(we don't have access to a fire extinguisher)
No, it is not an automatic transmission, it is as stated a close ratio four speed manually shifted transmission. One of the better transmissions during the muscle car era.
Like everyone has said its a 4 speed M-22 Muncie, the 22 means that the splines on the input shaft in the trans that slides into the clutch has 22 slots in the shaft. Not for a automatic, its a manual transmission
It should be your common courtesy to protect your partner, assure that you have approved training gloves with extra padding. It's good that you recognized the issue by yourself though, cheers to that.
Just put it in neutral and shift to the appropriate gear after you are over the bump for example if you hit it at 10 to 15 then put it in second and move on.yes you can shift from 1st to 4th but there is really no reason to ever do that unless you were showing off by red lining in first and then wanted to act as if you weren't hot ridding suddenly.i would routinely speed up to 65 in second gear getting on the interstate with plenty of power only to through it in 5th gear overdrive after i am safely on.1st to 4th might be a stretch.
as stated its not an automatic, gm used those transmission in a lot of vehicles,it was the m-22 or muncie four speed tranny which was used in everything from chevelle, SS,cars to impala SS cars,even some of the vega transmissions was m-22,s, they was very popular back in the 60,s and 70,s,the reason they got the name rock crusher, was when you shifted them they sounded like that they was grinding together,they were really tough old transmissions though,i still own one in an old chevy i have,and to this day its never been rebuilt and i have owned it for over 30 years,good luck.
