Compareing my Blazer and my friends Heep... I like auto better. I have a 700r4 w/ a np241 and i really like it because when im out crusin around town or bending around a trail, there is 1 less thing to worry about.
for on-road and towing and less technical offroad (philmont roads), i much prefer the manual, less to break, more control, more efficient (which is why i want to swap an nv4500 in for my 4l60e...someday). For serious offroad its really hard to beat a good strong automatic, since the torque converter gives you some nice reduction and you don't have to mess with the clutch.
I run the sm465,and I really like the low gear ratio. Also I feel like I have more control over what the truck is doing. Less things to go wrong also.smokin
I had the SM465 -208 in my truck and loved the low range crawling. I can see some advantages to a auto when crawling, but not enough to go thru a swap.
Auot's are twice the cost to rebuild and you have to worry about heat, denting the pan, and cooler lines to the radiator... more stuff = more chance of breakage.
with all that said, I have a 700r4 \ 241 combo I plan on putting in Mouse's YJ. I think braided steel cooler lines tucked up and routed correctly should ease the worry of cooler lines, skid plates for the bottom of the tranny.... Will just have to see
I like the manual over the auto for a couple of reasons;
simplicity, compression braking on steep downhill grades, and if you do get water into it the manual tranny is a whole lot more tolerant of it. Also, if while getting the water into the tranny your starter drowns, you can still pull-start the rig.
If your geared right a stick is alot easyer to control..I think .. but an auto is more user friendly... I want a rockbox with my 4sp and get in to the 100 to 1 range and a stick wins out every time
Here's a question; What places 1st in 99% of the rock crawling competitions? Auto's. What are most of them built with; auto's. So I guess it would be up to the terrain and what you're looking for your rig to do.chrfalI ran a stick for the longest time with an overall reduction of 119%. I'm now running an auto and I have to tell ya, I'm loving every bit of it jamminzz And I do just rocks jamminzz
So far I like the manaul in the K50. That 6:1 low gear really kicks a$$. Because I have the manaul I can get away with running 4:56 gears and 38.5 tires.
Well, of course I have the 4R100 in my rig below. But in my choice of trail rig I would pick the SM465 with a hand throttle. I've seen MG do some freaky stuff with that Granny low.
Well, of course I have the 4R100 in my rig below. But in my choice of trail rig I would pick the SM465 with a hand throttle. I've seen MG do some freaky stuff with that Granny low.
I think you have the scales tipped a little. If 99% of the rigs competing are autos it would only follow that most of the winners would be autos. Not a fair comparison. Driving the wifes Scout with an auto wasn`t as satisfying as wheeling my junk with a standard.
Being lazy like I am, I'd have to go with the Auto. But I think I could give up body parts for 1 with a 6:1. It's like anything else you take care of it , it takes care of you. Or you break it and Upgrade.
Don`t get me wrong,there is things I like about the auto. It`s pretty bad azz on the street,and I think I`m gonna race it this year. Thats something I couldn`t do with my 465,just to far between the gears.
I prefer the auto for crawling and going fast. I like man. for towing and driving on the street.
The main thing I dont like about a man. while crawling is trying to start off on an incline. I dont like the sm465 while trying to hotrod on the street, it takes too long to shift and there is too much of a gap in gear ratio between second and third. I plan to swap it out for an nv4500 some day. I love the nv3500 in the S10. It has a short throw, easy to shift fast and the ratios are pretty good. I also really like the t18 in the 75 Scout, it has a good tight shift pattern.
The 77 scout is the only truck I currently own with an auto and I am going to keep it that way. I have more control over the way it crawls, I usually just keep it revved up and control my speed with the brakes. I want to rebuild it with a full man. reverse pattern valve body. It will basically have the features of a manual, but without the hassle of a clutch.
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