My latest dilemma...

[ronaconda]

I have been debating for months, if not at least a year on what transmission to go with. I bought all of the parts needed, sans the axles, for a 5-speed swap because i wanted the control and driveability that came with it, and now i am second guessing myself. I like the gearing in the 3t40...i hate the 3000+ rpm that the engine is turning at freeway speeds. And that is where the 4t60 non-e comes in...an effort to reduce highway rpms, especially for the frequent, hundreds-of-mile trips that i take. Let me know what you would go with and include the reason why please.

Thanks!!!

[SuzukiGhostRider]

You know me, I'm a gear grabber all the way.

My choice? 5 Speed ftw.

Reasons:

Economy
Better control
More fun
Better power
Lower rpm's at cruising altitude
Cool factor

*** Polls still aren't working btw***

[berettaboi]

if you are doing a lot of multi-tasking while driving (which you shouldnt! but yeah... it happens), as in eating... then the auto would be more practical... that is also traffic dependent... obviously if you dont deal with much traffic, you wont be shifting the stick shift often, if at all once on the highway.

but 5 spd manual absolutely if you want to 'drive'... as you stated, control. i like to be in control of the shifting as well, but auto may also help refrain from staying in the upper half of the RPM gauge actually... saving you gas money.

[Wanako]

5-speed. do it.

you already have the T-bird if you want to cruise in an auto.

[lolwut]

My 3t40 did ~3200 RPM at 80 MPH, I can't imagine the 5 speed would be worse. Actually RPMs were about the same between my 91 5-speed and 92 auto between 60 and 70 MPH.

So 5-speed.

[DTMAce]

This is why I like the 4t60e... 70 @ 2k. LOL

[heavywoody]

I think it depends on what you're going to do with the car...

If it is a cruiser, going to drag race (competively like Mr. Pink), want more consistent launches; auto.

If you are going to autox it, want to be more "involved" with the car, and are bored with an auto, 5spd.

Mileage will be better with the 4T60 on the highway; in my car I get about 29 mpg cruising mostly between 75-80mph. I got better mileage with the 4T60E though.

[woody90gtz]

Go 5spd. I got 32 my last highway trip, which is about the same as what i got with the 3100/auto.

[weba]

If you like to be a passenger, get automatic. And in case you like to be the driver... You should know this.

[3X00-Modified]

I would also factor in part availability when you make this decision... I hate to say it but 5-speed parts are getting harder and harder to find and no one wants to make, or have someone take the time to custom make shift cables, so if your daily driving it and putting a lot of wear on it, maintenance can start to become harder to perform when items like that begin to break.

Its the same principal of why I would not drive the Twin Turbo AWD concept car if I had purchased it. The fact that the drivetrain is so rare I would be a bit more careful with the amount of mileage I put on it unless I got a back-stock of AWD parts.

[Styluss]

You know what I think. Stay OG with the auto.

[KFLO 93 GT]

The swap is cake, 5 speeds are fun. The end.

[ronaconda]

ok...say i do stay "OG"...Jon, do you have any pointers in rebuilding the 3t40 or point me in the right direction to get the right parts and do it the right way???

[Styluss]

I would be interested in getting this 4T60e just for the lower RPMs myself, although the RPM level has never bothered me. I assume the gearing is a little longer in that then, making for slower 1/4s? Or am I thinking about it all backwards? I am not that smart.

[DTMAce]

You don't or shouldn't be hitting O/D while doing a 1/4. Hell I doubt you would get much through 3rd.

Have to think, (and Jon may correct me if I'm wrong), the 4T60E, has 1st through 3rd, then overdrive, then it also does a torque converter lock up. For me it feels like 5 gears, though its actually 4. Keep in mind, converter lockup also will happen if you are in D instead of O/D. (I have tested that)

@ 55 (depends on the accuracy of the gauges here, I use a GPS for speed to test this with both my cars), I turn between 1500 and 1700 RPM. (each car was a bit different)
@ 70, I get around 2000-2100 on both.
@ 85 they will turn 2400- 2500.

The lowest I can make them go and still be in 4th/converter lock is about 45-50. But I find that I can get a bit better mileage on the berettas if I stay between 60-70, rather than a slower speed, however I also know that if you keep the engine under 3k while driving it, that helps a ton! lol