[Sirrotica]

Only automatics with a rear transmission pump can be push started, mostly 64 and older, and not all of them could be push started. My cars start with the starter so I have no need to push them.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

My cars start with the starter so I have no need to push them.

My cars typically start with a starter also.

But the point is/was - what if they don't?

With a stick, you can start the car. And many of us have been there, did that, done that...

[pont3]

Originally Posted by The Champ

My cars typically start with a starter also.

But the point is/was - what if they don't?

With a stick, you can start the car. And many of us have been there, did that, done that...

This is true, but only to a certain point. But ONLY if your no-start condition is due to a dead battery. You can push a car for a thousand miles and it still won't start if you have fuel or ignition problems.

After over 40 years of driving, (I started driving in my dad's '52 Ford truck w/a v8 and three on the tree when I was thirteen) I can't remember the last time I had a battery-related starting problem where I couldn't just connect some jumper cables or run out and get a new battery.

Bottom line is, (and this is not directed at you, Champ), is that we all have the same OR different preferences when it comes to certain issues. Neither choice is wrong to the RIGHT person.

However, trying to apply others' preferences to your own personal satisfaction is an exercise in futility. In my early years 75 percent of my friends and colleagues thought drug useage was better than non-useage. I didn't follow their lead, either. Go with what YOU like and don't worry about how popular you will be. Your personal satisfaction means more, as long as it affects NO one other than you.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by pont3

This is true, but only to a certain point. But ONLY if your no-start condition is due to a dead battery.

The last time I had to push start a car, the battery had plenty of juice.

Problem was an intermittent no start problem I had been trying to solve for over a month.

At first, it would just take a few extra turns of the key. Thought maybe it was the starter that had been on the car for 17 years (that wasn't new to start with). Seeing as how I had a new RobbMC starter sitting at home waiting for my new 462 - I did the easy thing and replaced the starter.

Coming home from the Iola Old Car show (200 plus miles away) I threw a power steering belt halfway home. Had to stop to take the remnants of the belt off.

It was Sunday in a small town over 100 miles from home and now the car won't start. I can drive without power steering, but had to push start the car to get home.

After I got home, the car restarted with the ignition as normal...

Ended up checking the wiring from stem to stern.

Turned out to be a wiring problem right up by the firewall.

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

Then I tow it, you did read that I own a wrecker in the above post correct?

When you are 100 miles from home, what good do your wreckers do you?

Not busting your balls...

I prefer sticks. I feel more engaged with the car that way. You can buy/drive whatever you want.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by The Champ

The last time I had to push start a car, the battery had plenty of juice.

Problem was an intermittent no start problem I had been trying to solve for over a month.

At first, it would just take a few extra turns of the key. Thought maybe it was the starter that had been on the car for 17 years (that wasn't new to start with). Seeing as how I had a new RobbMC starter sitting at home waiting for my new 462 - I did the easy thing and replaced the starter.

Coming home from the Iola Old Car show (200 plus miles away) I threw a power steering belt halfway home. Had to stop to take the remnants of the belt off.

It was Sunday in a small town over 100 miles from home and now the car won't start. I can drive without power steering, but had to push start the car to get home.

After I got home, the car restarted with the ignition as normal...

Ended up checking the wiring from stem to stern.

Turned out to be a wiring problem right up by the firewall.



When you are 100 miles from home, what good do your wreckers do you?

Not busting your balls...

I prefer sticks. I feel more engaged with the car that way. You can buy/drive whatever you want.

In your case, a wrench, or a pair of pliers, pocket knife etc. across the starter solenoid terminals would have gotten me on my way, see how easy that was? No pushing, just open the hood and start the engine by jumping the starter. I'm on my way, and the tow truck is at my house 100 miles away.

About 10 years ago I had a very similar situation on my 76 T/A and it wouldn't start about 450 miles from home. It was a beater car and the wiring was not only original, a self styled electrician had been into almost every harness on the car. Wire nuts pieces of speaker wire spliced in etc. Took out my pocket knife and jumped across the wires with the blade and was on my way. 455 W/ T400 and I wasn't stranded for more than 5 minutes................................

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by The Champ

My cars typically start with a starter also.

But the point is/was - what if they don't?

With a stick, you can start the car. And many of us have been there, did that, done that...

Then I tow it, you did read that I own a wrecker in the above post correct? I also own 3 tow dollies so I have absolutely no problem getting the car home. The other option would be to fix it where it sits, your going to have to do it sooner or later anyway. My sole reason for having a stick would not be so I could bump start it, if and when the starter/battery/wiring, fails. I've push started plenty of cars (usually belonging to someone else) but that may only need to be done once in the cars life, pretty feeble reason to row the gears over and over, but if that's what floats your boat, have at it.

Anyone know how rare a 73 Grand Am with a 4 speed is?
Less than 200 made, and I owned one. When the clutch went out of it at around 40,000 miles, 1976, I pulled the transmission out and replaced it with a T400, that's how much better I like automatics over sticks.

Reminds me of owning some of my early 4 speed cars with glass packs, when your in your teens it sounds good to you and you think it's the greatest, as you get older it's just unnecessary noise the draws cops like flies to honey. My cars start with the starter and the exhaust isn't real loud, when you stand on it you can hear it, just cruising it's mild.

So other than you can bump start a car with a stick, any other advantage over an automatic, and I'm not talking preferences, solid advantages, something you can't do with an automatic? I can think of many advantages over a stick, some I've already listed.

Should all muscle cars have drum brakes too? that's what most of them came with, or would you agree that discs are an better choice and more efficient and a good choice for a performance modification. More current technology that makes the musclecar safer and easier to use especially if it's driven more than 1,000 miles a year just to shows, or is a show car that would have points deducted if it is other than bone stock from the factory.

My opinion is stated and I'm not going to get all hung up arguing about merits each have, I know why I prefer an automatic and I've had both options, raced and street driven.