I am coming down with neuropathy in my feet, and I fully expect to eventually lose the feeling in the soles of my feet like my dear ol' mother. (Additionally, my clutch overhaul a couple years ago (with a new OE Luk) somehow introduced a new shudder on launch no matter how I finesse the pedal. We didn't replace the hydraulics at the time....maybe should have.)
But I don't want to give up my mighty diesel. Is it feasible to convert a 3rd generation truck from stick to automatic?
Call your insurance company FIRST! The book value of your truck if it's stolen, burned to the ground, or someone plows into it is still $X.xx. Try and find a way to cover the chunk of change your are going to drop into the truck for a conversion... Classic insurance, maybe. Commercial insurance with declared value is expensive. Thus a conversion will be a sunk cost.
"shudder on launch" Ladder bars (like I installed) help with the spring wrap that contributes to this. Changing pinion angles on the diff, poly center bearings in long driveshafts or 1 piece driveshafts... The clutch may have hot spots, oil, or other problems with the friction and surfaces including hanging up on worn splines, sliders, etc.
The cost of a conversion, if you sell your truck outright, would make how many NEW truck payments? Sale price of your old truck makes how many new truck payments? Of course you can gamble on used, but, my point is made on the extreme end of the "new" cost scale.
If you are not towing the 6.4 Hemi isn't exactly door handles, but, a 6.7 HO will have a hard time walking away from one Uh, on the strip, yeah, on the drag strip.