BEST gearbox(manual) you've ever driven?
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I'm a nut but my 91 dodge dakota 4cyl had a great box. Synchros still had meat and the stick went right into the trans, was not connected by cables and rubber bushings. Clutch was heavier than most econobox cars tuned for girls but okay.
Have had other pickups with sticks, all okay, but that dakota was tops.
Have had other pickups with sticks, all okay, but that dakota was tops.
Any '69-75 Mopar with the A-833 (non-OD) transmission and the Hurst shifter mechanism. Buttery smooth, ultra precise, and a rock solid feel. The pre-69s used an Inland shifter that wasn't nearly as smooth (outright balky sometimes) but they were still pretty good. The old GM Muncie 4-speeds and Ford Toploaders are wonderful too. The MG Midget my cousin restored back in the 70s was right up there too.
Worst shifters I've ever driven- ANY front-drive car with a manual transmission, because it feels like the shifter is connected to the gearbox with rubber bands. Yuck.
Worst shifters I've ever driven- ANY front-drive car with a manual transmission, because it feels like the shifter is connected to the gearbox with rubber bands. Yuck.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
the stick went right into the trans, was not connected by cables and rubber bushings.
That is what is known as a "toploader." And yes, as truck transmissions go the New Process (later New Venture Gear) units found in Dodge and GM trucks are excellent. They really show their family heritage with the old Mopar (New Process) and GM Muncie transmissions.
the stick went right into the trans, was not connected by cables and rubber bushings.
That is what is known as a "toploader." And yes, as truck transmissions go the New Process (later New Venture Gear) units found in Dodge and GM trucks are excellent. They really show their family heritage with the old Mopar (New Process) and GM Muncie transmissions.
1. 2010 Porsche 911
2. 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1
3. 2008 Ford Mustang GT
2. 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1
3. 2008 Ford Mustang GT
I'm surprised to see so much love for the T56. I've owned four of them and they are strong, I'll give them that. But smooth, easy shifts are not their forte imo.
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Mazda Miata FTW. Rifle bolt precision. and smooth as a baby's behind. And the clutch takeup and feel is even better.
Muncie M21 in my '70 Nova. it was from the late 60's IIRC. Hurst shifer w/ metal bushing upgrade.
the M21 was great because it was real close ratio; 1st gear was 2.2:1, 4th was 1:1. along w/ some 3.70 or 3.90 gears, you get the revs up quick w/ good accelerationa nd you could keep the revs up. durable as all get out.
M22 rockcrusher had straight cut gears, never had one of those. same ratios as the M21.
the M21 was great because it was real close ratio; 1st gear was 2.2:1, 4th was 1:1. along w/ some 3.70 or 3.90 gears, you get the revs up quick w/ good accelerationa nd you could keep the revs up. durable as all get out.
M22 rockcrusher had straight cut gears, never had one of those. same ratios as the M21.
The best manual gearbox I've ever had the pleasure of rowing was a repurposed NASCAR-spec Doug Nash 5-speed. The clutch was heavy, the straight-cut gears were loud, and the shift effort was high... but it has the most positive shift action I've ever experienced. It felt wonderfully mechanical, not isolated.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: eljefino
the stick went right into the trans, was not connected by cables and rubber bushings.
That is what is known as a "toploader." And yes, as truck transmissions go the New Process (later New Venture Gear) units found in Dodge and GM trucks are excellent. They really show their family heritage with the old Mopar (New Process) and GM Muncie transmissions.
are they still in production? I read that the Muncie plant was shut down and the Mopar plant was also shut down leaving 1 plant.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
the stick went right into the trans, was not connected by cables and rubber bushings.
That is what is known as a "toploader." And yes, as truck transmissions go the New Process (later New Venture Gear) units found in Dodge and GM trucks are excellent. They really show their family heritage with the old Mopar (New Process) and GM Muncie transmissions.
are they still in production? I read that the Muncie plant was shut down and the Mopar plant was also shut down leaving 1 plant.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
1988 Honda CRX
Funny that you cite that one. I thought the one in my 1988 Civic LX was nearly perfect. Everything worked with absurd smoothness and it all seemed in balance (mechanical precision, effort, and so forth).
WORST I've ever seen was the cable-actuated nightmare in the early-70s Pontiac Astre (Vega clone) we had in the family for a couple years. Never have I experienced a greater temptation to commit Arson. The last straw was when one of the cables in the mechanism (which put an overdose of Novocaine to shame in the "numbness" department) snapped while my little sister tried to drive the car across a busy intersection. Horrible, just horrible.
1988 Honda CRX
Funny that you cite that one. I thought the one in my 1988 Civic LX was nearly perfect. Everything worked with absurd smoothness and it all seemed in balance (mechanical precision, effort, and so forth).
WORST I've ever seen was the cable-actuated nightmare in the early-70s Pontiac Astre (Vega clone) we had in the family for a couple years. Never have I experienced a greater temptation to commit Arson. The last straw was when one of the cables in the mechanism (which put an overdose of Novocaine to shame in the "numbness" department) snapped while my little sister tried to drive the car across a busy intersection. Horrible, just horrible.
Originally Posted By: defektes
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: eljefino
the stick went right into the trans, was not connected by cables and rubber bushings.
That is what is known as a "toploader." And yes, as truck transmissions go the New Process (later New Venture Gear) units found in Dodge and GM trucks are excellent. They really show their family heritage with the old Mopar (New Process) and GM Muncie transmissions.
are they still in production? I read that the Muncie plant was shut down and the Mopar plant was also shut down leaving 1 plant.
New Process' Syracuse plant and Muncie's Indiana were both kept as parts of NVG when the whole consortium was formed and I did hear that the Muncie plant was eventually closed after first reverting back to full GM ownership when NVG was absorbed by Magna International. I thought the NP plant was still in business, but I could be wrong. AFAIK Dodge still uses NVG transmissions and transfer cases.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: eljefino
the stick went right into the trans, was not connected by cables and rubber bushings.
That is what is known as a "toploader." And yes, as truck transmissions go the New Process (later New Venture Gear) units found in Dodge and GM trucks are excellent. They really show their family heritage with the old Mopar (New Process) and GM Muncie transmissions.
are they still in production? I read that the Muncie plant was shut down and the Mopar plant was also shut down leaving 1 plant.
New Process' Syracuse plant and Muncie's Indiana were both kept as parts of NVG when the whole consortium was formed and I did hear that the Muncie plant was eventually closed after first reverting back to full GM ownership when NVG was absorbed by Magna International. I thought the NP plant was still in business, but I could be wrong. AFAIK Dodge still uses NVG transmissions and transfer cases.
From an affordable stand point I would say that the mid eighties to early ninties Honda Civic models were some of the best...Smooth, positive and perfectly weighted, and perfectly mated with the slightly light feeling cable actuated clutch....you just can't get any better. Even today most cars in the same class don't come close.. PS...Note to manufacturers !!!!!!
I was around when they were selling the Civic CRX and it was one heck of a fun car..it was almost a legit sports car at a bargin price.
I think hydraulic clutches and hydraulic manual transmissions are horrid! Pure and simple cable devices please...
Cheaper to buy, cheaper to service, nicer to use!
I was around when they were selling the Civic CRX and it was one heck of a fun car..it was almost a legit sports car at a bargin price.
I think hydraulic clutches and hydraulic manual transmissions are horrid! Pure and simple cable devices please...
Cheaper to buy, cheaper to service, nicer to use!
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Pretty happy w/the Astra, it has the Silkolene Pro SRG 75 Full Ester Race oil in it. That stuff is like butter.
1. 2003 A4 1.8T Quattro
2. Mid 90s Porsche 911
3. Mid 90s Mazda Miata
2. Mid 90s Porsche 911
3. Mid 90s Mazda Miata
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Even though it had a non synchro first gear, my old Triumph Spitfire was the most fun to shift.
+1
I have First syncro on mine, and overdrive on 3rd and 4th gear. It was really nice when using 80w-90 gear oil, with Pennzoil MTL it's superb!
Even though it had a non synchro first gear, my old Triumph Spitfire was the most fun to shift.
+1
I have First syncro on mine, and overdrive on 3rd and 4th gear. It was really nice when using 80w-90 gear oil, with Pennzoil MTL it's superb!
I'm amazed how many cable connected shifters feel like there's nothing on the other end. Best shifting gearbox I've driven is a 91 miata, the box in my tracker gives great feedback but it tells me the synchro for 2nd isn't that great at synchronization. The rest of them are good but 2nd is used an awful lot in town atleast.
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