I have a 73 240z that I bought 4-5 years ago and decided to dig in this weekend. I have been waiting all week for the weekend to get started and I lay there in bed like a kid on Cristmas eve and can't take it any more---so down to the office I wander and surf all the various web sites. Hats off to Kyle for an excelent job on the site (what ever happed to the Volvo?) But now I have two questions.

#1 Are automatics a bad thing? I see so many builds out there and all are 4-5 speed. Should I now go on a quest in search of a stick? I understand the "it's a sports car" and things of that nature but just wondering if there are some defects there?

#2 All built engines that I have seen seem to be L28/88 combo. Is this the best way to go and am I throwing good money in a bad spot going for some performance with the factory installed set-up?

Thanks all for your help.

Matt,

Seems that all of us that enjoy our "sports cars" just like having a stick in them, nothing like going through the gears!! If you do decide to go this route, i would suggest getting a 5speed out of a 280 or 280zx.

As far as the 28/88 that also seems to be the choosen route, however, everyone has their own thoughts on that. It's all a personnel decision, what YOU are comfortable driving with, stick (revving through the gears) or auto (just taking a nice Sunday cruise), either way it's all good in a ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz.

Z ya,

Zlish

A Z by any of it's styles is still a Z! (To paraphrase W. Shakespeare)

Whether it's an Automatic, a 2+2, a V-8 Hybrid or even the new 350Z, it's G-R-E-A-T! (Thank You Tony the Tiger)

What do YOU want out of it?

Are you looking for a rocket racer to scream around the city and shift up and down the gears? Get a Manual.

Are you looking for a Ground Airplane that accelerates faster than many other vehicles and is just a plain pleasure to drive? Get an Automatic.

Are you looking for a Fast Bullet Train that you, the wife and your two little ones can get into and go for an extremely fun ride? Get a 2+2. The choice between Manual and Auto still applies.

Are you looking for a car that will awe many of your friends and give you an exceptionately fine ride, yet not be encumbered with having to find parts for it? Get a 350Z. (and let's not get onto a 350Z bashing / praising thread)

Many of us like the "Stock" version without the engine modifications. Some of us like to modify and soup up the engine. It all depends on what YOU want to do with it.

In the end, it's ALL good.

2¢

To me Automatics just feel slow. Even if they are fast. I guess to me it comes from the loss you get through the auto gearbox. Theres that rev band thing (i dunno how to explain it, i dont know much about autos, but i think its something to do with the stall converter) that dulls the throttle responce through the transmission.

They just dont feel as responsive as a manual where you have a direct connection to the engine and every rev gets transmitted to the rear wheels. when you rev up an auto theres that little bit of slack.

Anybody know what I mean or am I just crazy?

Autos are good for drag racing, people with hip problems, lazy people or people that just cant be bothered any more. Manuals are good for real racing, and for people that enjoy driving.

I own a manual Acura Legend, a Subaru Legacy, a 68 Roadster 2000 and I thoroughly enjoy the feel and response of the manual transmission.

My Z was an Automatic from the factory, and although I would not have specifically searched for it as an automatic, I can't say I am displeased with it.

I can understand your point about the "lag" between pushing down on the pedal and the response to the pavement, and I can empathize. However, I also enjoy driving the Z, so I take exception to your last sentence.

While you may not care nor want for an automatic tranny, they are, in my opinion, quite capable of doing the job. Would I contemplate changing the tranny in mine? Probably not. Would I buy a second Z with an automatic tranny? Maybe, but not because of the tranny, but rather for having a SECOND Z, or a third or fourth..... I will admit that in my ORIGINAL wish, the car was manual, but when the possibility of realizing my dream of owning a Z became real, and the car was an automatic, I didn't hesitate, I bought it. I guess that to me, it was MORE important to own the Z than what transmission it had.

But then this is the beauty of the car. I could change the tranny if I wanted to race it, but then again, I have raced it with the Automatic. It becomes a matter of choice.

There are those that don't like the 920 Gold paint on my car. I admit that my personal preference would have been either the Yellow or Red, but again, a Z in the garage is worth 2 in someone elses.

2¢

I agree with escanlon , I have an auto also and when I bought the car the firsthing I was going to do was drop in a 5 speed. Now having driven the car for two years , if I were to change trannys, I will look to a maxama 4 speed and not an stick. The auto is a pleasure to drive especially in traffic, and in the twisties it works vary well . I guess it amounts to what ever floats your boat. I will give you this it leaves somthing to be desired off the line.

there was a county western song by that name " There are tears in my ears from lying on my back crying over you " Well at least it was close.