Standard vs Auto

[srscout]

Hey Guys--- I know this debate has gone on forever, but we have one going here locally and I am curious what you think. I intend this for hard off road ( rock crawl to be spicific). What do you prefer and why?

Thanks ahead of time for all the info.

 

[Hossbaby50]

Auto for rock crawling. No 3 pedal boogy, better control, less drivetrain shockload, less gearing needed typically. If you are really good with a clutch then you can get away with being undergeared. Auto's tend to be the most prevelent on the rocks though because they are easier to drive.

I know a few people that are REALLY good with a clucth & make crawling a clutch look easy but it takes alot of practice & skill to do it well. I have seen alot more people who think they are a good clutchman then actually are a good clutchman & wheel a manual well.

Harley

 

[tRustyK5]

There is no 3 foot boogey with a manual, the only time I need the clutch is in high range. In low range (or double low) I don't touch the clutch pedal. It'll climb vertically at idle...why would I ever need three feet? I can wheel much more 'elegantly' with a manual.

I also don't ever have to worry about cooking my tranny in the rocks, or what temp the tranny is at...

Now in the sand dunes or mud I really would prefer an auto. I don't hardly ever do either of those though.

Rene

 

[Chaddy]

Hey Guys--- I know this debate has gone on forever, but we have one going here locally and I am curious what you think. I intend this for hard off road ( rock crawl to be spicific). What do you prefer and why?

Thanks ahead of time for all the info.

Sticks and carbs are for racing....FI and Auto's are for rock crawling...... You will never see any competitor have 3 pedals in his rig.

 

[Chevy305]

I say sticks are good. Wheeling a stick is harder than an auto on rocks that is. But the SM465 has crazy low granny gear. Running the truck at just above idle will get you over anything in granny gear and 4lo.

Also many people wheel with a carb and a stick. I am one of them . Its not as hard as you think, its second nature for me now. I do the 3 pedal dance without even flinching.

 

[Thunder]

I have had many diferent 4x4s with both kinds of trannys. I like auto better than stick for off road or on road for that matter. Autos ar simple to drive dont have to hassle with all that shifting and IMHO easier on my drivetrain.

 

[tRustyK5]

I say sticks are good. Wheeling a stick is harder than an auto on rocks that is. But the SM465 has crazy low granny gear. Running the truck at just above idle will get you over anything in granny gear and 4lo.

Also many people wheel with a carb and a stick. I am one of them . Its not as hard as you think, its second nature for me now. I do the 3 pedal dance without even flinching.

I would rather have a root canal without novocaine than wheel with a carb again. FI is the shizzit, and FI without a computer is even better...

Rene

 

[Chevy305]

I would rather have a root canal without novocaine than wheel with a carb again. FI is the shizzit, and FI without a computer is even better...

Rene

Well FI is better than a carb, I won't argue with you there. But carbs are cheaper and you can easily modify them to run a huge ass cam.

FI without a computer? Wouldn't that be mechanical fuel injection like on the early Corvettes?

 

[79k20350]

Well FI is better than a carb, I won't argue with you there. But carbs are cheaper and you can easily modify them to run a huge ass cam.

FI without a computer? Wouldn't that be mechanical fuel injection like on the early Corvettes?

He means diesel

 

[Chevy305]

He means diesel

 

[tRustyK5]

I've done the carb thing off road and hated every stumbling, flooding, stalling, minute of it. As for a "Huge ass cam" ...not very useful for rock crawling.

Rene

 

[blazersnburban]

i agree

There is no 3 foot boogey with a manual, the only time I need the clutch is in high range. In low range (or double low) I don't touch the clutch pedal. It'll climb vertically at idle...why would I ever need three feet? I can wheel much more 'elegantly' with a manual.

I also don't ever have to worry about cooking my tranny in the rocks, or what temp the tranny is at...

Now in the sand dunes or mud I really would prefer an auto. I don't hardly ever do either of those though.

Rene

x2

most people around here that play on what few rocks we have want a manual, so they can gear it way down and not touch the clutch...the mud runners want autos so they can raise their wheel speed without losing momentum. but i've seen people want it the other way around. the auto does fair on the rocks, but the manual guys in the mud get stuck more than the guys with the autos, even if they are identical rigs except for tranny...when you need to clean out your tires in the mud and you have to clutch it to grab a gear, sometimes its just enuff time to lose forward momentum and allow them to sink deeper!

 

[chevyguybc]

There is no 3 foot boogey with a manual, the only time I need the clutch is in high range. In low range (or double low) I don't touch the clutch pedal. It'll climb vertically at idle...why would I ever need three feet? I can wheel much more 'elegantly' with a manual.

I also don't ever have to worry about cooking my tranny in the rocks, or what temp the tranny is at...

Now in the sand dunes or mud I really would prefer an auto. I don't hardly ever do either of those though.

Rene

whole heartily agreed driving both setups ( only 21)

I love the sm465 combo.. i cant imaging the nv4500 doubler

im considering the block box an the 3:1 lowmax, my driveline angle would stay decent( save money there) and id know my tcase is bullet proof, one last thing to worry about...


i am going to TBI on this 350 im rebuilding, it will have camel bumps or votrecs( own the bumps, may trade for vortecs) , also will have a 454 TBI unit,

my question is.... will the 454 TBI work with 350 wiring, harness, etc.../

 

[yellowK20]

Manual all the way even in the Mud .......well in the sand give me a full manual built to the hilt 700R-4

 

[CDA 455]

Hey Guys--- I know this debate has gone on forever, but we have one going here locally and I am curious what you think. I intend this for hard off road ( rock crawl to be spicific). What do you prefer and why?

Thanks ahead of time for all the info.

Grew up with a manual. 30+ years off roading with a manual. Raced open-road with a manual. I love manual.
HOWEVER! I'm an old fart / lazy / taking the whole family along / lazy/ like the torque multiplier aspect / lazy / just want to shift into drive and go.
Did I mention lazy ??

 

[Ronnie4wd]

There is no 3 foot boogey with a manual, the only time I need the clutch is in high range. In low range (or double low) I don't touch the clutch pedal. It'll climb vertically at idle...why would I ever need three feet? I can wheel much more 'elegantly' with a manual.

Rene

X6.55
And with a manual you can get rid of all that aluminum crap

 

[tRustyK5]

Ronnie, as someone that has watched every vid you've posted I noticed you seem more able to wheel elegantly and with more control now...of course I was watching for the difference. After first getting to wheel my Jimmy with the exact combo you now have I knew you'd love it.

Rene

 

[JohnDeere]

I vote on POWERGLIDE all the way.

 

[LVJimmy]

x2

most people around here that play on what few rocks we have want a manual, so they can gear it way down and not touch the clutch...the mud runners want autos so they can raise their wheel speed without losing momentum. but i've seen people want it the other way around. the auto does fair on the rocks, but the manual guys in the mud get stuck more than the guys with the autos, even if they are identical rigs except for tranny...when you need to clean out your tires in the mud and you have to clutch it to grab a gear, sometimes its just enuff time to lose forward momentum and allow them to sink deeper!

X3 Auto in Desert sand and mud

 

[yellowK20]

Standard in the mud Instant wheelspeed plus they will take the abuse better