New Getrag 6 speed transmission? Not what I've heard.

[Gary - K7GLD]

Looks to me as though the only way those ratios - especially the OD - would be most effective, is to continue the push to increase the operating RPM of the Cummins - or to move towards a V8 diesel design that functions efficiently at higher RPM...

 

[Tomeygun]

Well I have a question:



is MPG only determined by RPM's turned? Or throttle position also be a factor?



The . 79 would warrant less of a throttle position, right?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Fuel economy is based upon a combination of factors more involved in simple engine RPM - but my own past tests over-the-road with my truck, both towing and empty, show the effectiveness of the current OD ratios as employed on my '02 HO...



Personally, I value the efficient operation, long life and typical lower RPM operation of the Cummins inline 6, and really hate to see the ever upward spiral of engine RPM as EPA mandates engine design - eventually, the inline sixes will no longer be competitive in across-the-board operation for owners using their trucks in other than heavy use - just as occurred with gas powered rigs back in the 50's, when the V8's broader power curves eliminated the sixes in uses other than agricultural and 18 wheeler use where low-RPM power was/is still the name of the game...



Count on it, eventually, the EPA *will* kill the advantage of the inline 6 in medium duty diesel truck use!

 

[DKarvwnaris]

The picture of the G56 6 speed in Petersen's 4WHEEL shows the G56 a Top Loader. The bell housing and main case are one piece with the clutch slave unit mounted on the out side.

I am willing to bet that the g56 units across the pond are sideloaders, most all of the trucks over there are cabovers and have linkages going back to the transmission shifter instead of over it. I was looking at a few on our trip this past Oct to Munich to kill my liver at Ocktobrefest. Ended up drinking water with the onset of the flu. The trucks I was looking at were platforms for concrete pumping boom units. Both medium to heavy duty and cramped horribly in the cabs.

 

[Lonestar]

Rear End Ratio's???

Did anyone scroll down and notice the availability of the ratios in the 05's. Now its early for me, but I didn't see any 3. 73's, I did however see 3. 55's. Someone else take a look and tell me If I am seeing things or did we get the 3. 55 gears back.

Which would also offset the higher OD ratio in the new transmission



KEEP ON TRUCKIN'

Lonestar

 

[CJEliassen]

Some one needs to make a rear split axle with a 3. 21 and a 4. 11 ratio. The front axle could stay 4. 11 and when the vehicle is placed in 4 wheel drive, the rear axle automatically goes to 4. 11. I don't like the high RPMs and fuel consumption of the 3. 73 unloaded, and loaded I wish I had more RPM.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Someone else take a look and tell me If I am seeing things or did we get the 3. 55 gears back.

Which would also offset the higher OD ratio in the new transmission



KEEP ON TRUCKIN'

Lonestar

At least the Kraut boys at Daimler got something right. I was amazed they dropped them in the first place. One of the reasons I am holding onto my '96 for so long. So many drivetrain upgrades on the newer ones with no consideration to the real world effects. I can't count the # of Gear Vendor units I was installing as a result of the gearing options Diaper Chrysler cut out.

I don't understand their multiple experiments on these trucks anyways, they only needed to fix update the track bar on 2nd generations and add a full four doors and back seat room to satisfy the major complaints of the Ford and Chevy trade offs. (maybe a better 5th gear nut on the NV's).

With all the "upgrades", I am amazed they didn't just refit a Sprinter drivetrain into the pickups. I can't see the sheetmetal getting any thinner without having a tupperware representative burp the door and bedsides before handing you your keys.

 

[DPelletier]

At least the Kraut boys at Daimler got something right. I was amazed they dropped them in the first place. One of the reasons I am holding onto my '96 for so long. So many drivetrain upgrades on the newer ones with no consideration to the real world effects. I can't count the # of Gear Vendor units I was installing as a result of the gearing options Diaper Chrysler cut out.

I don't understand their multiple experiments on these trucks anyways, they only needed to fix update the track bar on 2nd generations and add a full four doors and back seat room to satisfy the major complaints of the Ford and Chevy trade offs. (maybe a better 5th gear nut on the NV's).

With all the "upgrades", I am amazed they didn't just refit a Sprinter drivetrain into the pickups. I can't see the sheetmetal getting any thinner without having a tupperware representative burp the door and bedsides before handing you your keys.

I like my 3. 73's much better than the 3. 55's in my '01. 5. It's a much better ratio for towing. How fast do you guys drive? I'm glad you like your 2nd gen, but if it had to compete with the latest from Ford and GM, DC would sell a lot less trucks than they do now. Of course, your truck wouldn't be able to be licenced anyways since it wouldn't meet Jan. '04 emissions regulations. DC must constantly refine its product in order to maintain or increase market share, meet the latest emissions and safety requirements, etc. and for the most part I think they are doing a great job. My '03 is a way better truck than my '01.



Dave

 

[DKarvwnaris]

I like my 3. 73's much better than the 3. 55's in my '01. 5. It's a much better ratio for towing. How fast do you guys drive? I'm glad you like your 2nd gen, but if it had to compete with the latest from Ford and GM, DC would sell a lot less trucks than they do now. Of course, your truck wouldn't be able to be licenced anyways since it wouldn't meet Jan. '04 emissions regulations. DC must constantly refine its product in order to maintain or increase market share, meet the latest emissions and safety requirements, etc. and for the most part I think they are doing a great job. My '03 is a way better truck than my '01.



Dave

I have had 4. 10's, 3. 73's. 3. 55's, and 3. 41's in various cummins powered trucks. I always like low gears for towing, but if its a heavy load, I usually just leave it in 4th. If I am backing up, I pull the transfer case into low range to take the stress of my clutch. 3. 55's are my preferred gear as I always end up installing a Gear Vendors in the others, or run 285 tires to gain tire rpm ratio like my current truck has.

Different owner have different needs, bottom line is give the customer as many choices as they need. Three gear ratio's is not that much for parts support to handle.

I usually maintain about 85 MPH empty, 60-65 MPH loaded

Emissions are hardly being adhered to by the typical diesel pickup owner since I have seen maybe a handful of trucks with no "performance upgrades" these days on them. The Fed's need to get off their high horse and leave the diesels alone, the more they lower their pipe outputs, the more the owners will put them out of the EPA limits to get the power they want anyways, which screws up the mileage data they so preciously suck up like a baby bottle.

Crash tests are great for passenger vehicles, but it's not the fault of the truck division industry that soccer mom's and horse hags choose to drive SUV's and trucks in the city. After all, trucks as a whole classification are not held to the same standard as cars etc. The main reason I stick with a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup instead of a medium duty hauler is price and insurance. Let's face it, no one needs a 1 ton truck to haul groceries and pick up the kids from school. I have a trailer beihind my rig over 70% of the time. I don't want crash tests standards put on trucks unless they are pushing for survivability of the truck. It seems more and more they are worried about the tin foil match box we're going to meet, rather than making the matchboxes worry about us. Make the cars more livable, don't weaken the trucks.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

By the way, we are planning to buy a new one this January, just hoping for the 04's to be left still. I may take a '05 off the lot if I can get the 3. 55's. I am not against the newer trucks, they just are getting too "GM like" for me hold to as long as I have had my 96. I'll most likely keep trading up every 2 years from now on and leave it unaccesorized.

 

[DPelletier]

Well, I guess the 85mph answers that question! I don't ever drive faster than 75mph empty and seldom exceed 70mph loaded. The 6spd with 3. 73's is a sweet set-up as far as I'm concerned, but maybe that's partly due to the fact that my truck is "unbombed" and likely to stay that way for quite a while yet. My 2001. 5 with its SO and 235/460 engine, 3. 55 gears and auto transmission with high overdrive was nowhere near the towing vehicle that the new one is.

Regardless of your stance on emissions controls, fact is DC and Cummins are forced to deal with them which necessitates design changes. Coupled with consumer demand for increased power and reduced NVH this creates some significant hurdles. I still think Cummins and DC are doing a good job. Are there things I would do differently or change? absolutely, but its still the best truck on the road as far as I'm concerned. GM Like? I dunno, still has a cast iron engine, head and transmission (NV5600, anyway), with no goofy dropped frame, independant front suspension or hideous sheet metal.



Dave

 

[Tomeygun]

I noticed that the "daily news" shows most of the 6-spds changing over in Febuary (like the ram1500, and dakota), but STILL no info on the ram HD change