret it with the massive amount of money spent just to get 3 more gears and the fun of ******** shifting myself. A LT1 camaro t56 is pretty much out of the question as thats also unobtainum.

So i guess what i am asking is, was a manual swap worth it?

 

[Streetbu]

Absolutely worth every penny! I love my T56!

 

[Bonnewagon]

My 1983 Bonnewagon I converted to a manual trans before I even registered it. That was 20 years ago and I never regretted it. But then I have always been a manual trans guy. I will make a guess that most of the replies on this site will be pro-manual trans.

 

[pagrunt]

I swapped a Saginaw into my '81 Monte 26 years ago & did a '72 four years before that. Next I'll be doing the swap to my boy's '79. I try to get more spare parts for just in case I get another with an automatic. As a slightly cheaper swap, did you evrt put any thought into a T5 out of an F body or S truck?

 

[UnlocatedStig]

I swapped a Saginaw into my '81 Monte 26 years ago & did a '72 four years before that. Next I'll be doing the swap to my boy's '79. I try to get more spare parts for just in case I get another with an automatic. As a slightly cheaper swap, did you evrt put any thought into a T5 out of an F body or S truck?

I will be concerned about breaking it all the time lol. I'd really like something that i know can handle whatever i put in front of it in the future

 

[airboatgreg]

I went from a 350 to a Muncie. Love it. Make driving fun again.

 

[ssn696]

As the world goes toward jellybean cars that deliver you like an Amazon package, rowing your own gears gets you more engaged in the journey. Put down the phone and do the thinking for the car.

 

[Bonnewagon]

t i know can handle whatever i put in front of it in the future

I had a pretty potent Pontiac 400 in my 1981 Malibu wagon. The Saginaw trans took everything I could throw at it. BUT: I had a 3;11 first gear, and a 3:23 7.5" rear gear. The proper gear ratios take the strain off the trans and rear. If you are thinking of putting a powerful motor in front of the stock granny gear ratios I can assure you it will be a failure. Also if you intend to race or otherwise abuse the car, then you must upgrade accordingly. As always, fit the punishment to the crime.

 

[stew86MCSS396]

My screen handle that I don't own anymore...BBC 396 ran around with a M20 and 7.5 3.73s. During it's short stint of daily driving, I didn't care for the single digit mpg and rpm buzzing on the expressway. Some point in the venture the M20 and 3.73s were swapped out for a Saginaw 3.11 and 2.73s. Much more expressway friendly but didn't do much for economy. Realized the double pumper air/idle screws were unresponsive so the carb was rebuilt main suspect a blown power valve...anyhoo mileage did improve to 14 mpg. TBH...I was gentle with it. I think I only beat on it hard when I was pissed at an idiot driver and you already know what that entails.

 

[Ernest]

The only regret you'll soon find is having a stick in stop and go traffic.... and when getting much older, your left knee will most likely not put up with the pressing of the clutch with the hard return spring, although a hydraulic driven one might be somewhat more forgiving.

I would love to have a stick shift over my 700R4, with the 3.73 gear im currently using, 2400rpm@70mph, im content, but a T56 would be the most likely candidate... but only in a corvette, but thats just me.