Crawl ratio

[Bulldog]

You have to think about the action of the torque converter in your equations. When you are calculating your ratios you are assuming that the converter input and output are 1:1 which as far as I know only happens when in lockup and a TH400 does not have that. So in reality your engine speed and the speed of the input on the converter could be spinning twice as fast as the output going to the gears. This would give you an additional 2:1 in the auto. It could really be anywere from 1:1 to 1000:1 depending on the load conditions.

Like Kevin said though the number one killer of autos is heat and low speeds and high load will yield a lot of heat. I think you would be good either way you go. The manual would be more reliable. I've blown over 5 autos and have yet to do anything harm to a manual.

Oh the great dilemmas in lifehrug:

Good stuff, this is input I was looking for. I was thinking the torque converter would affect it somehow.