2006 auto vs 6 speed ?

[RVTRKN]

My '07, 5. 9 got the late 6th ratio and I could still use a little less RPM on the freeway. MY $. 02

Just shift into seventh, I do all the time. :-laf

 

[SierraRam]

Run 37's and you wont have an issue

 

[Motorhead]

Run 37's and you wont have an issue

That is one advantage to the early G56. I am going to try the Nitto 285-75-17 tires on mine soon. I am ALL about better fuel mileage so I hope they help rather than hurt.
Just came back from Lake Tahoe, about 400 miles from home. Fueled up, went to Tahoe then down the hill to Carson city, back up to Tahoe then to Reno and fueled up. Got 19. 6 hand calculated. Fueled in Reno, went back up to Tahoe, drove around there,came home not sparing the go pedal, fueled up 425 miles later and got 21. 25mpg hand calculated. Smarty jr on towing and front hubs unlocked.

 

[SierraRam]

I believe the decrease in final ration of running 37's is negated by the increased, weight, rolling resistance and ride height of the truck. The best highway mileage I can get cruising at 70mph empty is 16mpg, drop that to 60mph and it increases to 17mpg. Alll around average I get around 15mpg all hand calculated.



With the 37's I am at 2000rpm/70mph

 

[Lonestar]

Just shift into seventh, I do all the time. :-laf

I swear I try this at least twice a week.



I HATE THE G56!! I have an 04' with the 5600, and an early 06' with the G56. 04' is on the original clutch, and shifts like new.



G56 is on its 3rd clutch/DMF assembly, and i felt excessive slippage today. #4 is coming soon I guess. Looks like I'll finally be looking at the single disk conversion from SBC.



FWIW

Corey

 

[RVTRKN]

Lonestar, I see in your signature you have the smarty, why would you have kept the DMF after so many clutches? Even the dealers are getting permission to lose the DMF under warranty work when assembly is locally unavailable. I would beef up your clutch package to handle the power upgrade of the potential of your programer. I think the G56 as whole is a good trany, just lose that DMF.

 

[Ross]

I have one of each. A 2006 auto, and a 2006 G56. If you are happy with small hp increases (Smarty level 3), I think the auto would be fine. Both trucks have over 100K, and both tow over 20K combined weekly around 400 miles. The G56 truck has been modified to the point that I had to get an SBC DD. This clutch is indestructible, but I HATE THIS CLUTCH. It works as advertised, but there is no slippage whatsoever. NONE. ZILCH! Nada. My wife cannot drive it. My daughter won't drive it. Starting a heavy load (one trailer weighs 23K) is very difficult. (Please don't lecture me about how to drive).

At about 90K, the auto started hunting for 3-4. I had a shop in town service it and tighten the bands. The transmission is better than it was when new! I love driving this truck now. Only cost me about 110 bucks.

So, my opinion is that if you are not going to add much power, go with the auto. If you're a hp junkie, then get the G56, and pay the price. You'll lose driveability, but it will be the last clutch you buy.

 

[RVTRKN]

I have one of each. A 2006 auto, and a 2006 G56. If you are happy with small hp increases (Smarty level 3), I think the auto would be fine. Both trucks have over 100K, and both tow over 20K combined weekly around 400 miles. The G56 truck has been modified to the point that I had to get an SBC DD. This clutch is indestructible, but I HATE THIS CLUTCH. It works as advertised, but there is no slippage whatsoever. NONE. ZILCH! Nada. My wife cannot drive it. My daughter won't drive it. Starting a heavy load (one trailer weighs 23K) is very difficult. (Please don't lecture me about how to drive).



At about 90K, the auto started hunting for 3-4. I had a shop in town service it and tighten the bands. The transmission is better than it was when new! I love driving this truck now. Only cost me about 110 bucks.



So, my opinion is that if you are not going to add much power, go with the auto. If you're a hp junkie, then get the G56, and pay the price. You'll lose driveability, but it will be the last clutch you buy.

Isn't there a less aggressive clutch by SBC? I'm not familiar with SBC options.

 

[HBarlow]

SouthBend offers a wide range of clutch products to handle any operating environment . . .

. . . but every aftermarket clutch that offers advantages for heavy load towing also gives up some of the comfortable easy operation selected by Dodge engineers for the OEM product.

Compromises.