Mike...I had a Porsche 914 a few years back,they were notorious for clutch cable problems. Long story short the dang cable broke 400 miles from home! big_eek
I managed to drive 390 miles clutchless,thankfully mostly freeway all the way. I got 10 miles from home,fluffed a shift approaching a junction and BANG! I scattered the gearbox!
That was my(expensive) introduction to clutchless shifting! cry
I've just gone the auto route as it was what came with my engine and for ease of installation.I still don't know if the trans is a good one or not!
I agree though,automatics are a mystery to me too ! headscratch

1950 Chevy Advance Design 3100 in Scotland
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pix on Flickr.
I've definately got this truck thing in my blood ... my DNA sequence has torque settings
"Of all the small nations of this earth,perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind" Winston Churchill.