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Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MckinneyOwnr
The days of guys being... well, handy, whether it's around a car or just being able to fix things, is pretty much long gone. Very few people know how to do stuff like this anymore, kudos to you OP for knowing it.
I'm going to try my best to teach my kids things like this, but if the youth of today is any indication, they probably won't care.
Sad but true. I replaced the engine and transmission in my 1963 Ranchero that I was restoring in the 90s, but alas, at my age now I don't do much more than an occasional brake job or oil change now. I have managed to get my son to do a view jobs on his vehicle when it needed work and he asked me to do it. No better way to learn than doing, as long as someone is there to guide you, that has the tools. That reminds me that tomorrow I have to install a new blower resister in my wife's car.
Well it has 270,000 miles and this is precisely the third time its ever dumped me. One: alternator went out. Two: I left the dome light on in an airport parking garage for a week. Three: starter went kablooiy a couple of years ago.
I'd say that is not bad for an 18-year old vehicle that I have owned since new.
Of course it isn't bad. But to call your vehicle trustworthy in the same post you talk about it dying on you is a bit much.
I don't recall having a vehicle die on me in the last ten years. Although most of them probably don't fall on anyone's most trustworthy list.
OK, whoopee for you. And your contribution was useful, helpful or interesting...how, again?
Well, it appears a lot of people are of the impression that Automatics cannot be push started, I was just (in an attempted humorous way) to say that it is possible, maybe not all of them and I've only ever done it once, but it can be done.
That being said, given the choice between an auto or a stick I tend to go for the stick every single time.
There is something else that I like about manual transmissions, specially on older vehicles that do not have stability control and ABS (like my 1988 Sierra 4x4): when driving on ice, even on 4x4, using the brakes can sometimes be a handful. Since I have a lot of experience driving manual, I slow down gradually and long before going into a skid with careful down-shifts, and coast to a stop when the light is turning red.
Also, towing a heavy load is quite handy with a stick-shift, and you don't have to worry about the transmission overheating like an automatic can do. On a steep downhill while towing, just set the transmission to a low gear that won't allow you to over speed before you start going down. Use the brakes just to stop if you have to. The motor and transmission will allow you to keep the brakes cool as long as you have shifted to the right gear for the grade.
And yes, you can choose a lower gear on an automatic transmission, too.
That push start capability is a big plus. I'm not surprised those young guys didn't know anything about it.
I'm not either. If they ever went to roll down the windows on a hand crank style window, they'd probably still spend 20 minutes trying to find the electric window switch.
There is something else that I like about manual transmissions, specially on older vehicles that do not have stability control and ABS (like my 1988 Sierra 4x4): when driving on ice, even on 4x4, using the brakes can sometimes be a handful. Since I have a lot of experience driving manual, I slow down gradually and long before going into a skid with careful down-shifts, and coast to a stop when the light is turning red.
Also, towing a heavy load is quite handy with a stick-shift, and you don't have to worry about the transmission overheating like an automatic can do. On a steep downhill while towing, just set the transmission to a low gear that won't allow you to over speed before you start going down. Use the brakes just to stop if you have to. The motor and transmission will allow you to keep the brakes cool as long as you have shifted to the right gear for the grade.
And yes, you can choose a lower gear on an automatic transmission, too.
I do that with my cars, too (which have an automatic transmission). With the cars I have driven, the transmission can be manually downshifted (and upshifted).
Also for those who tow a heavy load with a car using an automatic, a transmission cooler is a good thing to have. My brother put one of those on his '66 Plymouth Fury.
Keeping on the same subject, I found this article in the Oct., 1970 issue of Motor Trend...
Engine---------------- 455-cu-in W-30--- 455-cu-in W30
Horsepower----------- N.A.-------------- N.A. (early in the production year, but it should be 360 gross hp)
Transmission---------- 4-speed manual--- 3-speed automatic
Axle ratio------------- 3.42:1------------ 3.42:1
Tires----------------- G70x14----------- G70x14
Well, it appears a lot of people are of the impression that Automatics cannot be push started, I was just (in an attempted humorous way) to say that it is possible, maybe not all of them and I've only ever done it once, but it can be done.
That being said, given the choice between an auto or a stick I tend to go for the stick every single time.
Sorry for misunderstanding....and I'll admit I did not know that an automatic could be push started! (How?)
Sorry for misunderstanding....and I'll admit I did not know that an automatic could be push started! (How?)
Extremely few automatics can be roll started. I wouldn't consider it to be an option unless it is known for a fact that a particular auto tranny is capable of that.
We just push started my friend's far last night. We were waiting around at a gas station, meeting up with some other friends. The rest of us had parked, and she pulls up. Turns off the car, but leaves headlights / radio on. Didn't take long. She had no idea you could do that! I tell her to put it in second, and hold the clutch in. A friend and I roll it a bit, then I tell her to pop off the clutch. Car fires right up.
Gotta love manual.
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Three: starter went kablooiy a couple of years ago.
Sorry for misunderstanding....and I'll admit I did not know that an automatic could be push started! (How?)
I tell her to put it in second, and hold the clutch in. A friend and I roll it a bit, then I tell her to pop off the clutch. Car fires right up. 
