When was the last time you went for 7th gear?

[HOBrian]

Driving to work today I went for 7th gear I normal drive by the sound of the engine and shift accordingly. Today while driving I pulled it out of 6th and thought to myself... wait a minute that was 6th and why am I pulling it out of 6th so I put in back in and thought after 5+ years and over 100K I still try 7th!:-laf

 

[MMiller]

I can't say I look for 7th, but I have searched for 6th in my 5 speed. :-laf I've been driving my truck since 1993, and have logged 250,000 miles on it, and I still occasionally search for that elusive double overdrive.



Michael

 

[GCroyle]

HOBrian,



7th is hiding.



You just have to know when to grab it, the secret shifting pattern, EXACT RPM, and which combination of seat buttons to push but most importantly you must be listening to the right AM radio station, that's the secret trigger.



I use mine all the time.

 

[moonranch]

Yeah, I probly "go for it" once every six months, sure makes me think about OD unit. I will have to try to find that "secret trigger".

 

[HOBrian]

HOBrian,



7th is hiding.



You just have to know when to grab it, the secret shifting pattern, EXACT RPM, and which combination of seat buttons to push but most importantly you must be listening to the right AM radio station, that's the secret trigger.



I use mine all the time.

What is this AM radio thingy you talk about

 

[Blu-meanie]

And I thought I was the only one that did that. I used to drive a five speed F##d, and that ZF transmission had fifth gear up and right. After eight years with a six speed, you would think that would go away.

 

[mgonske]

With 190,000 miles on mine, I still look for 7th at least once a week! It's usually at the end of a freeway on-ramp, after running through the gears up the ramp--I always need one more just as I'm getting to merge speed and am ready to drop the RPMs.

 

[GCroyle]

What is this AM radio thingy you talk about

That's the extra button on the noise maker in the dash. Sometimes it's the only place you can find El Rushbo the all seeing on a LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG days drive.



My radio also has to warm up the tubes before it starts to work, they start to glow, noise is made. It's tough pulling out the preset button and pushing it back in just right.

 

[Scooby]

It's tough pulling out the preset button and pushing it back in just right.

Ahh, I remember those days!



I have on several occasions wished for (and tried to grab) 7th gear!! It just seems like it ought to be there, right? Drop down to 1750 rpm while doing 70

 

[DaveHess]

Gary neglected rather woefully to also advise you that the secret AM radio trigger only works when the planet Saturn is in the third sky upon it's return (every 29 years). The seat switches he refers to, and he really must be more specific, is the passenger eject seat switch. And everyone knows the passenger eject switch only works with a mother-in-law occupying that space. Really Gary. Your lack of knowledge of the illusive 7th gear is very irritating to those of us with the 48RE who use that 7th gear at every opportunity.

 

[DaveHess]

Oh!!!! And speaking of the 7th gear. I was talking to a guy in Lowes the other night and the conversation was very nice as we spoke of our '03's until I asked what transmission his had. He insisted his was great as it was the Cummins/Allison transmission. I gave him a puzzled look and asked where he had the conversion done to mate the Allison to his Cummins. On, no. It came from the factory that way. I walked away.

 

[RDHamill]

I had no luck finding 7th, so every now and then I try to split 4th

 

[GCroyle]

Gary neglected rather woefully to also advise you that the secret AM radio trigger only works when the planet Saturn is in the third sky upon it's return (every 29 years). The seat switches he refers to, and he really must be more specific, is the passenger eject seat switch. And everyone knows the passenger eject switch only works with a mother-in-law occupying that space. Really Gary. Your lack of knowledge of the illusive 7th gear is very irritating to those of us with the 48RE who use that 7th gear at every opportunity.

Dave,



I got the EARLY '05 production w/ Cast Iron G-Box, not the later production that got those Alumimimunum cases. On the early ones we did not get the MILES option, Mother In Law Ejection Seat that came a bit later with the G56.



But here in SC, we have our own calendar thank you very much and OUR planets are always aligned, shrimp and grits under palmetto trees to ya all.



It's also hard for me to comment on trucks with a Cummins under the hood that DO NOT have a handshaker, straight drive 3rd pedal equipped rig, matter of fact, yours is the 1st time I have ever heard of anyone puttin an automatic behind a Cummins, must have got yours from the guy at Lowes where he got his Cummins/Allison factory rig.





Best regards to all, this has been a fun addition to a Friday the 13th.



Don't forget to harass your Irish buddies next week, it's their turn.

 

[DaveHess]

Gary, Gary, Gary.....

Dave,



I got the EARLY '05 production w/ Cast Iron G-Box, not the later production that got those Alumimimunum cases. On the early ones we did not get the MILES option, Mother In Law Ejection Seat that came a bit later with the G56.



But here in SC, we have our own calendar thank you very much and OUR planets are always aligned, shrimp and grits under palmetto trees to ya all.



It's also hard for me to comment on trucks with a Cummins under the hood that DO NOT have a handshaker, straight drive 3rd pedal equipped rig, matter of fact, yours is the 1st time I have ever heard of anyone puttin an automatic behind a Cummins, must have got yours from the guy at Lowes where he got his Cummins/Allison factory rig.





Best regards to all, this has been a fun addition to a Friday the 13th.



Don't forget to harass your Irish buddies next week, it's their turn.

Gary,



I deliberately did not use the acronym "MILES" as I was sure my SC bretheren would not recognize this option. I do realize you think the planets are always in alignment there in SC but to be quite honest, the sun does quite as a matter of fact, rise and set in North Dakota. Some of us in ND have evolved and no longer use the, as you say "hand shaker" option. (OK, that's a blatant lie. The 48RE was selected so my lovely bride of 20 years would be able to drive this, the manliest of rigs. Wanna know how many times she has sat behind that steering wheel in the last 6 years... . 0) Anyhow, the MILES option was only available in 2003 on the 48RE equipped trucks. This truck is also equipped with the NIYWD (Not In Your Wildest Dreams) or in OMDB (Over My Dead Body) option referring to teenage daughter's driving my Ram. I think the NIYWD option is more common than we know.



Thanks for the sense of humor Gary!

 

[GCroyle]

Dave,



I think I have met my match, next beer or whatever when I get to ND is on me.



By the way, is it true in ND that from the center of the state you can jump up facing north and see Canada? or face south jump up and see SD? Or do I need to get to ND and check this rumor out for myself?



As always, the author is subject to correction, abuse, neglect, cold dinners, early starts and busted knuckles.



FWIW, I make sure to get handshakers so NO ONE else but me drives the truck. The little lady never learned how to navigate that extra pedal, owned 8 of em so far, ordered 3 with extra pedals, did great until the salesman asked me what color I wanted my '75 Camaro 350 4 speed to be, I said color, you mean I have to choose!



Now, just what was the original topic of this thread all about anyway, I forgot! Oh yeah, AM Radio Stations!

 

[DaveHess]

Gary. I'll be in your neck of the woods in August. Myrtle Beach to be exact. And if I had it to do all over again... it would most definately be a 6-Speed. I wish Spicer or Rockwell would build a nice 10 or 13-Speed for this truck. How sweet would that be!

 

[nickleinonen]

i went for 7th today. . crusing along in 6th at 1800rpm and went to shift to drop rpm. . then i remembered i was in top gear. .

 

[MRFost]

I put on 35's and so I don't grab for 7th anymore. It would be kinky to get the latest version of the G56 and go back down to 33-34's to eliminate the rub at full steering wheel lock [in order to maintain the lower RPM].

 

[scottmcd]

Reach for 7th today trying to get the duaghter to the airport on time. Sometimes you just need that little extra getting around the IDIOTS. Another way to keep the Wife, Kids, Neighbors, and anyone else from borrowing the truck, besides the 3rd pedal. Order it with the Quad Cab with a long box. They can never figure out how you can just swing into a parking spot. They always flinch thinking you are going to take out the front end of the truck. Gotta love the car drivers of the world... LOL... Scott

 

[GCroyle]

Dave,



I'll have to get you a temporary Good Ol Boy's membership card for your visit to Myrtle Beach SC. Got lots to see at MB, remember to wear your best Evlis glasses. What's the occasion for the big trip? Might have to get you that beer when you make it out this way, lot cheaper than me finding you out there where even a compass gets confused and the GPS say that you are in an area not supported by electronic maps. Don't feel bad, my street isn't on GPS either.



I have seen a few posts about the trial of finding trans with extra gears, but don't remember the final outcome for the customization, sure would be different doing those big rig slide shifts W/O any risk on a syncro trans that don't like that (from what I have read, not experienced) went for a 18 wheeler ride 20+ years ago, guy didn't use the clutch and I was "amazed".



Dave, I got it, problem solved!



We take out the little number thingy on the top of the ratio selection activator selector lever and just etch in 7 on it, problem solved.



I'll make a P-Type for mine and then sell the real ones to Geno's. Coming soon to a dyno near you the 5. 9L NV5600 7 speed indicator, sorry not currently available for the G56 units.