It used to be that the manual transmission was the iconic marker of driver involvement. A car was not fast unless it had a four-in-the-floor, three-in-the-tree or some other hot-rodder’s mnemonic device. Alas the days of the manual gearbox seem numbered, efficiency in the name of emissions ushered in a dark era for cars like the Corvette and other makes, where the choice was auto or nothing. Now the options are growing.

Today, manual drivers are becoming a rarity. Clutch-less sequential gearboxes like DSG, PDK and the like are taking over driving enthusiasts’ fancy footwork, and control — usually in the name of lap times. As much as we don’t like to admit it, the ability to make lightning-fast gear changes keeps the car in the powerband, and the added security of keeping both hands on the wheel do make for faster laps.

Among the modern gear-head, who likely grew up with a gaming controller in hand, the sensation of gear selection at the fingertip is familiar and intuitive. Now it is becoming easier to retrofit your automatic transmission to mimic the control of a sequential.

Pace Performance specializes in GM OEM and aftermarket support, and has recently added packages to link GM 6L80e and 6L90e transmissions with GM LS engine packages.

“We use the tried and true currently offered CPP LS engine and engine controller packages and pair them with the GM 6L transmissions. There is a custom harness that plugs directly into the GM engine controller harness with a factory connector. We custom program the 6L based on the engine being used and the customers’ application, this makes everything plug and play on their end,” reported Greg Was of Pace.

So if you find yourself in an automatic-transmission sort of mood, but want a little sportiness, options exist. “PCS offers specific paddles shifters for the Mechatronic 6L transmissions, and our custom 6L harness is already wired for this unit,” Was continues.

The paddle shifting units mount to the back of most 9-bolt aftermarket steering wheels and available with or without a digital gear indicator, you can choose to have a heads-up reminder of your selection or go a little more low-profile.

With the addition of the PCS paddle shifters comes some added control in the form of electronic shift modes depending on the driving situation. The ability to adjust your gear changes from mild to aggressive allow the user to change the attitude of the car between the track and street.

“The modes in the transmission act like factory settings. In the first drive position the trans acts like the standard automatic, but allow paddle shifting. If the paddles shifter is used  you can tap up and down as you want. If the paddle shifter is not used for 15 seconds the trans reverts to standard auto mode,” explained Was.

“In drive position two this puts the trans into sport mode — firmer and quicker shifts, and allows use of paddle shifting. If the paddle shifter is used in this mode it will stay in paddle shifter mode and will not exit until you move the gear selector to regular drive mode or hold the tap up for three seconds,” Was concluded.

So if you’d like to be able to hold the car in the lower gears, and have more control over your gear changes but an automatic is holding you back, there are little hacks to help. If you have any questions about the applications of the PCS paddle shifters reach out to Pace Performance.