Th350: manual or automatic?

[SpeedlabDan]

so I've decided to rebuild my tired original th350 but a couple hundred miles ago I put a manual valve body in on account that the governor was shot n it wouldn't shift to 3rd when warm. I know, I shoulda just dropped it then but it didn't slip n still doesn't behind 500ft pounds. However when I threw the driveshaft it seemed to lock up. I cranked it a couple times and ended up drive 6 miles home in fwd. Now I know this is a preference thing but if I have the trans built automatic again can't I still shift it manually anyhow? Are there any advantages to a full manual off-road? Or is it just a drag car thing?

 

[Bent77]

Ive driven FMV autos on the street. Not much different than a standard, just no clutch

Question is really, is it worth the effort? I think id rather put more money into an OD auto, or serious upgrades on th350 internals like deeper drum for more clutches

 

[SpeedlabDan]

Ive driven FMV autos on the street. Not much different than a standard, just no clutch

Question is really, is it worth the effort? I think id rather put more money into an OD auto, or serious upgrades on th350 internals like deeper drum for more clutches

Yea I'm oin

 

[SpeedlabDan]

Ive driven FMV autos on the street. Not much different than a standard, just no clutch

Question is really, is it worth the effort? I think id rather put more money into an OD auto, or serious upgrades on th350 internals like deeper drum for more clutches

Yea I'm doing some serious upgrades to the trans but I already have the FMV and it's not going to cost any more to keep it either way. The th350 will be built to hold the 500lbft.
I'd love to have overdrive but to convert to a4l80e it's about 2500 more and I'd have to move my tcase back 6" so I'd lose my console and have to shorten/lengthen both shafts.... I'm not ready for all that. It's not my daily after all

 

[Justin V]

Full manual valvebody really isn't worth it in my opinion. Might as well put an actual manual in it then...

 

[SpeedlabDan]

Full manual valvebody really isn't worth it in my opinion. Might as well put an actual manual in it then...

I guess that's what I'm getting at. I only did it to avoid dropping and rebuilding the trans for other issues so now that I have it is it worth outing back in or go luxury and make it auto? I'm starting to lean towards auto

 

[Justin V]

You can always shift the auto...

You HAVE to shift the FMV

 

[Bent77]

Full manual valvebody really isn't worth it in my opinion. Might as well put an actual manual in it then...

You've come a long way Noob

 

[Bent77]

Probably best to sell it to a racer

 

[diesel4me]

You can always shift the auto...

You HAVE to shift the FMV

Makes me wonder how Pontiac made the "his & hers" shifter work--must have had a special valve body that had both automatic and full manual modes in one ?..