post i made somewere else but also needed to be here.

Originally Posted by BuyAmerican
Why do you think most Drag Car guys run automatics? Do you think they do it cause they are cheaper or less matinence or because they just are good at figuring out how to tune a clutch (like on the really fast cars like a pro mod)?

In the begining it was less headakes to the drive train and people just couldnot handle a clutch car much like today get in and drive a no brainer some people are just cluts with a clutch car. Back in the day we kids our age grew up around clutch cars and from then on became natural behine them. Banging gears ya baby. A clutch car needs close attention the the chassis and took work and understanding on chassis. Automatics were very forgiving to the chassis, engineers dam near did all the work in oem cars to react to a smooth power flow to the rear wheels and more horsepower flowed effortless to the rear wheel so it was a easy car to go racing with,and brought more racers to the track good for everyone. Chrylser did the most work in oem chassis alot of good books from them and there 727 trans was a big hit along with gm,s t-400 the work horse of the early years. Racers have been a big contrubutor towards better automatics well into the 80,s. out of it came the PowerGlide a inexspenive light 2 speed trans along with fords C4. Racers are responsible for the brutness they can handle today bracket racers thought only 2 speeds one shift would be more consistant then 3 or 4 and with great parts became very popular to many. At first still easy on chassis but today can sure shock the hell out of your chassis like no other from yesterday. Sure maint is a issue depending on power levels two years before even looking at it a far cry of work for a clutch car. Todays auto trans can be just as bad if not worse as a clutch car as there still blowing convertors sprags drums with trans brakes install. Between trick convertors and transbrakes easy as pie you can go serious racing. But at todays power levels theres no getting around the chassis anymore you have to on top of your game in the chassis department to hook it up as with transbrakes its a good shock now to the chassis and needs alot of attention. Still and never to match a clutch cars reaction to a chaissis. Some say autos are more consistant but i say bullshit i can run on my numbers just as consistantly. So as all of you have found out its all about the reaction time at the green and always was you tires get more then 2 inches off the ground you lose. By the time your done with a great automatic trans converted to racing your in real deep and more then a clutch car and they still break. A good clutch car done right from the start under 600HP can be done within most peoples bugit and have fun but you have to know your shit just like anything else. A super T10 BW trans with 8620 gears and some special mods will live behine a 3000 car dropping the clutch at 7500 with 14 inch tires with a 2800# clutch plate and look out rear end. Automatics are also alot easier on rear ends another good reason why racers like the auto trans.
My own 2 cent beliefs are the 727 and turbo 400 were the best of both worlds transmissions for drag racing,, a dics clutch driving the front pump refreashing after 200 runs and have fun, aka the clutchFlight and the clutchTurbo whatever the rpm was that you wanted to leave at built in trans brake and softer on the drive line then a manual trans and clutch last forever. with todays parts that trans would be kick ass and **** the torque converter and transbrakes.

Power adders are another story Nitros guys know the ropes using that gas on the hit with two and three stages, it all boils down to how fast and how much do you have to spend. The NEED FOR SPEED. For some its a choice between women and car or car and women all depends on what weight your blood type is. I myself just love NHRA Prostock its what ive been chasing for 45 years. Banging gears, cheaters with air shifters but will accecpt them lol hope this helps.

If anybody care's??

"Auto Gear Company
From: Nathan Huxtable <nhuxtable@autogear.net>Add to Contacts
To: pdmcconnell@yahoo.com


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Paul;

As always, thanks for your interest and the interest of everybody on the "Team" boards. The five-speed is still around. However, we had to move our gear manufacture across Italy for some parts in the M22 platform, which would be used in the 5spd.

Things are going gangbusters on the 4spd front. However, the M22W and M22Z gear sets are out of production until our new Italian contact is up to speed, probably looking at an early July delivery for those parts ONLY. This new manufacturer is Euroicambi, who had made our synchros for the past 20yrs or so.

We also have a rebuilding service for Muncie transmissions AND we're producing REAL bronze "oilite" CHEVY pilot bushings (not the magnetic 'sintered' stuff)

I hope this helps you and the guys on the boards, if not, let me know or just call us at 1800-634-3001

Nate Huxtable"

pdq67

PS., and I think Jamie Praise, of Praise Performance has a more like a real Muncie converted into a 5-speed unlike the Autogear internal rail 5-speed tranny.

I want to say PP's 5-speed Muncie design has the OD unit in the tail-housing like it should be, IMH (BSME) o....