Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Convert 4x4 Auto to Stick?

[ctdodgeram]

With my 15,000 lb trailer, 355 gears, and an auto, the 98. 5 truck is working real hard on the hills.



Anyone convert auto to stick? My auto was rebuilt 30k miles ago, with ATS converter, and works great, except for this trailer.



My 2003 2wd 6 sp pulls trailer great, but with SRW short bed, I'm asking for trouble. Not to mention, the Luk's clutch refuses to slip, and backing up is a *****. It'll shake your teeth loose.



Better yet, how about 98 4x4 and 03 2wd swap?



Let's see, tailshaft on NV5600 comes off. Will it bolt to 98 transfer case?



Pedals? Will they swap?



All I would need is a tailshaft for 48re to fit in my 03. Driveshaft bolt up?



Anyone do anything like this before?

 

[Valv]

I'd say find a wrecked truck and get all the parts.



I believe ECM or PCM have to be different too.

 

[Todd T]

With my 15,000 lb trailer, 355 gears, and an auto, the 98. 5 truck is working real hard on the hills.

what do you mean working hard? are you lugging it, is it not staying locked up and reving or what? you can tap the brake pedal to unlock it and get a few rpms when pulling a steep grade have you tried that. you can also set it up to not unlock and hold the power. first we'd need to know what you mean by working hard.

Anyone convert auto to stick? My auto was rebuilt 30k miles ago, with ATS converter, and works great, except for this trailer.

lots of people have converted them. its fairly easy to do and parts lists are on here and other sites. but please explain your gripes with the auto better first.

My 2003 2wd 6 sp pulls trailer great, but with SRW short bed, I'm asking for trouble. Not to mention, the Luk's clutch refuses to slip, and backing up is a *****. It'll shake your teeth loose.

with the right clutch you can pull anything you want and not slip it under load but still be able slip the crap out of it to back up without the lose of teeth. my DD works like a dream in all conditions. backing a 10k trailer or launching in third gear at the strip its smooth as silk.

 

[ctdodgeram]

What I mean by working hard is:

1) 355 Gears, 4 forward gears, 236x85x16's. When I get to a long ascending hill at 65 MPH, I'm slowly walk out of the powerband. Then she downshifts, and sometimes I blow the turbo-to-Aftercooler clamps off. Last time, I split the damn clamp in half. I run 35 PSI matted.

2) Taking off or stop & go traffic, transmission heats up pretty quickly, even with Mag Hyteck pan. When I get out of Lock-up, she revs right up to 2700 rpm's, with a little deceleration as I pull up the hill. Egt's seem to stay in check.



Long story short, my 2003 6 speed never gets me out of the pwerband, although it does has 373's and stock Michelins.



Maybe it would be easier to swap 355's for 410's, especially with a slightly taller tire? Maybe just swap front & rear ends?