auto versus 6 speed

[thejeepdude]

I have read this thread and I would like to know just for the sake of understanding what kind of solution you had in mind.

Many of the transmission companies could answer those questions for you, and it would be a good idea to call and talk to them all and make your decision based on their answers to your questions that matter most. You can see in my sig who I plan to chose, for similar reasons to yours... lock up is more efficient, and EB would be nice, and basically I just like the idea of something as reliable and solid carry me into the remote places I like to travel sometimes. There are others companies that offer shift controllers that can do this as well. I would suggest doing a search for auto transmission threads and going from there. Or, the words "DTT ATS" will give you plenty of hits to start your research.

 

[jimk]

I have talked to the companys that you suggest an I wont more than 4 gears. Or to have 4 gears and 3 when towing. I thought that perhaps there was a 5 or 6 speed automatic that I have not heard about that had good gear splits. Thanks any way Jim

 

[Jeremiah]

Keeping it clean

I stick my nose in this conversation one more time. Be nice, gentlemen. This thread has been quite informative to a number of readers. Unfortunately, the personal shots you are taking detract from your otherwise extensive knowledge of what you're talking about. Don't :-{} . Instead,

 

[Gbrady]

I had some concerns about getting the six speed because of the terrible traffic in and around Houston. I have to say I have been quite pleased. It has been great to tow with and the hydraulic clutch makes pushing the peddle very easy and smooth. The gears are spaced well and it minimizes shifting in heavy traffic. It has not been a problem. I will be buying a six speed on my next truck too.



Best regards,

Gary

 

[JStraw]

After still continuing to read all the inputs posted here, I'd say that the major concern of the auto is the TC, and if upgraded, can make for a great transmission . But, on the same note, isn't the clutch on the manuals the same weak link? Aren't manual owners upgrading there clutch assembly to achieve better performance? Don't lie to me, I already know that they have



Anyhow, I think this tread has been knit picked to death.

 

[Jeremiah]

6-speed

I had some concerns about getting the six speed because of the terrible traffic in and around Houston. I have to say I have been quite pleased. It has been great to tow with and the hydraulic clutch makes pushing the peddle very easy and smooth. The gears are spaced well and it minimizes shifting in heavy traffic. It has not been a problem. I will be buying a six speed on my next truck too.



Best regards,

Gary

And if you want still better spacing between gears, get the BD short-shifter which shortens the "throw" by 30 percent. Well worth the few bucks it costs.

 

[Archive]

A clutch disk and pressure plate upgrade is much cheaper than a specialty high performance TC, plus other upgrades to other parts of the auto. I upgraded my clutch at 50,000 (double over + fuel plate = slippage) but based on the wear, it would have made it to 100,000. Even the stock clutches are damn fine units within their designed capabilities.

 

[RustyJC]

But, on the same note, isn't the clutch on the manuals the same weak link? Aren't manual owners upgrading there clutch assembly to achieve better performance?

Generally, clutch upgrades are only required on moderately to heavily bombed engines. My stock clutch held up fine towing a previous 13,500 lb 5th wheel even running an Edge EZ. It only slipped when the DD2 injectors went in, but in that configuration, torque is up to 762 lb-ft at the rear wheels. In went the SBC Con OFE - no more slippage.



Rusty

 

[BRayls]

I dont agree with the auto being quicker off the line in a drag. longbed stick,beat short bed auto from 0- 70 mph only getting pulled on when shifting. the only time I feel the auto was quicker was while swapping gears. stick did not have b-d kit in,I bet that would make a differance. both trucks making very similar hp and trq.

 

[Jeremiah]

I dont agree with the auto being quicker off the line in a drag. longbed stick,beat short bed auto from 0- 70 mph only getting pulled on when shifting. the only time I feel the auto was quicker was while swapping gears. stick did not have b-d kit in,I bet that would make a differance. both trucks making very similar hp and trq.

As a general rule, the auto is quicker until you hit top gear, then it's a toss-up with the 6-speed probably being faster. The 6-speed is also faster if both vehicles are pedal-to-the-metal beginning in 3rd at, say, 40 mph. But from the git-go green light, the fellers who know about these things run autos.



I also have the BD short-shifter. It's a lot more convenient and shortens the throw, but not sure it shaves much time off the rowing. OTOH, I think too much of my truck to drag race it, so what do I know?

 

[Russknh]

Well all I could hope for is the gentleman with all of the torque converter experience making some major improvements to make our 48's work as good as he says they will, I had one in a drw 3500 with 3:73's that would go into full stall just trying to back over a curb to hook up to my jeep trailer. I took it back to the dealer several times and they found nothing wrong with it. I was allowed to bring two other third gen trucks up to the house and they could not back over the curb either. I have a friend who lives in Elzabeth CO that had the exact same problem even in low range but this time it was a little snow piled up in front of the tires, he had to go get an old Ford with a worn out gas motor and a granny gear to pull his truck out???

 

[BRayls]

I guess I will tell all the pro stocks at the nationals today they should be running a tc to be faster, . personal choice,but I will dig up some et slips from the auto and stick to show that its not a givin. both trucks modded exactly the same one is lighter and auto. et racers like consistancy of autos. guys that are really fast run clutches,watch espn @ 1 et for first round and see.

 

[Jeremiah]

Well all I could hope for is the gentleman with all of the torque converter experience making some major improvements to make our 48's work as good as he says they will, I had one in a drw 3500 with 3:73's that would go into full stall just trying to back over a curb to hook up to my jeep trailer. I took it back to the dealer several times and they found nothing wrong with it. I was allowed to bring two other third gen trucks up to the house and they could not back over the curb either. I have a friend who lives in Elzabeth CO that had the exact same problem even in low range but this time it was a little snow piled up in front of the tires, he had to go get an old Ford with a worn out gas motor and a granny gear to pull his truck out???

I have definitely heard that about the older automatics, and also that they wouldn't pull a trailer up a hill from a standstill. Owners said they had to make sure they were headed DOWN a hill before parking it.



That reminds me of a corporate jet I saw in New Orleans once. The pilot forgot to remove his wheel chocks and no matter how much he poured the coal to it, it wouldn't move. Needless to say, his face was red as he lowered the airstair door and pulled the chocks from in front of his wheels.

 

[hasselbach]

I dont agree with the auto being quicker off the line in a drag. longbed stick,beat short bed auto from 0- 70 mph only getting pulled on when shifting. the only time I feel the auto was quicker was while swapping gears. stick did not have b-d kit in,I bet that would make a differance. both trucks making very similar hp and trq.

Are you sure that the guy in the AUTO truck knew that you were racing him? :-laf





Went to LACR over the weekend again to base line my truck for the BETA testing I'm doing for the new EDGE attitude box. Took my brothers truck too (exact same 04. 5 model, except his is a 6-speed). My truck was 1/2 second faster stock than his truck, regardless of the person driving. We tried launching in 1st and 2nd, with no difference.



This new attitude box is very nice btw. . When released, there is going to be a lot of faster trucks on the highway.

 

[hasselbach]

I guess I will tell all the pro stocks at the nationals today they should be running a tc to be faster, . personal choice,but I will dig up some et slips from the auto and stick to show that its not a givin. both trucks modded exactly the same one is lighter and auto. et racers like consistancy of autos. guys that are really fast run clutches,watch espn @ 1 et for first round and see.

Looking at my NHRA 2004 rule book, and I note that automatic transmissions with TC are not legal for use in Pro Stock. And, did you note that the LENCO transmissions all use planetary gears similar to the automatic?



Plus, pro stocks all launch at about 10,000 rpm, with very sophisticated multiple lock up clutches, and make their runs with rpms within a 1000 rpm range. A little different than your truck pulling a fifth wheel or horses, wouldn't you say?

 

[Russknh]

The problem is all of these trucks were the new 48 trans and mine was a 555 I smuggled into the great state of Kalifornicate

 

[BRayls]

I did not note the planitary set-up,because tc was the reason the autos were to be faster. yes the auto was racing,the 6spd. what were the 60 foot times on the runs you had?that is what tells the story on which is quicker off the line. I can just post pics of slips from my testing,I tune both trucks so I really don't care which wins. heck I got mine to tow .

 

[BRayls]

if I was racing I would opt for the auto as well. but not because its faster off the line.

 

[Jeremiah]

if I was racing I would opt for the auto as well. but not because its faster off the line.

Mr. Rayls, don't take this the wrong way but your messages would be a lot easier to read if you would put a space between your sentences and capitalize the first letter of the first word in the paragraph. Thanks!

 

[hasselbach]

Mr. Rayls, don't take this the wrong way but your messages would be a lot easier to read if you would put a space between your sentences and capitalize the first letter of the first word in the paragraph. Thanks!

iagreeewithjeremiah,hardtoreadwithoutthespacesandcaps.