I'm thinking about switching my 81 el camino's manual 3-speed transmission to an automatic, since it's my first car I feel like it'd be better to switch but at the same time I don't want to spend a lot of money. Any thoughts?
TRANSMISSION CHANGE
- Thread starter 1981elcaminoNJ
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switch a manual to an automatic?...manuals are rare and a blast to drive but why do you want to switch
it is simple but besides the transmission and torque converter you need a flex plate, rad with the transmission cooler, lines to the cooler, mount a shifter and cable, steering column and linkages, wiring for neutral safety switch and back up lites, transmission cross member support and probably a drive shaft of the correct length
Tell your parents a 3spd manual is rare and you want to keep it that way. Learn to drive manual they are alot more fun and you wont be destroying a collector
not being funny, but their is no real difference in safety with a transmission, I dont know what they think is going to be better for you, but it is easier to be much more foolish with a auto trans... most of the fastest cars around/race track are auto... it shifts much faster than we can shift it manually... the manual trans is also reliable...1981elcaminoNJ said:
but anyhow, not that hard to do, just alot of work, unless they expect you to do this yourself (and if you are capable of that, then they should let you decide between a manual and auto) it is going to cost a few pennies to do.
do you know exactly what their concern is with the difference and did you actually want the change also... and the easiest change would be another 3 speed trans, like the t350 along with a b&m shifter, so you dont have to worry about the column(by the way, it will allow you to manually shift it anyway, clutchless)
as far as a safety issue I think a standard is safer. You have more to do to drive the car so it keeps you alert.
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