2006 auto vs 6 speed ?

[Dieselfitter]

my 05 nv5600 was totalled 2 wks ago and i'm now looking for a 06

choosing between auto and 6 speed .

my question is how much power can i run with each without upgrading the transmission or clutch

thx dug

 

[MChrist]

I had my auto in my '06 rebuilt by Goerend at 35,000 miles because it felt slushy. The converter was shot, trans was not worn though. Truck was stock at the time. If you go auto, I would plan on having it redone if you plan on souping up the motor. Probably budget around $4000, depending on what you want.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

My 6 speed has handled towing 19,000# for near 100,000 miles with a Edge juce exhaust intake etc and I am still on the stock clutch. I added the cooler package to the trans and always keep the trans over full. I do not drag race or sled pull, this is strictly a buisness towing rig.

 

[MickeyMiller]

My stock clutch made it 155K miles with just a Smarty Jr. on +100. I'd say the stock clutch would not have handled any real power boost for very long. Now have a Southbend DD and not worried about the clutch...

 

[HBarlow]

The OP was inquiring about an '06. The '06 uses a dual mass flywheel and clutch assembly which is not the same as the '01 and '03 which use an ordinary old solid flywheel and clutch assembly and NV-5600 transmission.

Some are very pleased with their late '05 and later manual six speeds using the DMF but many have reported early failures.

 

[Regcabguy]

I didn't have $4,000+ to dump into the 48re to make it perform like the DTT on my '98. 5. I special ordered my truck in the signature configuration and love the g-56. Camper load of 2,000# is on 24/7 with 34" tires and Smarty on sw# 3 for 27,000 miles now. No issues. I'll probably get an SBC OFE when this one dies which hopefully,will be a long time. I like the compression braking and the priviledge of controlling the shiftpoints,not vice versa.

 

[Grizzly]

Get another early 05 with an NV 5600. Will you use the truck for towing and how heavy?

 

[CDonaldson]

My 2006 6-speed is performing GREAT, while I only have 56K on it, I have had no problems towing heavy (19-24K). I live at high altitude, have many steep grades, power is good to go and the clutch is performing like when it was new.



Compare the cost of clutch replacement - $1500 for a good HD clutch to the costs of transmission work to build it as bulletproof as you can - $4000 - becomes a no brainer. You can buy a lot more stuff to add to your truck for the difference and still be ahead of the game with a standard. If you tow, and tow heavy, standards are the only way to go, the autos fail early on.



CD

 

[RVTRKN]

Look at sig, my Brother tried to find one (with low miles) so he asked me if I was willing to sell him mine. They are very hard to find, and its no wonder, they are in a better class, than the auto's in my opinion. A clutch job is a lot cheaper than a auto rebuild. Even though there are good upgrades from many different vendors, you see some complaints after dumping a couple of grand into them.



A word of caution though on the NV5600, they are exspensive to rebuild and be carefull of the shop, if you buy a used truck and then have the NV5600 fail. But the power from for 04. 5-05 NV5600 trucks are in a class of their own. I would of preferred an NV5600, but that was out of question when I bought my 07 C&C. The DMF can be replaced easy enough when I have a reason to change it, but as of now, its been flawless and smoother.

 

[R.Taylor]

I hate the automatic in my 06! Wish I had a handshaker! Can a swap be done? How about an Allison conversion? Really... . Dodge should have done something right with the 48RE, It can barely handle the output of the Cummins mill. If it were a good transmission there would not be so many upgrades and aftermarket improvements available. A transmission that needs $2000 to $4000 to "Feel right" and not leave you stranded is wrong. I recently had warranty work done and the dealership did a "Full service" on the transmission... Fluid, Filter and Band adjustment... . and it feels the same. My gripes...

1 - Shifts whenever it wants to, Never consistent shifting patterns.
2 - When it shifts it seems to slip while in between gears... Slight RPM jump.
3 - When it shifts there seems to be what feels like a kick or bump.
4 - When doing 65 and engage tow/haul it kicks it out of overdrive, Tossing the RPM's higher than I like..... Then going back into OD.

48RE = Costly to work on and too dang big to pull at home.

 

[AMcCormick]

If you are planning on using the truck as a tow rig mostly, I would go with the manual. I dont tow very often. I just towed a 35' sail boat from from the SF bay area down to San Diego combined was 20k and some change. Boat and trailer was a bit over 12k. With no OD lock out I had force the down shift a couple times, I will be installing the BD overdrive lock out. Going over the grapevine I held 40-45mph with 25-30psi 1200 pyro and the transmission stayed at 190. I really prefer the auto for daily driving. I do a moderate amount of city/traffic driving. The reason I bought the current truck was that it had a new Goerend transmission with only 10k miles on it. I actually really like the tow/haul function just needs the OD lock out. I drive daily in the TH mode.

 

[Dieselfitter]

ok thx to all that replied my 1st chioce would be to get back into a 05 with the nv5600 .

but triing to find one with 50 k and no salt exsposure here in ny is hopeless . i use the truck for heavy towing in the summer and put the most miles on it during hunting season ... then it's back in the box for the winter months to keep the rust at bay .

i was running around 800 ft lbs torque with tst box and a con fe south bend clutch , it was perfect .

there are a few 06 's out there with low miles , but i'll have to look down south out of the snow belt to get one without winter salt .

i don't know anyone here local that runs an auto so i was curious as to how the newer trannies were holding up now that it's been a couple of yrs .

i guess i will stay with a 6 speed .

thx again for your time

dug

 

[RVTRKN]

Both auto's I hear, are doing well, 68rfe (reg) and the Aison (C&C), but I just don't like auto's. My G56 has been good to me so far, but if the DMF gives out then its a solid fly wheel. There are 07 5. 9's as well, built before Jan 07, have you looked for them?

 

[SierraRam]

I am a believer of manual transmissions, I perfer that I make the decisions whent to shift and what gear to be in. The G56 has been flawlwess, although I was happy to get rid of the dual mass clutch.

 

[Dieselfitter]

no i haven't been looking for pre jan 07's are there any other differences between 05 and 07 trucks ?

what about fuel milage ?

 

[RVTRKN]

I'm not sure what year they increased the torque numbers, but I believe they are the same, 325/610. However if your looking for an auto transmission they are different in the exhaust brake capability, 06 to 07 48re with the Jacobs Brake per D/C warranty, if you want to pay the costs for the option.



There are not many you will find in the 07/G56 version, once an owner feels the power behind the manual trans they don't let them go. I sold my 04. 5 (look at sig) to my brother, because he could not find exactly what your looking for, and he loves it!

 

[CKelley1]

the late 05 and the early 07 have the g56 like all of the 06's the g56 is many time better than the nv5600. the dual mass flywheel is not that expinsive to change. southbend makes the best kit, get the conofe single kit

 

[Grizzly]

the late 05 and the early 07 have the g56 like all of the 06's the g56 is many time better than the nv5600. the dual mass flywheel is not that expinsive to change. southbend makes the best kit, get the conofe single kit

How is a G56 many time better than a NV5600? Other than smoother shifting, I can't say I agree with you.



george

 

[Motorhead]

Remember that going from a NV5600 6th gear ratio to the EARLY G56 sixth gear ratio is quite a difference. The EARLY G56 has a . 79 sixth gear ratio and the NV5600 has a . 72 sixth gear ratio. To get the LATE . 74 ratio 6th gear in a 5. 9, the truck needs to have been built in DECEMBER '06. Any truck built from JAN'07 and later has the 6. 7ltr engine with all the smog stuff on it. With the early G56, you are turning about 2000rpm at 60 mph. With the late ratio G56, 2000rpm = 65mph
My '07, 5. 9 got the late 6th ratio and I could still use a little less RPM on the freeway. MY $. 02

 

[RVTRKN]

Thats right, I forgot about the early G56, being geared different. About the comment on being many times better than a NV5600, no way no how, but the G56 is a good trany, there are a lot of great features over the NV5600. You can look up, I think TDR news letter issue 53, or ?, and has a very good comparison between the two. They published it back when there were a lot of rummers, like plastic gears . It is the article which convinced me not to get the Aisin auto for my C&C. I just don't like auto's, but having a 6 speed auto was something to consider in late 06, before I ordered mine.