[bigdog7373]

I was looking at shift kits for my th350 and some say that it can be shifted manually. I was wondering how that works. Specifically, what do you have to do with the shifter while driving to make it shift? For 60 bucks i figured making the tranny a manual would greatly increase the fun factor as it can be pretty boring to drive sometimes.

[BigRoy1978]

When i put one in a car, I had to shift it like a standard....it got old....fast.

[Crosley]

there are "manual - automatic " kits and "full manual" kits

Make sure you know what you are looking at.

Manual - automatic kits = you can down shift to any gear at any speed.. you can hold a gear till the engine spins apart.... you can place the shifter in "D" and the trans shifts automatically... period

Full Manual shift kits are eggzackly that = you must move the shifter for each gear shift. You place the shifter in "2" at a full stop of the vehicle... the trans is IN 2nd gear. Place the shifter in "D" and the trans is IN 3rd gear as you sit still with the engine idling .

[bigdog7373]

My shifter has p r n d s l. How would i shift with this setup?

[Coodeville]

I had one of these kits 20 years ago. Yes, it did get old fast.

[001mustang]

I installed a transgo manual shift kit 3 years ago. Triple checked install.

It barked my tires unless I shifted at the absolute perfect rpm every time.

Chewed up my tranny clutches in no time.

Not sure if problem was my aged tranny or transgo kit or both.

It does not give feeling of manual transmission since shifts are lightning fast.

I like manual trannys.

I did not enjoy manual shift kit on auto tranny for street use.

[bigdog7373]

I will probably go with an auto-manual kit in case i don't want to shift all the time. All i really want to know is what you do with the shifter to make it shift with each kit. Thanks

[ericnova72]

Originally Posted by bigdog7373

I will probably go with an auto-manual kit in case i don't want to shift all the time. All i really want to know is what you do with the shifter to make it shift with each kit. Thanks

You carefully move it to the next gear with your hand. nothing you can do to the stock shifter to keep from "skipping" into the next gear if you move it too much. Some column shifters have a feature if you push toward dash or pull toward you at the same time as you shift it will only go one gear. Some floor shifters GM used also have this feature, push to the passenger side at the same time you move it to shift and it will only go one gear at a time, check yours to see.

Only other choice is an aftermarket gated or ratchet shifter.

[bigdog7373]

Thinking about this one: http://www.jegs.com/i/Hurst/530/383-8500/10002/-1

[Overdriv]

Get the auto/manual shift kit like Crosley explained. Then get a good ratchet shifter. You will have a ball with it. When you get tired of shifting manually, just put it in drive and put your arm around your girl friend.

[bigdog7373]

Yea i'm probably gonna go for the auto-manual one. How difficult is it to install one of these things?

[sqzbox]

Originally Posted by bigdog7373

I was looking at shift kits for my th350 and some say that it can be shifted manually. I was wondering how that works. Specifically, what do you have to do with the shifter while driving to make it shift? For 60 bucks i figured making the tranny a manual would greatly increase the fun factor as it can be pretty boring to drive sometimes.

Since you appear to be a poncho man, look for an early 70's auto floor shifter.
They had a ratchet style that if you pushed the shifter up from 1st gear to the right it would stop at 2nd gear and the same for 3rd gear. I think it was the his/her's shifter option. Easy to check for in the wrecking yards as they had the black button on the top of the shifter knob. push it from 1st to 2nd to the right and if it stops, you found one. I sold 2 of them a few yrs. back for 50 bucks each and only paid 10 bucks for them at the U-pull yard. Using that shifter with a shift improver kit you can have fun with the manual shift and keep the auto shift when left in drive.

[bigdog7373]

Originally Posted by sqzbox

Since you appear to be a poncho man, look for an early 70's auto floor shifter.
They had a ratchet style that if you pushed the shifter up from 1st gear to the right it would stop at 2nd gear and the same for 3rd gear. I think it was the his/her's shifter option. Easy to check for in the wrecking yards as they had the black button on the top of the shifter knob. push it from 1st to 2nd to the right and if it stops, you found one. I sold 2 of them a few yrs. back for 50 bucks each and only paid 10 bucks for them at the U-pull yard. Using that shifter with a shift improver kit you can have fun with the manual shift and keep the auto shift when left in drive.

Alright, good to know. Mine looks like this it has p r n d s l. Could i use this at all?

[justanoldfarmtruck]

I have the auto-manual kit in my TH350 trans. Lots of fun when you want it to be. I have a gennie hot rod shifter. Pull it down to 1st, it will hold first until you move it to second, at 1000 rpm or 6000. Barks the tires over 2500. Same with second gear to third. Great feature.

I broke the second gear sun ring in mine in about 5,000 miles with 295/50-15 street slick tires on the back and a locker. Fixed second gear put some 265/60-15's street tires on and the trans has 35,000 miles on it with ZERO issues. Ive read that a harder shifting trans will actually last longer due to less slippage of the clutches.

[bigdog7373]

I still don't understand how you would shift it. There is no 1st 2nd or 3rd on my shifter, it only has p r n d s l.