Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 5 or 6 speed?

[barbwire]

5 or 6

My own personal experience with my 99 five speed is so terrible, that I would'nt even think that it would be an option.

Fifth gear nut had gone out on it sometime before I got it at 34000 mi. It had the update put in at that time. I then drove it for about 30000 mi. and it developed a hard shifting prob. Dealer took it out and replaced some bearings and syncros. Then I drove it for about another 10000 and the fifth gear nut went south again. Dealer took it out and fixed it. Then, in another 10, or 15 thou. mi. , I was driving down the road and it started clunking and making terrible noises. I had it towed into the dealer where they diagnosed it to be total junk. Got a new one in at about 90000 mi. I am almost out of warranty now at 96000 mi. , and am sweating when I put any miles on it.

And just to give a little history , I am not a hard driver. I have never had it stuck. I do'nt feel that I have to be from 0 to 60 in so many seconds when I take off. I pull a car trailer with it, and the load that I put on the car trailer varies anywhere from 2000 to 8000 lbs. and anywhere in between.

So in my opinion,FWIW, it just is not enough transmission for the Cummins. But then again, Maybe I am just LUCKY :{

 

[krs]

Barbwire,

Looks like you won't be worrying about it with the new truck, but there are upgrades and there are other upgrades. If you keep the '99 you might get a hold of Dan at http://www.quad4x4.com/

He knows the thing in and out and has found that the dealer fix as well as most of the other quick fixes to the fifth gear issue don't work. He's got one that will. (other people also do what Dan does and I'm not related to or affiliated with him)

 

[barbwire]

Info

Hey KRS this is very good info. I will keep it in mind for future use. I get to Montana several times a year, ( one of the nicest places on the planet, I might add),so I might just stop in and visit them someday. Now that I have come to the end of warranty, there is no way that the dealer is going to fix this kids transmission again. Thanks & good talkin to ya. Barbwire

 

[WadePatton]

Avoid the 99/00 sixer's. They have little input shafts and require flywheel upgrade to do 13" clutch.



Six speeds can be notchy and the DC folks are quite fussy about what oil you run in them.



Also three or four hundred HP is the way to cover the gaps in a 5-speed.



That being said. I'd love my SIXer and could really use a 7th gear (second OD).



Drive the 5 speed first, because after you get used to a 6-- the 5 feels like a broom handle in a bucket of ice cubes.

 

[MO'Donnell]

Originally posted by PLaFrombois

I think I fell in love with the 6-speed. I found a used 03 3500, 23,000 miles with a 6-speed today and took it for a drive. I just need to justify the purchase. They're asking $37,500, and will give me $20,000 on trade for my '99. I can say I'm a little bit tempted.

Paul

Paul, you're doomed! I can smell the smoke from here from the burning brain cells trying to figure the numbers out



I love my 03 6-speed. I drove a friend's 5 speed before I made my chioce, after that there was no choice - but I wouldn't mind a 7 speed either!



Let us know if Santa puts that 03 or the 01 in your driveway for Christmas!

 

[csevers]

Wade

I have one of those (99/00) 6spds with 111k miles some heavy towing and sled pulling and it still rows like a new finelly oil boat... . lol They are not the Perfect trans but I like my 6spd for towing , if I never towed or was stuck in a city all the time maybe a slush box would be better.



Craig

 

[BillGotthelf]

I have always said people with 5 speeds were always 1 short of a full deck anyway. I love my 6 speed (lots of heavy towing) and around town I only use 2-4-6 anyway, yea I know Dean you always start out in 1st gear, downhill, with a tailwind with your wife and neighbors pushing so you don't wear out the drivetrain. Hey crawl under the truck and look at the size of the 2 transmissions-that ought to tell you sometime right there. Oo.

 

[Big A]

Ok fellas,

I have to chime in here. I have a '01 with the 5spd and 3:55 rear end, and pull about 14000lb, in the Colorado Rockies. I'll have to say, that there are times when the 6spd would come in handy, but all in all, the truck has more than enough power to compensate for the gear spacing in the 5. I also believe that when pulling heavy loads, either the 5 or 6 will do fine as long as the truck is geared with 4:10s. IMHO, it's not so much the transmission that' s the issue, but the gearing. Both trannys are built for heavy use, and both trannys will fail if abused. If I have to do it over, I may go with 4:10s.

Big A

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Paul: Let me know if you need me to help look at trucks with you... .



If I can't buy a new(er) truck - I may as well help someone else.



Matt

 

[JAlford]

occasional towing - warrant 6spd?

This is a little off track, but:

I am seeing a pattern that if you are towing heavily/frequently that you may need the 6spd. But what about occasional towing? My '99 5spd lasted better than many, but I was gentle with it at low rpm. I tow a few times a year, and only have the PE-EZ power uprate. With 93,000 miles, I just had the 5th gear nut back off. However, this happened after a trip where I towed my 5th wheel (total combined wt. 16,500) from Cincinnati to Cheyenne and back, and had changed my setting on the PE_EZ to "3" (I have always run on "1" due to increased drivetrain noise on "3") to pull the grades at the higher elevations.



I did have a rude awakening when I pulled the trans out and found I was missing an entire tooth on the 5th gear. I had been expecting to have to replace the 5th gear nut for some time (I bought the fully splined mainshaft kit 2 yrs ago but never installed), but I am uneasy about finding the tooth missing. I would have just rebuilt the 5spd, but now am looking at the 6spd. conversion.



The conversion is $$$$ for $$$$ with adding an underdrive box to the output shaft, and would give 10spd performance. But if the trans is too weak to handle the load, for ANY towing, long term, it isn't the answer.



Anyone with similar experience?

 

[barbwire]

$$$$ for $$$$

JALford, I find this interesting. When my 5 sp went out , a few months ago, I was going to put a 6 sp in it's place, if there would'nt be too many dollars difference. As it turns out, it would have cost me about $2000 difference. One aspect is that the 6sp is longer than the 5sp, so you have to shorten the rear drive shaft, and lengthen the front drive shaft. This would have run me about $450. If that would have been the only difference, I would have definitely gone with the 6sp.

If you can put in the 6Sp at same price, I would recommend it. The tech. at Minot Chrysler told me that they are a better transmission.

Just my $. 02

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Isn't there two CTD versions of the NV5600? One has the smaller input shaft..... Is it '01-present that has the bigger shaft?



I'm unaware of any other major changes through the years.



Matt

 

[JAlford]

$$$$ for $$$$

The cost of adding an auxillary gearbox behind the transfer case vs conversion to a 6spd is close to a wash.



That is of course if you don't try to "bulletproof" the 5spd before you add the auxillary gearbox. To add all the upgrades to the 5spd cost almost as much as the 6spd conversion. After you have changed the input shaft to 1-3/8", changed the mainshaft to the fully splined unit with the 5th gear nut, added the cast iron tailshaft housing (for 4X4's), and put a serious clutch/flywheel in, you are running just below the cost of the conversion kit. But you still have a 5spd. Is this a good thing?



I have been gathering info and trying to sort out the best alternative for a few weeks. I tried to find a 6spd with the 3. 55:1 axle to drive to see what difference there was, but none found thus far. In the meantime, the truck is collecting a layer of dust in the garage. :{ The wife is giving me looks of evil, too, since I have kicked her Mercedes out of the garage in the middle of winter in Ohio, while I do the work. :--)

 

[HoleshotHolset]

JAlford said: "The wife is giving me looks of evil, too, since I have kicked her Mercedes out of the garage in the middle of winter in Ohio, while I do the work. "



Capitalize on that! Now's the time to put an additon on the garage. You know how much easier it would be if you had 15' ceilings and a lift?! If the garage had heat and A/C... her Merc would be cozy year 'round...



Matt