4T65E bolted to a Honda? Check it out...

[Manitcor]

very true, gearing is a limitation of the trans casing more often than not. The t65 is capable of a 3.69 FDR and I think you can even wedge 3.73s in if someone made them.

Last time I was a cedar falls I talked to a couple guys racing some crown vics with autos (of course) they were both running 4.10s

but yes a manual is much more fun to drive

[gpse3400]

Not in NY it isn't...... If I had a standard shift here I'd have to amputate my leg. Standards are good for there fun factor in a clearing, but... I will say that after rebuilding my auto, and the way it operates(in sheer contrast to the luxury shifting specs GM likes to build)....It'd be a tuff sell to get me into a stick. When I was at the track in KY my times and speeds had a very close average. True torque can be added via the TC....To tell you the Truth, an Auto that has certain characteristics to me is just as entertaining. Esspecially when you rebuild it yourself, it kinda has your signature on it. My unit shifts hard and whines like a classic car. I mean not for nothing it is rather interesting on how they work and how they are designed. And since we are all enthusiastic about this stuff, calibrating shift points and things must be on the list of things to fuck with. My unit has a few fun parts in to make less prone to failing and to make the car quicker. One in part I have in particular is the 2nd drum thrustwasher(the typical plastic stocker usualy fries after 100,000) from a 4T65E, this one is steel with a composite thrust layer. Another thing I've noticed in comparison with autos and sticks, mainly a 444-T4/4T60-E compared to a standard shift... the auto does absorb alot of the engine's vibrational crap. Smooths the response basically. The standard shift adds a sense of roughness to the car. Not that its bad, just different... As far as shear stength... well they did mate a high torque V8 to it and rarely hear of them failing. The only weak spot in the 440/E is the same in all cars....the differential. As far as high rpm shifts... Bump the pressure up(modualator)speed up the shifting(accum springs) and change your fluid (DEX3/Merc)every 30,000. What I noticed, the 2nd clutches don't wear bad at all. 3rd clutch also....NONE OF THE CLUTCHES or BANDS WEAR BAD!....amazing... If a trans fails, I've noticed its due to the assebming of it, there's alot of parts and you can easily mix up, forget, or loose parts. Also just bearings getting old and dirty wearing out is an issue. A bad Oil pump drive bearing that keeps eating at the shaft can cause the shaft to break or to cause an leak on some fluid circuits. But standards got their share of problems such as basically not being able to civily shift the unit for example. An auto is not cut and dry and I do have respect for them and the work they faire...

By the way there is a nice aftermarket. You just have to get in the know with ATRA and you can build this unit up. This is just one of many aftermarket manufactureres/retailers. http://www.sonnax.com/

The best transmission for performance is probably the CVT..but I don't know if i can get used to the engine running at one speed for a better part of the day...

[geoffinbc]

LOL amputate your leg. LOL sweet.

But I have to agree with you. Auto's are just as sweet you can mess with so many aspects. They are very customizable.