automatics

[GHT]

I dislike manual gearboxes. I like autos.

I love manual gearboxes because you can double declutch. Nothing like the roar of an engine as the clutch plates line up when you give the engine full throttle in neutral as you change down! And with the ability to double declutch, you can operate a crash gear box on a vintage car.

[GHT]

And while we're on autos; why did the Aisin-Warner 71 have a tendency toward incontinence in Volvo 240s but not so much in the Toyotas that used the same box?

Incontinence? I've heard of **** in the carburettor, but **** in the gear box? That takes the biscuit.

[History]

I used to drive a coach which had a 5 speed crash box.

Autoboxes have a gear lever which can be used to downchange. Plus it will hot shift. Thus no time wasted in double declutching. Plus the engine so quiet on my Shadow that only a muted growl is heard.

For action on a Shadow select 2nd and floor it as the gear selected in the box.
As for why Rolls-Royce used the 400, in 1965 it was the best available. Also RR made GM boxes for the european market.under licence. So that old Daimler has a box made by RollsRoyce.

Early borg warner had a rear pump allowing a tow start but it's not recommended.

Modern auto boxes are better but I have had no trouble with the gear box on 26 years and also rebuild kits with vidoe instructions are not expensive and its a 3rd speed simple box. Or my auto box guy will sort it out in a day no problem. Change oil and filter every few years. My convertor has a drain plug.

Some vehicles should be manual like vans. But big luxury cars auto. I have driven a manual XJ6 and it wasn't as nice as the auto.

I used to work for Wadham Stringer. We had sold a few auto E types 4.2. My boss used test them and he said the off line performance was bad. Then the new V12 e type turned up and he floored it in 1st and he came back a bit shaky because the V12 was so quick off the line. Although the auto got round the nasty e type gear change quality the 4.2 needed a higher rpm stall convertor. The V12 auto is a pleasure to drive, somehow I think a manual gearbox in the V12 would be not so nice. Maybe because I am an old git, I dislike manual.

In general I found the early auto offerings in the sub 2 litre range like a Mk2 cortina 1600 auto as not very good and I would not buy one. A 2litre mk5 Cortina auto was quite good but then one is missing out on the superb ford manual gearbox that was fitted.

I put the F in Ford.

Regards Bob

[Flatlander]

...As for why Rolls-Royce used the 400, in 1965 it was the best available...

Could you qualify that statement by telling us in what respects the TH400 was better than either the A727 or C6 boxes?

[History]

What year did the c6 and A727 start.?
I could ask why is the GM 400 is bad in your opinion.

Kind Regards
Bob.

[Flatlander]

The A727 was first introduced in 1956, initially on Imperials. By 1962, it was being used on most of US Chryslers "big block" cars. The C6 came some years later.

As I pointed out earlier, the TH400 is known for gear shift problems, and if compared to the C6 and (especially) the 727, unreliable.

[History]

I as I said have had no trouble with my 400.
Rolls -Royce stated that the gear box was best available.
I am not a autobox specialist but have worked on many auto that are not correct. The range covers about every make of auto box. I used to whip the boxes and convertors out for our gearbox guy who was an expert on autos.

However I bow to your expertise and accept that maybe RR is wrong to use the GM box.

Incidently Rolls-Royce were not anti Ford and Ford did machining work for RR.

Was the 1956 C6 fluid flywheel or torque convertor. ?

Kind Regards
Bob.

[History]

Correction 1956 A727 not C6

Bob.

[ampwhu]

have an auto diesel Mercedes for daily use. probably the best auto box out there.

[History]

Auto Mercs are nice. Some say that the boxes are rough but I have found them fine.
Ideal daily driver.

Bob