Like we always say around here, today’s aftermarket provides a nearly limitless sea of options for hot rodders and BangShifters to swim in when building their cars and trucks. We’re truly in the golden age of hot rodding, especially when it comes to technology, efficiency, and availability of components to use in a build. Today we’re going to probe the depths of your stick shift psyche with the question of the day. We want to know if you dig more on four speeds, five speeds, or six speed manual transmissions. Honestly, I was thinking about including stuff like the 18-speed units used in big trucks but we’re keeping it muscle car centric today.
The four speed is the bedrock transmission that muscle cars were born with back in the day (yeah we know that three speeds were the base transmissions typically, but those were lame). Even today, we know that like most of you, peeking into the window of a classic GTO, Chevelle, Fairlane, or Dart can provide one of two options. The happy surprise of a gear shift and clutch pedal or the “normal” scene of a gear selector and wide brake pedal.
Te five speed has become a very popular swap with companies like Tremec, Richmond, and others building units that have flexible shifter mounting locations and dimensions that make them great for bolting into old cars with swap kits from the like of BS sponsor American Powertrain. Factory five speeds like the T5 can be weak knee’d, though.
Finally there are six speeds which have become the standard for modern high performance stick shift equipped performance cars. Guys love going junkyard diving for a T56 to jam into their classic. With more gears, multiple overdrives, and solid construction, they can provide both a boost in fuel economy and a boost in performance with their more favorable gear splits. That being said, some guys like the more classic driving experience of a four speed or a bridge-like five speed. Now we want to know from you…
BangShift Question Of The Day: Four Speed, Five Speed, or Six Speed?
M22 Muncie any day.
5 speed lenco of course
The problem is . . . one can build a whole car for less than a Lenco. Too bad clutchless manuals are still so expensive . . . and seldom available with overdrives.
Gears were invented for torqueless engines and/or economy. Both of which are lame in a performance point of view.
So the more gears you manually need to row, the lamer you look..!
Flame away… ! 😉
Any car with 3 pedals is cool with me. I have a 4-speed and a 5-speed. I only drive my automatic when I am feeling lazy.
X2, The only vehicle at my house with an auto is the ’05 suburban, When we were suburban shoping my wife asked did they make one with a 5-speed! I only drive it when I want comfort, or need to haul / pull.
I’ve owned vehicles with 3,4,5, and 6 speeds. My 04 GTO was by far the best car I owned with the 6 spd. I could lug that thing around town in 6th gear and was basically idling!
I started in my Camaro with a Muncie M21. After it was destroyed a few times I went to an M22. It lasted about 3 years with no problems and lots of runs. Then I went to a Super T10 with a completely iron case ( no flex) and it is in good working condition today. It is completely pro shifted even no syncro in 1st gear. Since Dragweek 2007 I have had a T56 from Keisler Trans and it works great. I needed the 6 speed because of 5.57 gears. I have had to overhaul the T56 two times since I got it. I think the Super T10 has been the most reliable for me. If I was racing again full time with a stick it would be a Jerico.
I like my 5-speed and require the overdrive for running any kind of ‘fun’ gear considering where I live. I wouldn’t kick a 6-speed out of bed though.
Not sure I’d admit to “bedding down” with a “tranny” . . . Just sayin . . . . 🙂
As many as you can afford!!!
A-833.
More gears, usually means more fuel economy and better performance. That is why they are used in new cars.
But as long as it has three pedals, I am good.
6 speed all day long, but a 7 speed would be nice too!
I’m always looking to grab another gear.
2x. I’ve currently got three vehicles with MT6 and a bunch more with MT5 (and a couple with fewer u-shift-it cogs).
The great thing about more gears is that you can always be in the right spot of the torque curve for the type of driving you’re doing. And there’s no need for the compromise of extreme “B-ville” or “digger” final drives back in the “pumpkin.” You can rip hard at the strip, pull a big mph number up top on the long straights, and cheaply cruise the interstate at barely over idle. And you can always skip shifts when you want to “rev it out” on the boulevard.
More gears allows for more choices and more fun.
In fact, six probably isn’t really enough! You get a nice average 30% drop from 0-180 m.p.h. with a honkin deep first using seven ratios (calculate it out and you’ll see) . . . .
The only real downsides are cost, weight, and if you happen to go for sixth and you’re driving something with only five . . . and reverse is patterned on the same “leg” as overdrive . . . Oops!.
Modern junk won’t let you “find” Sixth (reverse) in a five speed once it’s over 10mph 🙂
I’m good with four. Hell, I even considered a big input shaft 3 speed top loader for one of my turd cars.
5 speed for any kind of daily commuter. 4 speed for a weekend warrior. I enjoy shifting gears, but 6 is overkill.
My SRT8 Challenger has a 6 speed. All my other cars are 4 speeds including my old truck. The only automatic on the place is my wife’s 300 SRT.
3 pedals only for me. I love how the M-21 in my Chevelle whines. The only reason I purchased my first Blue Oval, an F-150, was because I couldn’t find a full size Chevy or GMC with a stick.
4 – Speed
MY-6 the a833 used in 80’s gm trucks, with a rebuilt by Hurst competition shifter that came with it.
All the fun of 3 pedals with overdrive and you can beat the hell out of it.
Gimmie that Top-Loader 4 speed any day!
5 Speed is for commuter cars, and 6 is a little too much rowing for me hahaha
As long as there are 3 pedals I am good with it!