Vehicles that you wouldn't think could have a standard shift

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theholycow
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Re: Vehicles that you wouldn't think could have a standard shift

Post by theholycow »

Stelcom66 wrote: Mon Nov 19, 2018 10:19 pmAnother van that came with a standard shift was the Chevy Astro if it had the base 4 cylinder engine. The 4.3V6 was by far in the majority of them, of course only with an automatic.
The Astro 4.3 was available with three pedals 1985-1989. It had possibly the strongest NWC T5 and the only 11 inch clutch with a 1 inch 14 spline hub. This I know because it is very relevant to my 1980 Buick conversion. Also, the T5 currently in my car is from a 1986 Astro 4.3.

Of course it was certainly quite rare for anyone to actually order one that way, I assume, as they are super-rare now.

It was a miracle when I stumbled on one at the Pick 'n' Pull. It was under 40°F, raining, and an hour or two until closing time. My aging, non-mechanically-inclined dad was with me. We ripped that bitch out like cavemen. Unfortunately there wasn't time to get the clutch disc, but I don't think the 11" disc will fit anyway; my flywheel/clutch cover assy/pressure plate is for 10.4" (but there is no 10.4" OEM application, only an expensive custom racing part, so I use a 9" or 9.4" from more common applications).

Dad thought I was nuts buying a transmission for a failure that hadn't happened yet, but a year or two later I needed it and finding any appropriate T5, let alone that extra-strength one, would have required time and money that I wouldn't have had...it sure was cheaper getting it when the getting was good, and it was great having it in-stock when I needed it!
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Re: Vehicles that you wouldn't think could have a standard shift

Post by tankinbeans »

Colour me surprised. I didn't realize the Asstrough came with a 4 cylinder engine at 1 point. Must have shared all the things with the S10 (and Bladder).
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Stelcom66
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Re: Vehicles that you wouldn't think could have a standard shift

Post by Stelcom66 »

theholycow wrote: Mon Nov 26, 2018 11:06 am
Stelcom66 wrote: Mon Nov 19, 2018 10:19 pmAnother van that came with a standard shift was the Chevy Astro if it had the base 4 cylinder engine. The 4.3V6 was by far in the majority of them, of course only with an automatic.
The Astro 4.3 was available with three pedals 1985-1989. It had possibly the strongest NWC T5 and the only 11 inch clutch with a 1 inch 14 spline hub. This I know because it is very relevant to my 1980 Buick conversion. Also, the T5 currently in my car is from a 1986 Astro 4.3.
Interesting - always thought the 4.3 Astro had to be an automatic. The 3.0 V6 Ford Aerostar I had briefly (had to think about trading in after driving it in snow for the first time) had a 5 speed manual. It was a nice powertrain but the van was very spartan.
potownrob wrote: Mon Nov 26, 2018 5:26 am
AWD civic wagon of that vintage had a 6 speed manual with a granny 1st gear. sehr cool. almost went to look at one of those back in the early to mid 2000s. a lot of those 4 banger manual poverty spec trucks i'm not sure i'd want to attempt driving in modern day traffic. vista had a weak 2 litre 4. i never knew til decades later that it was so weak and slow. dad said it was a turtle, even before the tranny problems. :shock:
That made me think of the Toyota Tercel AWD wagon. A neighbor had one with a manual shift, I think it was an '86. That model had a relatively limited run. Sounds like your Dodge Vista had the base engine - or maybe the 2.6L 4 wasn't available then. That was the same Mitsubishi engine that was optional in the first gen Dodge/Plymouth minivans, and I thought the Vista as well.
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theholycow
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Re: Vehicles that you wouldn't think could have a standard shift

Post by theholycow »

Stelcom66 wrote: Mon Nov 26, 2018 9:09 pm(had to think about trading in after driving it in snow for the first time) had a 5 speed manual. It was a nice powertrain but the van was very spartan.
I imagine the rear end was not very heavy, though better than a pickup. For snow you would want good snow tires and some ballast.

And yeah, the Astro and Aerostar were spartan, kinda special-purpose vans for businesses and people needing RWD body-on-frame tough "work truck"-built small vans for hauling and trailering. Some were sold as/used as family vans to compete with the typical FWD minivan but that's totally not the right market segment for them.
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Re: Vehicles that you wouldn't think could have a standard shift

Post by tankinbeans »

I drove a 4.0 Aerostar Eddie Bauer edition. Turquoise over tan and 4 captains chairs. Topped out and 90mph.

160 horsepressures for something that weighed as much as a small moon.
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Re: Vehicles that you wouldn't think could have a standard shift

Post by Rope-Pusher »

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