2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Hypothetical question

[ACoyle]

Baseline Considerations:



1) I have a '99 3500 Auto that I have "Configured" the way I

want it.

2) Only thing that I would think of changing is to have a stick

instead of an Auto.



Question One - Change Stick to Auto or change truck and "Reequip"



Question Two - Why do you feel that way.



Thank You

Andy

 

[redramnc]

Considered same option when my auto started to go. Bottom line is that you just about need a whole truck for donor parts to swap everything over. I found it would be cheaper to sell auto after stripping all of the goodies off and buy stick truck and put goodies back on it.



In the long run it is cheaper to put the money into a DTT/ATS/Goerend/etc. trans than to swap over.



Of course, if the donor is cheap enough and you do the work yourself... ...



JM2CW

 

[BV]

What about value

What happens to re-sell value - Personally I would not pay as much for this kind of conversion compared to the factory installed transmission.



Reason being is that HP rating is higher for the stick in 99 and the rear end in 80 instead of 70 for the auto. Unless you swap those out also.

 

[emjay]

The problem there is that your VIN indicates auto trans. A dealer or private party might look upon such a modification as a good reason to low-ball the value, whether or not is was done right. The fact that the axle is different (are you sure about that?) is enough for one to look upon it as problem waiting to happen. Ask yourself, if you were looking for a manual trans truck, what would you think about buying a converted auto?



Keep in mind that you would have to swap out the auto PCM for a manual one, or find a magic box to fake out the PCM (none exist that I know of. )



Putting in a DTT/ATS or whatever trans would increase the resale value in my mind, besides you don't have to shift all the time, or stand on the clutch in heavy traffic.

 

[WKener]

What exactly do you mean by "re-equip?" Are these items that can be just taken off the old truck and put on a new one?



Regardless of the goodies you have on your current truck, I still think the headache of converting your auto to a stick is not worth the job, and you should instead just look around for a comparably equipped manual. All of the reasons pointed out so far would be good enough for me to just sell and repurchase.

 

[Ben Rumson]

I questioned the same thing...

and went with a DTT Auto. I loave it and it drives MUCH better than stock. holds the gears tighter on accelleration and decelleration both - not at all "sloppy" and "sluggish" like my stock auto was.



To be honest, after driving it, I'm glad I didn't go stick and all the mess (new pedals, stick, boot, fly wheel, etc) with everything involved in the conversion. The trans drives so well, I'm not left wanting a stick. I was looking towards the stick for more control and less sloppy shifting and I DID get this with the new auto.



PM me for details on my current setup if you'd like more info.



Good luck making up you mind.