Announcement

**texasbird** · Apr 12, 2009, 07:24 PM

Re: Miss My Shifting

She's not that kind of car.

James

**NRALifer** · Apr 12, 2009, 08:04 PM

Re: Miss My Shifting

x

**FUN X 3** · Apr 12, 2009, 08:20 PM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Sounds like you need a Bird with the Select Shift tranny.

**bottomtime** · Apr 12, 2009, 08:20 PM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Originally posted by redwog View Post

Is any of you Out there Like ME and miss Our Beloved T'Birds Not having a Manual 5 or 6 speed transmission?!?! When I started looking for a Personal- Modern- Sports Car one of my 'Must Haves' was a Manual Tranny 5 or 6 speed. I was not going to buy New so I drove everything from a Viper to a Porsche to a Corvette. When I drove a Thunderbird and got to realizing what you get for the money and since I have always been a FORD Man well Finally a Light went off! This is a TRUE American Made Sports Car that makes one heck of a lot more Practical sence than a Viper or Corvette! Hey Just buying a Porsche is the Start of the expense - maintaining it - (as it should be) is what will break you!
Oh well my wife is happy I got an Automatic - So She can drive it!
Ted G
P/S I do miss Shifting through the gears - I Know -I Know BUT It is not the same! ! ! !

I can relate to what you say - I'm an 'ole "gear banger" from way back. I also have a '93 Ford Escort which is my daily driver, with a 5-speed manual tranny, and I dearly love it, shifting gears that is. One of my most beloved auto's that I ever owned, was my '87 Corvette, with the old "Doug Nash 4+3 manual tranny". Chevy used it for a few years only on the Corvette. If you've never heard of it, or used one, it has the 4 basic gears, (forward) plus reverse of course, but, there was an incorporated overdrive gear on 2nd, 3rd, & 4th gears, which made up the total of 7 usable gear ratios. How it worked was through the throttle setting, with your right foot on the accelerator. When you shifted into 2nd gear, (or 3rd or 4th) after you run up the RPM's to where you wanted, you just simply released the accelerator momentarily, and the transmission would automatically drop into the overdrive gear on whatever the 3 gears you were in, i.e., 2nd or 3rd or 4th and stay there with lower RPM's. It you wanted to go back into the standard ratio, you simply press the accelerator down, and the tranny would automatically up-shift back into the standard gear ratio again and stay there. There was a "lock-out" button on the console, that you could lock-out this feature and remain in just the standard 4 forward gear ratios only. Really an ingenious design by Doug Nash, who was noted for his marvelous drive train inventions, back in the 70's & 80's, and that's why Chevy (Corvette) chose to call it, as it was an option, the "Doug Nash 4+3 Tranny" When you think about it, you had seven forward gear ratios, you could use or select, simply with the accelerator pedal, depending on how far you pressed it, and/or releasing it. Those were the days............

**redwog** · Apr 12, 2009, 08:36 PM

Re: Miss My Shifting

With all due respect 'Texasbird' I Totally Disagree I understand it will never be But it Is Perfect for a 5 speed! I think 'Bottomline' and I are from the same generation When anything with two seats Had to have atleast 4 forward Manual Gears!
I know I Know I do have a 'Select Shift' and it is Nice But It is Just Not the same

Believe me I still Love Her as well or better than than any car I have ever owned! Especially when people ask 'What Kind of Car is that?' HeHeHeeee
Thanks
Ted

**Blue Heaven** · Apr 12, 2009, 09:19 PM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Ted,
I'm with ya. I had a '90 Super Coupe with the 5 spd and it was a blast to drive.

This one is so much more in so many ways! So....I just make shifting sounds when I drive!

**Ol'Dave** · Apr 12, 2009, 10:01 PM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Hey Ted. Add a CAI and a BORLA Exhaust system. Free it up a little with that combo, and she'll perform better. And sound a LOT better also, especially on launching from every intersection. (Turn OFF Traction Control when doing this little adventure). I love it. And yes I would love it to be a Stick also, but, gotta remember, "If Momma's happy, everybody's happy".

**Borla Babe** · Apr 12, 2009, 10:31 PM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Originally posted by redwog View Post

IBut it Is Perfect for a 5 speed!
Ted

How right you are Ted, the 5 speed is the only thing missing from these beautiful cars! Enjoy those new Borla's and now it's time to add the CAI!

**Bird03** · Apr 13, 2009, 07:26 AM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Originally posted by Blue Heaven View Post

I had a '90 Super Coupe with the 5 spd and it was a blast to drive.

I could really see you in another one of those again. Actually, I surprised you gave up all the shifting and tire burning.

**MerlotBlue** · Apr 13, 2009, 07:35 AM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Did someone pass a law while I wasn't paying attention?

The solution seems obvious.

Buy another car.

The T-Bird can be your cruiser and something else can be the corner carving tire scorcher.

Me? Unlike you.......I'm not a "ford guy"..........The T-birds slipped in to the garage for their style and uniqueness........ a Corvette lives beside 'em for when the need for shifting, speed and silliness of ruining expensive tires over-whelms me.

For a Ford guy like you?

Hey, I wouldn't, but that doesn't mean you can't......... plenty of newer Mustangs that come with all you need to burn up tires and row the gears.

Come to think of it there are more than just a few people in this forum who own both a T-Bird and a Mustang.

**redwog** · Apr 13, 2009, 09:08 AM

Re: Miss My Shifting

MerlotBlue
I have a '72 Datsun Z - Restored - One Owner so I can scratch the itch BUT I still think Ford TunderBird would be SOOOO nice with a Five Speed Manual Tranny. Little Short Throw shifter Oh Lord Exchuse me Im Getting Weak~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TG

**Ediron** · Apr 13, 2009, 11:05 AM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Ted you have to start looking for a nice '57 Bird with stick

**texasbird** · Apr 13, 2009, 11:45 AM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Understood, Ted. My smart a** comment was just that; and to refer to the car being what she is, as Ford decided she would be marketed.

James

**Daktari** · Apr 14, 2009, 08:12 AM

Re: Miss My Shifting

Hi there,

I grew up and learned to drive in Britain and most cars over there are stick shift. In fact I had never driven an auto shift until I came over here. It's weird because I was nervous about it at the time. Wow, it's sooo easy with auto.

To me, the cruisin nature of this retro bird really suits an auto box and honestly, most of them nowadays can do a better job of shifting than doing it manually. I know a lot of retro drivers who have the borlas fitted like to let the engine rev higher to hopefully get more performance but according to the figures, the borlas put out less h.p. at these rev ranges and would only show an improvement at really high revs when the limiter kicks in anyway. So that's a waste of time. I have a short cold air intake and Aero rear pipes and this makes the car have a nice growl but at tickover it just purrs real quite like it should be. If I wanted somethin louder, I would have a Mustang instead I think.

I have found that with practice, the auto box can learn to change more or less when you want it to, it just takes a little finess with the foot instead of slamming it down all the time. Personally, I like the auto box, each to their own though.

Gordon.

Announcement

Miss My Shifting

Miss My Shifting

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment