Improve My Perspective on Automatic Transmissions

Blackjack said:
With your SE that auto better come with a different engine in front of it. What little power those four squirrels put out is completely ate up by the torque converter.

I grew up with manuals and prefer to drive manuals but if I end up in a part of the country where the average trail speed is measured in feet per hour I will be running a slushbox.
Click to expand...

Interesting, thanks. Can you say more? Just curious, since I clearly know nothing about how autos really work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wildman
jjvw said:
Or to leave the gas station or take off from red lights after the clutch failed 100 miles from home.
Click to expand...
Jerry Bransford said:
That happened to a buddy I was with in his Corvair Spyder late one night in 1965. We were in Hollywood cruising for girls, about 50 miles from home, when his clutch cable broke. That's how we made it home at 2am. It was a long drive not being able to use the clutch.
Click to expand...

I used the starter, not the clutch for almost a month on a daily driver while I saved up some cash to buy a new clutch fork. For some reason shifting an aircooled VW Bug from gear to gear with no clutch action was almost as easy as shifting a motorcycle. About 15 years later my S10 fought every shift on the 10 mile ride home.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jjvw and Jerry Bransford
JEEPCJTJ said:
I used the starter, not the clutch for almost a month on a daily driver while I saved up some cash to buy a new clutch fork. For some reason shifting an aircooled VW Bug from gear to gear with no clutch action was almost as easy as shifting a motorcycle. About 15 years later my S10 fought every shift on the 10 mile ride home.
Click to expand...
I've noticed some transmissions are easier than others. I don't float my NV3550 often, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. Though I couldn't quite figure out where to find 5th on my long clutch less drive home.

Years ago, I drove a big Freightliner box truck almost 400 miles from Amarillo, TX just past Colorado Springs with a failing clutch. I floated as much as I could, but the disc burned up in rush hour traffic. After the new clutch, I was really good as floating that truck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thunderhead
SSTJ said:
Interesting, thanks. Can you say more? Just curious, since I clearly know nothing about how autos really work.
Click to expand...

Here is a brief explanation of the torque converter. https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/information/torque-converter.htm

The transmission is a series of planetary gears and clutches that apply power to the different planetaries to achieve the different gear ratios (speeds) and reverse. Those actions are controlled by a valve body with later models adding electronics to aid in proper gear selection to keep the engine in its optimal rpm range for best drivabilty.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SSTJ and lBasket
Blackjack said:
I grew up with manuals and prefer to drive manuals but if I end up in a part of the country where the average trail speed is measured in feet per hour I will be running a slushbox.
Click to expand...
Not to put too fine a point on it because you know better but there are almost no manual transmissions in any of the EMC competitor classes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blackjack
Blackjack said:
Here is a brief explanation of the torque converter. https://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/information/torque-converter.htm

The transmission is a series of planetary gears and clutches that apply power to the different planetaries to achieve the different gear ratios (speeds) and reverse. Those actions are controlled by a valve body with later models adding electronics to aid in proper gear selection to keep the engine in its optimal rpm range for best drivabilty.
Click to expand...
Or in the case of the jeep 42rle controller, added electronics to aid in fucking you over at the slightest incline by selecting the absolute worst rpm range for continuing forward motion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: suicideking and TJ Starting
jjvw said:
I've noticed some transmissions are easier than others. I don't float my NV3550 often, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. Though I couldn't quite figure out where to find 5th on my long clutch less drive home.

Years ago, I drove a big Freightliner box truck almost 400 miles from Amarillo, TX just past Colorado Springs with a failing clutch. I floated as much as I could, but the disc burned up in rush hour traffic. After the new clutch, I was really good as floating that truck.
Click to expand...
I’ve been driving class A & B commercial trucks for 20 years. 35,000 gvwr and 80,000 gvwr, 10 speeds, in SF Chinatown hills, Bay Area.
Cool little trick is to apply your air brake on a hill for a stop light. Engaging the clutch as your release the air and get it rolling.
I only float manuals. I find using the clutch makes you grind gears in the big trucks.
Glad I got a automatic. I’ve shifted enough
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wildman, DrDmoney and jjvw
B00mb00m said:
Or in the case of the jeep 42rle controller, added electronics to aid in fucking you over at the slightest incline by selecting the absolute worst rpm range for continuing forward motion.
Click to expand...
Yeah the 42rle has some things that definitely work against it considering the vehicle it is installed in.
 
Chris said:
He does, but my understanding is that he can program the TCM as well. Give him a call, this is what I've been hearing.
Click to expand...
That would be cool. I emailed him but not getting hopes up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris
Blackjack said:
True and I doubt you will find many manuals at all at KOH anymore.
Click to expand...
Big Ugly tried it and was real stubborn about it but kept breaking them. I don't know if that was Kevin, the install, or the trans and that shouldn't be taken as the only reason because lots of autos stop from from winning as well. Pretty sure that the Toyota mini in the stock class that has won has a manual. Outside of them, not sure of any others.
 
Top Bottom
Back