So I'm definitley going Auto

[gettinthere]

As some of you know, I have a 6 speed car. But with my goals, a 6 speed doesn't really fit. So I have a friend who has been wanting to go M6, and I gave him a call. We're most likely swapping tranny's and everything that goes along with it. I'll be giving up my stock t-56/Spec Stage 3/ Pro 5.0 set-up. In return I'll be getting a Stage 5 4L60E, Midwest 4200 convertor, a B&M 24k trans cooler and all of the neccesary parts. I'd also be installing a trans brake.

I'm throwing in a decently larger cam and some N2O. Not too sure wether I'm going to go with a wet kit or a fogger yet though.

So what do you think? Sound good?

[Phoenix57]

damn straight. hope that works out for you. i may go from A4 to M6 eventually for ORR.

[gettinthere]

The only downside is that I really do love driving the 6 speed. But I know the A4 will be much more consistent.

[LiquidFire350]

i didnt think you could put a trans-brake on a 4L60-E




then again, still have no idea what a trans brake is or even how it works/what it does

[Firehawk 526]

Man, I love the M6 especially in Skyline.....I punished those A4's on the uphill even with my heavy, sagging azzzzz car. Seems you need stalls, and higher shift points for the A4's and the drivetrain loss is greater, but all depends on what you are seeking.
Transcoolers, etc., and just seems A4's involve much more on the tweaking end than a manual. But as you pointed out, much more consisentency on the 1/4

[Chris 96 WS6]

After converting to the M6 and the disaster of me trying to drag race a stick car.......for a serious track effort an auto is the ONLY choice.

[gettinthere]

i didnt think you could put a trans-brake on a 4L60-E

then again, still have no idea what a trans brake is or even how it works/what it does

It's kind of like dumping the clutch. You push the button, and hammer the gas. Then when the light turns green, let go and hold on. This way you don't need to use the foot brake.

Man, I love the M6 especially in Skyline.....I punished those A4's on the uphill even with my heavy, sagging azzzzz car. Seems you need stalls, and higher shift points for the A4's and the drivetrain loss is greater, but all depends on what you are seeking.
Transcoolers, etc., and just seems A4's involve much more on the tweaking end than a manual. But as you pointed out, much more consisentency on the 1/4

I love driving the M6 with out a doubt. But for my goals, It makes much more sense to give it up. I know I'll lose more power, but the consistency will more than make up for it. As for the tweaking, my buddy owns a shop who does alot for my car. I also get alot of tuning. This past year my car logged over 700 miles on the dyno.

After converting to the M6 and the disaster of me trying to drag race a stick car.......for a serious track effort an auto is the ONLY choice.

It's alot more fun to drive around, but not so fun at the track.

[Gregg1LE]

The only downside is that I really do love driving the 6 speed. But I know the A4 will be much more consistent.

Yeah, the fun factor with a 6-speed is enormous. I wish I had one .

[gettinthere]

It's been a fun 3 years driving the 6 speed.

[gettinthere]

Well, it's official. We're making the swap next month.

[CamTom12]

After converting to the M6 and the disaster of me trying to drag race a stick car.......for a serious track effort an auto is the ONLY choice.

I don't know if I'd go that far, Chris. There's a lot of us guys that have been driving manuals all our adult lives (not very long in my case, lol) that would totally disagree with you.

When I build my trailor queen track car she's still going to have a manual, albeit a lenco...

It's a little different in your case, learning to drive a stick and going to the track in a couple month time span. It might have been frustrating for you, but a lot of us like making ourselves more consistant, not rely on a computer.

Having said that, there's a lot of REALLY fast TH400 and built 4l60e cars out there :Dthere

[HyperTA97]

im not goin to say 1 is better than the other because they both have good qualities, but i drive an A4 and i the way i look at it a computer can shift a hell of alot faster than a person can ;)

[Chris 96 WS6]

I don't know if I'd go that far, Chris. There's a lot of us guys that have been driving manuals all our adult lives (not very long in my case, lol) that would totally disagree with you.

When I build my trailor queen track car she's still going to have a manual, albeit a lenco...

It's a little different in your case, learning to drive a stick and going to the track in a couple month time span. It might have been frustrating for you, but a lot of us like making ourselves more consistant, not rely on a computer.

Having said that, there's a lot of REALLY fast TH400 and built 4l60e cars out there :Dthere

Sure, there are a lot of guys out there racing M6's, but go look up the fastest street cars of any make/brand.....cars running 8's and 9's are NOT running manual transmissions.

Not saying you can't race an M6 but when you start talking about 28" slicks and 600hp+, etc. etc. you are in automatic country. Its more consistant, 60ft is superior and they can be built to ultimately handle more power (TH400 for example).

If you're looking to have fun, or a fast street/strip car, M6 is great. If you are putting together a serious racing effort you're going to go auto. Its that simple IMO. My personal experience is irrelevant here. If I were going for some kind of ET record I sure as hell wouldn't be doing it with an M6 unless it was something like a bolt-on only record.

[gettinthere]

Not saying you can't race an M6 but when you start talking about 28" slicks and 600hp+, etc. etc. you are in automatic country. Its more consistant, 60ft is superior and they can be built to ultimately handle more power (TH400 for example).



This is where my predicament comes in. I'll be on 28" Hoosiers and (on the gun) about 750rwhp.

[Phoenix57]

the only blazing fast cars i see runnin m6s are goin for records for such.

[gettinthere]

I was trying to go 9.90's out of the 6 speed. But I realized it'd be way too much work.

[josh99ta]

Smart man. Shifting your own gears is overrated. And I have plenty of fun driving my A4 car on the street. When I'm on the gas the car moves and I enjoy the power, but in the same car I can sit back and cruise around without having to worry about a heavy clutch in traffic. Stalled autos are superior in every way but a highway roll race IMO, and thats only +1 for the M6 whereas the autos have a ton of pros and very few cons.

And the auto is not only more consistent from race to race, but 99% of the time faster given a perfect auto run and a perfect M6 run when it comes down to faster cars (11 seconds and quicker). People talk about insanly fast cars still having manuals, but alot of those are clutchless and that garbage doesn't even count (its basically a MVB auto IMO). A street style manual transmission can only take you so far, and it looks like you reached the limit. Congrats.

[CamTom12]

Key words to everyone's post in this whole thread (including mine): IMO.

Go with what makes you and your goals happy.

My goals are 10s full interior (including jack and spare) daily driver. M6.

I'll build another, real race car (stripped, full drag susp., trailer queen) with a lenco (which IMO is not much different after the launch then a TH400, but it's the finesse in the launch that I want to make right by myself) and shot for 8's when I hit my goals with Christine.

[gettinthere]

Smart man. Shifting your own gears is overrated. And I have plenty of fun driving my A4 car on the street. When I'm on the gas the car moves and I enjoy the power, but in the same car I can sit back and cruise around without having to worry about a heavy clutch in traffic. Stalled autos are superior in every way but a highway roll race IMO, and thats only +1 for the M6 whereas the autos have a ton of pros and very few cons.

And the auto is not only more consistent from race to race, but 99% of the time faster given a perfect auto run and a perfect M6 run when it comes down to faster cars (11 seconds and quicker). People talk about insanly fast cars still having manuals, but alot of those are clutchless and that garbage doesn't even count (its basically a MVB auto IMO). A street style manual transmission can only take you so far, and it looks like you reached the limit. Congrats.

The one thing I hate about the M6 is driving it in heavy traffic. 450rwhp and too small of gears are not a good combo. And yes, I think I have reached my limit with the M6. I know the trans can go further, but I don't want to take it further.


Key words to everyone's post in this whole thread (including mine): IMO.

Go with what makes you and your goals happy.

My goals are 10s full interior (including jack and spare) daily driver. M6.

I'll build another, real race car (stripped, full drag susp., trailer queen) with a lenco (which IMO is not much different after the launch then a TH400, but it's the finesse in the launch that I want to make right by myself) and shot for 8's when I hit my goals with Christine.

Around me there are much more auto (A3/A4) cars than there are M6 cars. And one of my goals is to win races. I'll be honest, I street race more than I should. And having a manual trans is a disadvantage when launching against the large stalled auto's. I have to hope to reel them in.

My goal was the same as yours. 10's at (almost) full weight out of the M6. now my goals have changed. I want a car that will go 9.90-10.10s on the track and be good for 10.50's on the street. I feel that is what I need to be competitive up here. There are many sub 11 second street cars where I live.

It also helps to have the backing of one of the most notorious street racers in the country.

[CamTom12]

That's cool man, good luck!

I like the finesse of the launch and besting my times, but it's just a different set of goals. There's definately no judging one set against the other.

And for the M6 haters (Josh, lol)... Don't forget that even with the clutchless manuals you still have to launch the cars (one of your key arguments for the autos and then saying that clutchless doesn't count as a manual, haha)

and here's some M6 guys in the 9's...
1) http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/etdb_slip.php?id=223 (LT1 car)
2) http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/etdb_slip.php?id=67 (LT1 car)
3) http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/etdb_slip.php?id=610 (LS1 with a Jerico, but not a clutchless)... etc.

Auto's aren't the only option, but they are the easiest and they're pretty damn consistant

By the way... Hey Chris, can we load up a DB like that for timeslips? I might could write it up in Access if you want... Lemme know :)

Oh, and where are you going to be for the first? I'll be in Nashtown with the guys and it'd cool to hang out if you can :D

/hijack

[josh99ta]

Chances are if you're running a clutchless manual there is alot of serious stuff done to your car, and on the launch there is no finesse involved. Put that bitch on the limiter and drop the clutch when the third amber lights. No different than a transbrake car on the launch IMO.

I'll be in town on the 31st and the 1st and will undoubtably be doing something at least one of those nights. Might be having a little something over the apartment because I'm paranoid about being out on the town on big holiday nights, way too many cops out and about. If something is going down I'll be in touch. :thumbsup:

[Commando]

you have more experiance than me, just wanted o say good luck man, my personal opinion i think Autos are better.. :thumbsup:

[LiquidFire350]

It's kind of like dumping the clutch. You push the button, and hammer the gas. Then when the light turns green, let go and hold on. This way you don't need to use the foot brake.
ok so im still kind of a noob when it comes to auto trans, if your going with a transbrake, then you really dont need a high stall then, or theres more to a stall than i know

[charged bird]

when you make that switch, let me know how it goes, cause I want to do the same thing. im not sure what to do with the computer? if I go with a
4l60e, keep me posted. thanks Brian

[gettinthere]

when you make that switch, let me know how it goes, cause I want to do the same thing. im not sure what to do with the computer? if I go with a
4l60e, keep me posted. thanks Brian


It'll be in the next 2 weeks and I'll make a write-up on it.

[Transamman25]

Wow .. doing it before the cruise ?? Gas mileage $$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$
$$$$$$
$$$$
$$
THE DRAIN ! ..
But if your going to do it , your doing it the right way .. youll know if ya have everything before the project starts .. no runs to the part shop at 8 pm one night.

[gettinthere]

Wow .. doing it before the cruise ?? Gas mileage $$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$
$$$$$$
$$$$
$$
THE DRAIN ! ..
But if your going to do it , your doing it the right way .. youll know if ya have everything before the project starts .. no runs to the part shop at 8 pm one night.


I'm lucky enough to have a buddy who owns a shop, so that helps on that late night part runs. On the highway I could average about 28mpg on the highway doing 90 with the 6 speed. Yet I only get about 12-13 around town.

[OrangeSS99]

I have a 6-speed, but I would give anything to be able to switch to an A4 just for the strip cuz it's incredible how consistent they are. The last time we were at Byron, my friend ran (in a '98Z) 11.18, 11.16, 11.18, 11.14!!!! The part I love best about an M6 is being able 2 hear the tires bark/chirp in all 4 gears :devil:Can't wait to see what kind of times u pull with that swap :rockon:

[CamTom12]

hmmm... sounds like my last trip to the track...

12.1x, 12.1x, oh Tim's broke, time to leave :)

[gettinthere]

We're doing the swap this upcoming weekend!

[CamTom12]

Make sure you take some pics for a write-up! I keep forgetting to do that as I finish my mods (doh!)

[gettinthere]

Make sure you take some pics for a write-up! I keep forgetting to do that as I finish my mods (doh!)


Yeah, I'm going to take pics of both trans' coming out and the swap into both cars. I'll also keep notes for a write up.

[CamTom12]

Sweet. Since I missed Chris's swap I've been curious to see just how in depth of a swap it is (not that I'll ever be doing one on my car, :D )

[talover111]

when i have a car with some power id rather have a 6 speed but in my case i have both 2 cars 1 a 6 speed and 1 an auto