03 5spd vs 6spd

[BHaden]

I have owned both 03 and 06 one tons with 6sps and loved them but they were more truck than I needed
and sold them for a 2015 Eco Diesel which just got traded in. Too light. Am currently diesel-less. I am currently looking at 03-06 2500s (just right?) and found something on a truck on autotrader that raised a question. It was an 03 with a 5 speed. It had a closeup of the shift knob. I thought all 03s had 6 speeds. Am I wrong? Is this some kind of Dodge mid-year changeover? Early year model?

 

[Prairie Dog]

Maybe some of the SO engines had 5 speeds..?
I know you couldn't get one with the HO engine.

 

[BHaden]

Ahhh. I forgot about the "low output" setups. That probably explains things. Thanks.

 

[petersonj]

It was an 03 with a 5 speed. It had a closeup of the shift knob. I thought all 03s had 6 speeds. Am I wrong? Is this some kind of Dodge mid-year changeover? Early year model?

That is a good question. I thought that starting from '03 (the third generation) that all of the transmissions were six speeds (NV5600 until '04.5). Just curious, did you check the shift pattern? Maybe someone put a 5 spd shift knob on a 6 spd transmission?

Personally, I would not buy a truck with a 5 speed transmission - the 6 speed transmission has a much more favorable close ratio gear pattern and it has a higher input torque than the 5 speed transmission (NV4500). Plus, the NV4500 has a noted 5th gear nut problem.

- John

 

[Tuesdak]

Only the HO engines had the NV5600 for 2003 and early 2004. (I recall the HO was how the NV5600 was optioned in since introduction - 2004.) Note Commiefornia also had their own weirdo low output engines in these years...

Buy it, tune it, mod it, and drop whatever transmission you what in it: it's only money.

I really liked the ratios the NV5600 my 2003 had.

 

[cerberusiam]

Very early MY03 SO trucks were optioned with the NV4500 because the HO engine was not ready for production until after September. For light duty the 4500 was ok, just don't expect to haul very heavy with it or increase the power too much.

 

[BHaden]

It appears the SO output engines had the 4500 and the high output engines had the 5600. That's apparently what I saw. I would never buy a 4500. Its essentially a 3 speed with a granny gear on one end and an overdrive on the other. I agree the 5600 and G56 have MUCH better ratios.
Thanks for the help guys

 

[Prairie Dog]

Funny thing was, the NV5600 was the only trans available for the early 2003 HO but it was shown as something like a $1400 option - which really wasn't optional!