Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Automatic or Manual

[hummincummins2]

i will start my long and hard search for the perfect, MINT, low mileage white (preferably) 2nd generation with 24valve cummins engine, 2500 dodge ram this coming spring.



my only question is automatic or stick? i just cannot decide. this question has been on my mind for a while now, and cannot pick between the two. thats were you guys come in. :-laf



i will be using the truck for street use only, and ocasionally taking it to the track, but not often im sure. i want to get the truck up to 400-500hp by my senior year of high school. Oo. so as much as it is going to be my daily driver it is going to be my pride and joy as well as my "project" so to speak. my uncle also has a truck and hes already ahead of me as of performance mods. so i guess you could say its a competition between me and him. :-laf his truck is also a manual and he loves it. i have asked him for his opinion on this topic and he said go manual if your comfortable with it. but then again auto is easier, down to Drive and go.



please help guys, i would really apreciate it.



thanks

 

[darkhorse]

In my opinion, the manual is the way to go for towing but for racing I think you are ahead with an automatic, but not a stock one. At the power level you're talking you will need to spend some bucks & I'd spend them with Dave Gorend.

 

[Cummins724]

Manual transmission costs you a $1700 dual disc clutch & a $500 input shaft. Automatics cost that much for a torque converter alone & bulletproof trannys can cost $4000. or more. I'd go manual unless you want to drag race it daily.

 

[GCroyle]

I'm biased.



I enjoy hearing the Cummins rev up in short bursts, the interaction of driver to machine, simpler repairs, have not heard of too much upgrading of the NV4500 or NV5600 short of installing an 1 3/8" input on the NV4500. I know an auto is quicker shifting. My Son has a '97 5 speed, he rows it proudly.



Good luck with your search for the right truck.

 

[Grizzly]

I personally prefer a stick shift. I like going through the changes. Stick shift is always best for towing, IMO.

 

[RHestand]

IMO, the sound of a straight piped Cummins, going through the gears, is music to my ears. (It even rhymes?)

 

[SHovis]

Since you are looking for an older truck in 'mint' condition the reality may be that you end up buying the best truck you find with which ever transmission it happens to have in it. I was looking for an older truck with an auto, but when I found the right truck it had a standard. FWIW. Good luck in the hunt!

 

[DCreed]

If I could do it again... I'd look at 01,01. 5 trucks ONLY ,as the problems are less( KDP,inboard front disc,drums,weak VPs,rotten brass RAD. ) also have choice of 5-6spd stick. I'd look for a dana 80 LSD, leather int,etc.

 

[ctd8999]

Get a truck with an AUTOMATIC so you'll be able whoop your uncle !! Even if he's way ahead of you with his mods he'll never beat you. Thanks Steve B.

 

[Grizzly]

Get a truck with an AUTOMATIC so you'll be able whoop your uncle !! Even if he's way ahead of you with his mods he'll never beat you. Thanks Steve B.

I can't agree with you!

 

[LBARTLETT]

my son andm I both have 01's, his QC short bed 4X4 6-speed , mine QC dually 4X4 auto, both have FASS,'s, volant cool air boxes, his 5" straight exhaust, mine 4" flowmaster, both have 355's for gears, he has 5 stage edge comp, I have edge juice w/attitude, he's 24 and an Iraq vet, I'm 54 and a Viet vet, his edge set on 5 and my edge set on 3 and I can ick his butt which I feel is totally related to the automatic doing the shifting for the "old man", good luck with your search and I concur/recommend the 01's, I've owned every year since 89 through 04 except for an 03' and I went back to an 01'

 

[BWagnaar]

Depends on if you live in the city. My buddies and i do and i have an auto and 5 of my buddies have sticks and 4. 10s, going through town in traffic is a good work out. Thats probable the only time they complain about having a stick.

 

[hummincummins2]

thanks a bunch guys! i think im gonna go manual but i will keep automatic in the back of my head.

 

[MAllen1]

I have a 99 with a 5-speed and love it. I live in town but its a small town. I have a few mods that push somewhere around in the 250-275hp range through 3. 55 gears and 285/75-16s to the ground. the only mod i did to the trans. was put a centerforce clutch at 150000 miles. It has 225000 on it with no problems, towing trailers and all. As a note of advice--get an '01 or '02 w/a 6-speed. The 6-speed trucks came w/a stock 13" clutch vs. the 5-speed 12" clutch. I know it's not much, but, that extra inch means a lot when your adding more power and bigger tires!

 

[CNeubauer]

When I was truck shopping three years ago I found that most of the time the auto equipped trucks were priced enough cheaper that I figured I could buy an auto and put a Goerend transmission in it for about the same money as a 5 speed. If you can buy an auto for $3,000 less and you figure the manual is going to need another $2,200 to hold up to big power your going to be able to buy a full billet auto for about the same total price.

 

[BTighe]

yeah but you still wont have enough gears to use to keep your motor in the sweet spot. i gave an auto truck a good honest 9 month try but decided id rather be shifting. i hated the autos gearing and when i added bigger tires, it was worse. the only thing that i would buy an auto for is racing and i dont do that so it made no sense to me. it was nice to just hit D and forget about it sometimes but i couldnt see spending that kind of cash on a built auto. when ive bought my trucks i havent let the sellers think their stick shifted truck were worth any more.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

After so long with a manual you will shift automatically. Not joking. I drove semi's for 16 years. You become so accustomed to shifting that in time you don't have to think about it, you just do it. My favorite was a 13 speed all on one stick. 9 places to put the stick and you had direct and overdrive in the top 4 stick positions which were air controlled by a thumb switch on the stick. The really old trucks had 2 sticks. They were no fun at all. For our trucks I would like to have a 9 speed which is the 13 without the overdrive and direct. It might be too large but it would be the ultimate for heavy work. You could keep your RPM at maximum torque no mater what your road speed.

 

[JKinney]

Heres a rig in our area, or these forums might lead you in a good direction

New England Turbo Diesel Power

 

[JesseJ]

I've only had manuals, so i suppose I'm a bit biased, but I would at least recommend if you go w/ a manual to get one w/ a 6-speed. I had a 5-speed and eventually ended up upgrading to a 6-speed. Bigger clutch, bigger everything inside the transmission. I agree w/ others, if you're going to be doing mostly racing I would have an auto as well, but I like rowing through the gears and listening to the exhaust rather than a more constant rpm you'd get w/ an auto. The only time a stick sucks is rush hour, stop-and-go traffic. That's the only time I hate a stick, and like someone else said, eventually you get so used to shifting that it becomes automatic and you don't even think about it anyways.

 

[hummincummins2]

yeah i love the sound of my uncle rowing through the gears when im in the truck with him.



the sound is way more satisfying then my dad's auto.