[Shotimes] ATX or MTX?

[Carl Prochilo]

Joe,  By the time this gets posted, I already see many people responded, so
take this FWIW.  The mere fact that you embarked on this project says you
want to create something unique:  A SHO Wagon.  If you leave the ATX in, it
won't really be that different than what you started with.  How many 5-speed
Taurus wagons exist?  Can't be too many.  At the end of the day you will
enjoy driving the stick more than the automatic.  But you already knew that.
-- 
Cheers,
Carl Prochilo
1992 Ultra Red Crimson

van Oss said:
> I am embarking on a SHO wagon project.  Parts are coming my way that enable
> me to choose:  The SHO wagon could be an ATX or MTX.
>
> The SHO wagon will get used for vacations and around town.  It will be daily
> fun and a highway cruiser, not built for competition.  (We have other SHOs
> for high-speed track days, low-speed autocross, and such.)
>
> The ATX might be easier.  That was what Brian Klimes did with Thumper.  I
> wouldn't have to mount a clutch pedal, I could perhaps use the column
> shifter already in the car, and then I wouldn't have to horse with mounting
> a floor shifter, console, and new seats.  The downside is it would be an ATX
> which I wouldn't feel confident about until it had had an expensive rebuild
> (FPS).
>
> On the other hand...  I like an MTX.  The key reason I bought my first SHO
> (a 92, bought in 96) was that it was the only real American-made true
> 5-seater that I could get with an MTX.  All of my SHOs are MTXs:  91, 91
> Plus, and 92.  I have an 85K MTX on hand that I would want to open, refresh,
> and maybe go Quaiffe.  I would welcome the challenge of doing my own tranny
> rebuild, and could fall back on Courtney if need be.  I would need to buy
> and install a rod shifter, I have a console, and would need to refurbish
> some mocha seats I have.
>
> I have to confess that (1) I've never driven an ATX SHO, only MTX, so I
> cannot compare, and (2) driving the wagon with its present 3.8L/AXOD has a
> kind of serenity and I do see the attraction.  Yeah, I'm getting older.  On
> the other hand, though an MTX is more work in traffic, we don't have too
> much traffic here in La Crosse, and I really do like the feeling of
> directness in an MTX as opposed to the ambiguity of an ATX.
>
> I guess I'm looking for the MTX crowd to say "Luke, search your feelings.
> Don't give in to the dark side."  Something like that.   : )
>
> Joseph van Oss
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