It is getting about time to rebuild the transmission and upgrade the TC. I am looking at the cost and think that I may be better off to sell my truck and get either a five or six speed. I believe I can keep my payments close to what they are now if I can find a 2000 or 2001 manual truck. What differences have any of you fellas noticed between the five and six speed trucks? I don't tow but three or four times a year and it is always under six thousand pounds. I have an EZ on my 99 now. I like the current power level that I am at. I know the manual will give me a little more which would be nice also. I would like to keep from having to upgrade the clutch for a while. If I do get a manual would I be better to keep my EZ and put it on the manual truck or sell it and buy either some 275's or DD1 injectors? Sorry this is so long, I just want to hear what the present owners have to say about it. Any comments about any aspect of these trucks will be appreciated. Thanks guys.
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?'s for five and six speeders
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I've driven both the 5 and 6er, ( I have a 5er), and the 6 speed is great hauling or long interstate runs. Most guys on this forum agree with that. Around town, I'd hated the 6er. Too many gear and you could drive around town all day in 3rd gear.
My 5 speed does have a bit of a gap between 3&4, but at only 6000# you can get by with it.
As far as your mods, I have an EZ and DDIIs and I can't slip the clutch even when drag racing or hauling 10000#. Some guys can slip it with just injectors, no box. It depends on each truck.
If you can swing it, get your new truck, put in the mods you want with the idea that a SouthBend might be needed. I've seen a Con O for $525. You don't need the Con OFE or FE b/c you aren't going to pull that much hp. I'm lucky that my truck didn't need it, but yours might. I just might be prepared in case.
My 5 speed does have a bit of a gap between 3&4, but at only 6000# you can get by with it.
As far as your mods, I have an EZ and DDIIs and I can't slip the clutch even when drag racing or hauling 10000#. Some guys can slip it with just injectors, no box. It depends on each truck.
If you can swing it, get your new truck, put in the mods you want with the idea that a SouthBend might be needed. I've seen a Con O for $525. You don't need the Con OFE or FE b/c you aren't going to pull that much hp. I'm lucky that my truck didn't need it, but yours might. I just might be prepared in case.
Been there, done that
I had a '99 auto that I traded for an '01 6-speed. You need to ask yourself what you want to do with the truck. If you are into drag racing from stoplight to stoplight then build the auto, the stick shifts at the same power level won't be able to keep up in that short of a distance.
If you don't have issues with the truck then it's a hard call. I had steering wander and brake issues with my '99. The '01 steers and stops much better than the '99 ever did, so to me the trade made sense just to get back into a truck that didn't routinely scare me with random direction changes when I stepped on the brakes.
I had 275's in the '99 and the '01 is as strong stock as the '99 was with the injectors.
I don't believe that the EZ that fits the '99 will fit the new truck.
Somebody more knowledgable than I will have to advise you on the clutch issue. I'm pondering the same thing right now and it seems that the 6-speed clutch gets marginal very quickly with even the smallest power boost.
Good luck,
Mike
I had a '99 auto that I traded for an '01 6-speed. You need to ask yourself what you want to do with the truck. If you are into drag racing from stoplight to stoplight then build the auto, the stick shifts at the same power level won't be able to keep up in that short of a distance.
If you don't have issues with the truck then it's a hard call. I had steering wander and brake issues with my '99. The '01 steers and stops much better than the '99 ever did, so to me the trade made sense just to get back into a truck that didn't routinely scare me with random direction changes when I stepped on the brakes.
I had 275's in the '99 and the '01 is as strong stock as the '99 was with the injectors.
I don't believe that the EZ that fits the '99 will fit the new truck.
Somebody more knowledgable than I will have to advise you on the clutch issue. I'm pondering the same thing right now and it seems that the 6-speed clutch gets marginal very quickly with even the smallest power boost.
Good luck,
Mike
I am very happy with the truck I just always wonder how the auto is going to hold up in the long run. I have 77,000 on it now and the TC will shudder when lugged, which I am sure almost any truck will do. I just want piece of mind, or more piece of mind than I have currently. I am sure that the manual trans will have more longevity than the auto. That is what I am looking for. One thing I forgot to mention was, what gears would you guys recommend? I would be putting 285's on the truck regardless. I like the way they look and have been very pleased with them on my current truck. What rpm's would I be running at 70 mph with 3:54's and with 4:10's with the 285's?
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ditto on AZcummins, the six speed aka, "sick speed" is fantastic for towing or running in the hills but I dont like it for city driving. I love mine 95% of the time till I hit stop and go traffic.
The six speeds seem to have weak clutches compared to the 5 speeds.
The six speeds seem to have weak clutches compared to the 5 speeds.
Too bad your so far way from me, because if someone offered to buy my ETC/6spd right now, I'd let it go. If I keep it, then big changes will be made to it over the next 3 months. Just haven't made up my mind yet.
The 6spd is nice for towing, but that's it! I like to race my truck at the track and the 6spd sucks for that. So I'm considering dumping it and shopping for a 5spd truck, or building up a 5spd for mine.
The 6spd is nice for towing, but that's it! I like to race my truck at the track and the 6spd sucks for that. So I'm considering dumping it and shopping for a 5spd truck, or building up a 5spd for mine.
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I don't know why you guys hate the 6-speed so much at the track, I run 15. 50's with mine, and don't have that much power, a little more hp I'll be in the low 14's. Not to bad for "to many gears", I love my 6-speed, 45,000 miles a year, mostly local metro traffic, pullin' my work trailer, and zero complaints, 'cept I wish it had "more gears"!
Later, Rob
Later, Rob
love 6-speed
Couldn't agree more with Rob on this one. But, with 4. 10 gears and 36" tires (much larger than 285's) I still find myself looking for 7th gear. For that light of a trailer and some power upgrades, I think 3. 55's would do well for normal driving. Crawl under a couple of trucks and check the size of the 5 vs 6. I'm not saying either one doesn't have potential issues, but for me, I prefer the 6-speed. I had EZ and BD-1's with no clutch issues (for a short time and light trailering. ) Still have EZ with no problems.
Couldn't agree more with Rob on this one. But, with 4. 10 gears and 36" tires (much larger than 285's) I still find myself looking for 7th gear. For that light of a trailer and some power upgrades, I think 3. 55's would do well for normal driving. Crawl under a couple of trucks and check the size of the 5 vs 6. I'm not saying either one doesn't have potential issues, but for me, I prefer the 6-speed. I had EZ and BD-1's with no clutch issues (for a short time and light trailering. ) Still have EZ with no problems.
Yeah, where is that 7th gear?!
Same as you last two posters, I love my sixer. And I did reach for 7th the other day--but I used to look for sixth all the time with my phord 5-speed.
I don't do heavy city traffic. Rural town and occasional city clusterflusters.
Maybe if I had a mail route I'd use an auto, but until then I'll be mashin a clutch and stirrin em with a stick.
And clutch upgrades are soo much cheaper!
--well, I do the labor--
Oo.
Same as you last two posters, I love my sixer. And I did reach for 7th the other day--but I used to look for sixth all the time with my phord 5-speed.
I don't do heavy city traffic. Rural town and occasional city clusterflusters.
Maybe if I had a mail route I'd use an auto, but until then I'll be mashin a clutch and stirrin em with a stick.
And clutch upgrades are soo much cheaper!
--well, I do the labor--
Oo.
I've had 4. 10 for over 300,000 miles. Then I had 3. 54s for 100,000 miles. My choice is for 3. 54s with the 6 speed, plus an aux. overdrive like the gear vendor, then I can reach for seventh and hit it. 75 mph is about 1500 rpm (kinda a fast idle). I understand more shifting around town with a six speed rather than a 5 speed, but the six speed spacing is perfect.
The only reason to get the six speed is because you can't get a seven speed.
I traded a 2001. 5 5 speed for a 2001. 5 six speed (plus a few other options) and love the 6 speed. IMHO, if you are going to go to the trouble and expense to go from an auto to a manual, get the 6 speed. Even empty, the gear spacing is much better than a 5 speed driving around town. Also, the 6 speed is a much stronger transmission.
If you are buying new (I realize you are not, but just for comparision) the price diff. between the 5 speed and 6 speed is less than the cost of the fully splined shaft fix for the 5th gear nut problem.
I traded a 2001. 5 5 speed for a 2001. 5 six speed (plus a few other options) and love the 6 speed. IMHO, if you are going to go to the trouble and expense to go from an auto to a manual, get the 6 speed. Even empty, the gear spacing is much better than a 5 speed driving around town. Also, the 6 speed is a much stronger transmission.
If you are buying new (I realize you are not, but just for comparision) the price diff. between the 5 speed and 6 speed is less than the cost of the fully splined shaft fix for the 5th gear nut problem.
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I love my sixer also. I don't race it and pull three different trailers, and around town I see absolutely no problem. I only shift 4 gears(at most) in town and think you'ld shift 4 with a 5 speed too. I usually need only 3, but there are some faster streets that take 5th OK. I do have to be EZ with it with just an EZ in it, as it'll slip the clutch with the trailers out back. Must be one of those weak 6sp clutches I guess.
I have 3. 54s and flat love the thing for towing. Cruise all day in 6th at 1950rpm @ 70 mph and if and when a large hill shows up, 5th is still a great gear for 75mph. Try that with 4. 10s! Let's face it, most of us are empty much more than we are loaded, so why not be a bit easier on the engine and eak out a bit more mileage also. I'd get the 4. 10s if I was going to go up to real tall tires, but with the stockers 3. 54 is the way to go IMHO.
I have 3. 54s and flat love the thing for towing. Cruise all day in 6th at 1950rpm @ 70 mph and if and when a large hill shows up, 5th is still a great gear for 75mph. Try that with 4. 10s! Let's face it, most of us are empty much more than we are loaded, so why not be a bit easier on the engine and eak out a bit more mileage also. I'd get the 4. 10s if I was going to go up to real tall tires, but with the stockers 3. 54 is the way to go IMHO.
shifting is good
I have a 6-spd so of course I'm biased. I bought it on purpose because I like the control factor of a manual transmission. I like always having the right gear. I think I can forget about drag racing though and I frequently find 3rd gear hard to hit, small gate. At 9000 miles it's shifting smoother, never any of the grinding reported from owners of earlier model 6-speeds.
I think the shift pattern is kind of stupid, with Reverse way out in right field. Reverse should be top left and first at bottom left. Damned difficult to rock the rig back and forth when the 2 gears you need are the farthest apart. That and I'm usually dogleggin' from 2nd to 3rd right in the middle of the intersection. But that is the sum of my complaints about the 6-spd. I can't really compare to the 5-spd, only drove one once and didn't like the space between 3rd & 4th.
I think debates between stick and auto are pretty pointless. They're each great if it's what you prefer. If you're on the fence, get an auto, at least you could drive with a broken left leg!
Regards,
Neil
I have a 6-spd so of course I'm biased. I bought it on purpose because I like the control factor of a manual transmission. I like always having the right gear. I think I can forget about drag racing though and I frequently find 3rd gear hard to hit, small gate. At 9000 miles it's shifting smoother, never any of the grinding reported from owners of earlier model 6-speeds.
I think the shift pattern is kind of stupid, with Reverse way out in right field. Reverse should be top left and first at bottom left. Damned difficult to rock the rig back and forth when the 2 gears you need are the farthest apart. That and I'm usually dogleggin' from 2nd to 3rd right in the middle of the intersection. But that is the sum of my complaints about the 6-spd. I can't really compare to the 5-spd, only drove one once and didn't like the space between 3rd & 4th.
I think debates between stick and auto are pretty pointless. They're each great if it's what you prefer. If you're on the fence, get an auto, at least you could drive with a broken left leg!
Regards,
Neil
I had a '96 2500 4wd 5spd and now have a '00 2500 4wd 6spd. For towing my 36ft 5th wheel the 6spd has great gear splits but the shifting is down right crappy. It's not any better w/o the trailer attached. I have had a new 6spd installed under warranty w/o any discernable improvement in shifting. Around town the 6spd is no big deal - I'm used to manual transmissions so 5 vs 6 doesn't bother me.
My dad now has the '96 and he tows a 36ft 5th wheel as well. I've never towed the 5th wheel with the '96. He looked into the aux trans/gear splitter vs engine uprates to help with the gear splits while towing. Chuck at the Power Shop talked my dad into a Banks system instead of a gear splitter and my dad is very happy with the results. 'Gaps in the gears? What gaps?' When I was driving the '96 there was only one intersection on my way home from work that I would notice the gear split problem - that was only if I was the first car at the light when it turned green. If I was the second vehicle I had enough of a run to smoothly from 3rd to 4th at a 'normal' RPM.
On both trucks a 7th would be nice to cut the highway RPM - both trucks run 4. 10s with 33" tires.
IMO the 5spd is a much friendly trans for every day driving due the shifting characteristics. If you're only towing 6k you'll never need the 6spd since you are already planning on power upgrades.
Brian
My dad now has the '96 and he tows a 36ft 5th wheel as well. I've never towed the 5th wheel with the '96. He looked into the aux trans/gear splitter vs engine uprates to help with the gear splits while towing. Chuck at the Power Shop talked my dad into a Banks system instead of a gear splitter and my dad is very happy with the results. 'Gaps in the gears? What gaps?' When I was driving the '96 there was only one intersection on my way home from work that I would notice the gear split problem - that was only if I was the first car at the light when it turned green. If I was the second vehicle I had enough of a run to smoothly from 3rd to 4th at a 'normal' RPM.
On both trucks a 7th would be nice to cut the highway RPM - both trucks run 4. 10s with 33" tires.
IMO the 5spd is a much friendly trans for every day driving due the shifting characteristics. If you're only towing 6k you'll never need the 6spd since you are already planning on power upgrades.
Brian
Thanks for all the info fellas. This will really give me something to go on. I am gonna try and find a 5er and a 6er to drive so I can compare them first hand. I do know that I want the 3:54 gears from what you guys have said. Keep the info coming if you think of anything else.
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