Dave, I have a friend who's been running the same Lenco CS1 on the streets since the 80's. Was in his '67 'Vette and now in his '33 Willys. It's the 4 sp version. Here's the Hot Rod write up on his car, street driven and been in TORONTO traffic jams and sits there for 28/3 hours at a time.
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/1304s...vrolet-willys/
I have some fast, BIG HP stuff as well for my '66 Nova. 1260Hp Ex NHRA Pro Stock 498 and Pro Mod 706 with 3 stages. So we were talking and I said, "take me for a ride and let's see how this Lenco's work on the street"?
Well it's the most easiest standard trans I have seen. Easier than a M22/ST-10 or my Liberty Extreme in my car! I will break it down do you a bit as they way he told me:
We will use the 4sp set up as there all the same from 2-5 sp, just longer and added gears.
1. FURTHEST away is the "REVERSER". This is the small lever that is used for reverse and FORWARD FIRST gear. His has a "natural" detent and a forward and reverse detent. NOW with the rest of the levers pushed forward, you move the reverser forward for first or back for reverser. MUST USE CLUTCH for this operation.
NOTE: the clutch is "usually" ONLY used in 1st and reverse applications just like any other standard trans. You DO NOT need to use the clutch to up or down shift, but crawling in 1st or reverse you and "ride" the clutch, but it's the same as any other standard regardless of make or brand.
2. So now your in 1st and moving forward. Time for 2nd gear, just grab the lever and PULL. Doesn't matter if your full race/full throttle or just cruising with your son in traffic (like Aaron with the '33 does). Just when you want to shift, just pull the lever. BUT do it fast as to engage it right.
3. Time for 3rd and then 4th, same as above for second. Just grab that handle and pull. Easy Peasy gear is changed.
4. Now here is where people will get surprised, DOWNSHIFTING. Simple, just push gear forward to disengage that gear? IE while in 4th, push lever forward to disengage 4th gear cluster and now in 3rd. You CAN blip the throttle to bring up the revs, or the downshift will do it for you, actually make now difference he says.
Now we were cruising along in 4th and coming to a light. Now some will downshift a gear at a time, OR you can just push 2nd, 3rd and 4th levers all at once and be in first. That's up to the driver, but it will drastically increase the RPM's. BUT if you know you're going to be still stopped for a bit, you can push all the levers forward with clutch engaged, and would be the same as any other trans that in 1st gear rolling up to a light with the clutch in.
Now I bought a CS1 that was behind my Fulton 706 with 3 stages for the street after seeing how easy it was to drive one on the street. I might use my Donavan (like Bruno) converter drive on the Lenco as to not have clutches to adjust all the time. But it was honestly like driving a manual valve body auto once the car was rolling, SIMPLE. And the clutch operation while in 1st or reverse is no different than any other standard trans? But the thing is bulletproof and can handle ALL the power. So it becomes a piece of mind know that the trans is basically taken out of the equation as far and longevity is concerned.
I bought mine from the Pro Mod guy I got the motor off. COMPLETE from flywheel to yoke, including bell, aluminum flywheel and 2 dics RAM clutch for $8,500.00 CANADIAN. Or about the cost of a good strong auto. But I certainly feel that the reliability is far better with the Lenco then an auto. Now the "cool-factor" of a 706 3 stage streetcar with a Lenco, well that's just PRICELESS.
Hope that gives you some insight.