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New Member From Michigan

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:47 pm
by ClutchFork
My current manual transmissioned vehicle:
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And its custom shift knob:
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I really like the baseball shift knob. It has a nice feel in my hand and is just the right size.

I have been driving stick since 1977. Here are all my vehicles from present all the way back to the first one:

2001 Ford Ranger 2.3L 5-speed stick
1995 Ford F150 4.9L 5-speed stick
1984 Ford F150 4.9L 4-speed stick
1977 Ford F100 4.9L 3-on-the-tree
1963 Chevy Biscayne six cylinder 3-on-the-tree with non-syncro first gear
1977 Suzuki GT500 (manual transmission of course)
1971 Ford Custom 4-door automatic
1964 Dodge Dart pushbutton automatic

My first experience with a stick shift was as a gasoline station pump jockey in the mid 1970s. I would drive the tow truck, first pulling out in creeper gear by starting it in gear. That gave me the manual transmission bug. The two automatics and the first manual (the Chevy) were hand-me-downs. Nice that one grandpa drove a manual transmission anyway. I used to like to downshift into first on the Chevy non-syncro first gear on gravel roads by slamming on the brakes to lock up the rear wheels, then shift into first.

My username represents my preference for inline engines versus bent ("v") configurations, though I would not hesitate to get a 5.0 V8 Fox Mustang so long as it has a manual transmission. I have two siblings. My sister has had many manual transmission cars and presently drives stick. My brother has five manual transmission vehicles (from daily drivers to hot rods running spool in the rear end). My son has a manual transmission as his first vehicle and it was in teaching him that I realized the correct way to learn to work a clutch (as is stated in this site's FAQs) which is to learn to launch without using the accelerator pedal at all.

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:58 pm
by theholycow
Welcome! Nice list of vehicles. Good stuff.
InlinePaul wrote:I used to like to downshift into first on the Chevy non-syncro first gear on gravel roads by slamming on the brakes to lock up the rear wheels, then shift into first.
:lol: I think that might answer a question in a thread that was just posted a week or two ago.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=19051

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 9:16 pm
by RomPirate
I would drive the tow truck, first pulling out in creeper gear by starting it in gear.
Whats the typical gearing for the crawler? Starting in the crawler gear sounds like fun.

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:15 pm
by ClutchFork
theholycow wrote:Welcome! Nice list of vehicles. Good stuff.
InlinePaul wrote:I used to like to downshift into first on the Chevy non-syncro first gear on gravel roads by slamming on the brakes to lock up the rear wheels, then shift into first.
:lol: I think that might answer a question in a thread that was just posted a week or two ago.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=19051
Thanks.

Haha, that thread is funny. I must admit I always wondered what would happen to an automatic transmission if thrown into reverse while moving forward at high speed.
RomPirate wrote: Whats the typical gearing for the crawler? Starting in the crawler gear sounds like fun.
I don't know what the gearing was, but recall my '77 F100 having to start in gear once when the clutch linkage broke, then drove it home shifting without the clutch. It started and rolled out fine, and that was not geared very low in first.

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:25 pm
by bk7794
I like the last body style of the Ranger. Nice!

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:46 pm
by tankinbeans
Nothing to add, so welcome to the forum.

I can't believe they still have those idiotic key release buttons. I think my Aerostar, Betty, had one of those. The key by that point was pretty much a screwdriver and could be removed at any time. Used it to start, and lock the car during the winter to warm it up.

A friend has a 97 Ranger with the same guts. I imagine the hamsters in your truck are less wheezey than his though.

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:09 am
by Rope-Pusher
Meeshigun? ewe frum the mittten or frum the rabbit?

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:57 am
by ClutchFork
I still have a '92 Aerostar sitting in my driveway. Not listed because it was not my personal vehicle.

The 2001 Ranger, about midyear, got the Duratec 2.3L DOHC (chain driven) 4-banger. It winds out nicely to 5500 rpm. Hit the rev limiter around 6000+ once. Don't go past 5500 now as it is less efficient to go higher.

Tranny in my Ranger should be same as the '97, a Mazda M5OD-R1.

Updated profile to display my location in the mitten.

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:58 am
by dakota1820
Glad to see you come aboard!! :)

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:24 pm
by ClutchFork
dakota1820 wrote:Glad to see you come aboard!! :)
Thanks Dakota1820. We are going to have a lot of fun here. I can hardly stand it, all these forums and so little time to browse and post. I just made a couple posts but alas my lunch break is over and I have to get back to work. See ya later.

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:24 pm
by Squint
Welcome!

Nice selection of manuals over the years. And don't worry, we all understand having a life outside of SS... :lol: :lol: jk we're here 24/7.

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:42 pm
by tankinbeans
Squint wrote:Welcome!

Nice selection of manuals over the years. And don't worry, we all understand having a life outside of SS... :lol: :lol: jk we're here 24/7.
But are you here 8 days a week posting moderately decipherable, entertaining...uh...stuff like Rope?

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:46 pm
by Squint
tankinbeans wrote:
Squint wrote:Welcome!

Nice selection of manuals over the years. And don't worry, we all understand having a life outside of SS... :lol: :lol: jk we're here 24/7.
But are you here 8 days a week posting moderately decipherable, entertaining...uh...stuff like Rope?
No, only Rope can do that. It's part of who he is... having that extra day a week and all that.

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:01 pm
by tankinbeans
Squint wrote:
tankinbeans wrote:
Squint wrote:Welcome!

Nice selection of manuals over the years. And don't worry, we all understand having a life outside of SS... :lol: :lol: jk we're here 24/7.
But are you here 8 days a week posting moderately decipherable, entertaining...uh...stuff like Rope?
No, only Rope can do that. It's part of who he is... having that extra day a week and all that.
Truth. The fabric in time and space is only so malleable.

Re: New Member From Michigan

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:37 pm
by ClutchFork
RITmusic2k wrote:Welcome, Paul! I'm a recent fan of inline engines as well; hope you enjoy your stay here!
Thanks. I love inline engines. The six is the most beautiful being perfectly balanced, but I'll go for a 5, 4, 3 cylinder if it is the right situation. Anything over 6 though I have to go V unless I want a classic car.

I am also a fan of pushrods, but frankly the DOHC in my Ranger is pretty nice, very high tech and a lot of fun to drive.