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4spd compared to auto driving experience
- Thread starter 66 Sat
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dual fours
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My experience goes back to the late '70's early '80's. Street racing was so hot in the city on a summer night, the exhaust fumes, the burnt rubber, the girls, sidewalk spectators, (back then being much more aware of their surroundings then the sidewalk Zombies of today), cheering two cars side by side stopped at the red light "to light em up", and backed up stop and go traffic. I was around 19 years old and ran a Winters built 727 with a cable going to some funky shifter (look at the Charger in the movie Drive Angry) and a street/strip torque converter. (Why I wanted a rebuild is another story).
I drove with one foot at the brake and one foot on the gas, left hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position and right hand on the console shifter's T-handle when I was going to get busy. There were times when I had to mash to brake pedal a second after I just mashed the gas pedal. This being 40 years ago and not a lot of options as in todays world. Today's options have people spoiled.
Most of us were in our teens, guys and girls driving four speeds or automatics. On the green light, I did beat 440's with 4 speed's across the intersection and up to the next red light and never saw their tail lights or front fender. I had to be quick, (is there a difference between being quick and being fast?), because he would get me in the long run. I never picked a race out on the interstate. I knew my limitations, (where did I hear that before?). I had/have a 383ci, two AFB four barrel Carters, D/C electronic ignition, solid motor mounts, Super Stock springs, 8-3/4" rear with 3.91 gears, L60x15's on the rear. We were the "Poor kids" back then, the "Alley Rats". And we had a good time busting those rich kids with deep pockets (lots of $, dress well and no will to win) or we asked if that was "Daddy's car". Yes, I would have loved to had a 4 speed in the Charger for one, maybe two Summers just to see what I/she would do. But my 727 did just fine. The folks at Winters Racing Transmission's mentioned something about, the Fairbanks and Cheetah Automatic Transmissions, that their build (with my tranny) will be just as good, except my Transmission won't have the Cheetah's Strips painted on it.
I drove with one foot at the brake and one foot on the gas, left hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position and right hand on the console shifter's T-handle when I was going to get busy. There were times when I had to mash to brake pedal a second after I just mashed the gas pedal. This being 40 years ago and not a lot of options as in todays world. Today's options have people spoiled.
Most of us were in our teens, guys and girls driving four speeds or automatics. On the green light, I did beat 440's with 4 speed's across the intersection and up to the next red light and never saw their tail lights or front fender. I had to be quick, (is there a difference between being quick and being fast?), because he would get me in the long run. I never picked a race out on the interstate. I knew my limitations, (where did I hear that before?). I had/have a 383ci, two AFB four barrel Carters, D/C electronic ignition, solid motor mounts, Super Stock springs, 8-3/4" rear with 3.91 gears, L60x15's on the rear. We were the "Poor kids" back then, the "Alley Rats". And we had a good time busting those rich kids with deep pockets (lots of $, dress well and no will to win) or we asked if that was "Daddy's car". Yes, I would have loved to had a 4 speed in the Charger for one, maybe two Summers just to see what I/she would do. But my 727 did just fine. The folks at Winters Racing Transmission's mentioned something about, the Fairbanks and Cheetah Automatic Transmissions, that their build (with my tranny) will be just as good, except my Transmission won't have the Cheetah's Strips painted on it.
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BDF6
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