I am now a manual elitist jerk

"Bandit" (2bandit) 06/19/2019 at 11:20 • Filed to: Emma

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I converted my Trans Am from automatic to manual last month with the help of K-Roll. Swapped out a 700R 4 that was missing two of the four gears for a Borg Warner Super T-10 that came out of a ‘79 Trans Am. Bought the full manual swap parts from that ‘79 parts car, everything from the manual specific radiator to clutch linkages to the drive shaft. Had a local shop do a full rebuild of the transmission so it should be good to go for another 40 years.

I also rebuilt the factory Hurst shifter so it now is as tight as can be. It’s so fun to shift this car. The throws are huge and you get a satisfying chunk when gears are engaged. The exposed shift rods, mechanical clutch linkages, and crappy ergo means i t’s so different than driving anything modern - but so much more fun.

The previous owner cut out all the parking brake cables so that’s one of the next jobs to take care of. That’s a $300+ problem for another day, right now I’m just enjoying daily driving this ridiculous car. Also on the to-do list are shocks, ball joints, replacing the gauges, and the creation of a fan shroud to help my electric fans be a little more efficient.

I really need a new steering wheel...

Sovande > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 11:38

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Looks like fun.  Are those stock seats or are they out of something else?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 11:39

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BOY DO I HAVE THE FACEBOOK GROUP FOR YOU

shop-teacher > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 11:40

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Awesome!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 11:46

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The shift from 2nd to 3rd really gets me. I am so used to close ratio and tight gear boxes like my subaru and mazda. I keep hitting the notch between 1st and 3rd.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 11:48

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But the current steering wheel matches the Oppo logo . . .

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 11:49

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Mmmm that’s hot

DutchieDC2R > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 11:53

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Jerk!!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 12:00

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Do you know what the ratios in that Super T-10 are? I’ve got one in my Ranchero project that has a super-low first... like 4:1.

gmctavish needs more space > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 12:03

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Nice! What on earth would possess someone to cut out all the parking brake cables?

PatBateman > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/19/2019 at 12:08

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I still don’t think he’s ready.  Not sure he’s elite enough. 

CaptDale - is secretly British > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 12:17

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Very hot! Gotta love manual T/As

Bandit > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/19/2019 at 12:24

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Already in it lol

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > gmctavish needs more space 06/19/2019 at 12:25

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Parking brake cables seized, can’t find good replacements.

Bandit > gmctavish needs more space 06/19/2019 at 12:25

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She was a hard core redneck who’s friend Bubba  painted the car purple before I bought it so.... 

Bandit > Sovande 06/19/2019 at 12:27

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Stock ‘ 78-’ 81 deluxe seats

My bird IS the word > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 12:28

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Nice, im suprised you went the factory correct supert10 route. I heard converting to a hydraulic clutch is much easier, tko 5 speeds are pretty doable.

I heard the repro steering wheels are junk, its better to get the factory one wrapped, but i haven't confirmed

Bandit > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 06/19/2019 at 12:29

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I’m not use to 4-speeds, I keep trying to reach for a non-e xistent 5th gear. The ratios on this box are so close that it doesn’ t matter if I choose 2nd or 3rd, they’re basically the same thing.

Sovande > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 12:30

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I want a set for my El Camino

Bandit > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/19/2019 at 12:32

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I think it is 2.43, 1.61, 1.23, 1.00.

Future Heap Owner > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 12:32

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Cool! Doing this someday is on my mechanical bucket list. Nice work!

Is that big gray handle the shifter? .... How does that work?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 12:44

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Good. Better for your level of torque numbers. Ultimate rating on the cluster is always sensitive to the ratio in first, and an ST-10 isn’t tough enough to handle crazy abuse with a super low first.

Bandit > My bird IS the word 06/19/2019 at 12:49

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Yeah I was originally going to go with a T56 6-speed but the price was right for the entire ST-10 s wap setup. Plus it was nice that everything was directly bolt in.

I couldn’t figure out adjusting the clutch linkages so I had a shop do the final adjustments for me, was well worth the money to not get frustrated with GMs mechanical setup.

Bandit > Sovande 06/19/2019 at 12:50

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I’ve got way too many sets in several colors , if you were in the midwest I’d sell you a set cheap.

gmctavish needs more space > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 12:51

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Ah. Yikes

Sovande > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 12:52

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What part of the midwest are you in?  I like a good road trip.  

Bandit > Future Heap Owner 06/19/2019 at 12:52

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That’s Hurst’s thing, the T-handle shift knob. It’s just as weird as you would expect .

Cé hé sin > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 13:07

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What’s with the t shaped gear lever knob? How’s it better than a conventional one?

Tapas > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 13:41

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Way to go, dude! :)

Monkey B > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 18:05

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that steering wheel is repairable...if you have a spare send it to me.

pizzaman09 > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 19:14

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I appreciate your description of the big long sloppy throws.  Very similar sounding the the Jeep Comanche I had.  It was so much fun to shift as it was just a bit ridiculous but felt just right for an old pickup truck. 

Bandit > Cé hé sin 06/19/2019 at 19:58

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It’s a Hurst thing, they were super popular in the 60s and 70s. Th ey’re weird to hold but this one would have been an optional factory “ upgrade” so I’m keeping it.

Dr.Jeckyl > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 20:01

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First of all, welcome to the club. I’m a charter member since my first car was a manual.

I have the opposite issue. I'm used to 5 speeds but I just bought a 6 speed and I find myself shifting back to 5th on the highway.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 20:06

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I’ve got a regular T-10 in the super secret stash just in case the opportunity arises.

dogisbadob > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 20:20

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that steering wheel is awesome :o)

Maybe the previous owner had a crazy ex-wife?

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 21:10

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Thats where I post stuff that would be instaban here.

MM54 > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 21:23

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The Muncie in my Chevelle is very good, I’m imagine the super T10 is just about the same.

EngineerWithTools > Bandit 06/19/2019 at 22:27

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Ohhh, that interior brings back memories! I learned to drive in my dad’s car, a 1978 Trans Am with the factory manual. Red vinyl seats, however.  

The factory shifter had comically long throws, like your Hurst and the clutch was both disconnected-feeling and very heavy . Shifting  felt like handing the knob to someone in the back seat. And hoooo boy was it vague. What gear are we in? Let the clutch out and see!

Anyway, that car turned to rust, like all 70s cars in Chicagoland. The 6.6 Pontiac engine lives on dad’s sometimes- hobby car... an 86 TA.

Thanks for the memories!

Seven Footer > Bandit 06/20/2019 at 03:57

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This is awesome. I hope you're working on getting your Burt Reynolds moustache just right, because you're going to need it to be perfect in order to drive this beauty properly.

Dakotahound > Bandit 06/20/2019 at 09:36

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Yes, a friend of mine had a late-70s Trans Am with a t-shaped shifter. He liked owning the car, but didn’t really like driving, so he let me drive it (I was kind of like his part-time chauffeur , but at least I got to drive the Trans Am). It takes some time to get used to the t-handle .

19JRC99 > Cé hé sin 06/20/2019 at 16:15

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Better feel, more of your hand grips it. Grandfather’s Mustang has one, I love it. 

19JRC99 > Bandit 06/20/2019 at 16:15

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I personally love the way they feel. Subjective, I suppose. 

19JRC99 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 06/20/2019 at 16:17

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Which group? One that I’m in was just posting about manual elitism. 

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Bandit 08/01/2019 at 12:46

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Welcome to the party. The only way they can get me to give up this feature is to  pry my manual from my cold, dead hands.