Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) sled pulling+truck abuse/ manual vs. auto

[RRWilliams]

New guy here from wisconsin and am about to get my second diesel pickup, first was a 6. 2 chevy, my 2nd is going to be an 01' 5-speed cummins. My family does a lot of tractor pulling at all the local events. They havnt paid much attention to truck pulling, i on the other hand have friends that do some of the stock/off the street pulling, and i got a chance to see 3 dhra trucks pull at a fair. UNBELIEVEBLE. I plan on runnin my truck in the stock class pulling, just wondern when it comes down to it, what abuses the truck more when pulling, manual or auto, ex. manual-one gear down the track while pinning the rpm's, auto-does all the shifting for you and is smoother(maybe),

?maybe there isnt much of a difference? I gotta say i love the sight and any help would be much appreciated. THANKS.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Well when it comes down to it here's the base root princeipals.



Manual:

5spd = $1700(retail) for REQUIRED dual disk clutch to sled pull.

5spd also requires the larger 1 & 3/8" input shaft. $800 (retail)

(I checked just the other week and there was about 5 DD's in the TDR classifieds! )



Auto:

Take your choice of builders DTT, ATS, or Goerend Bros.



Either of which with full Billet (really needed for pulling) will run you around $5,000. Plus you need to go ahead and install a billet flywheel so you don't have to replace you stock one later. Just ask Graphic man :-laf he hasn't done any playing drag strip or pulling track and he just had to put one in.



That about sums it up.

 

[RPA]

I have a full built automatic by Goerend Brothers and love it. You are correct that the launch seems to be smoother when sled pulling plus you can grab different gears if need be. This plus my transmission shifts better now than the stock ever thought about shifting.



The upfront cost of building the automatic is more but in my opinion the all around drivability and performance is worth it.

 

[RRWilliams]

thanks for the tip, its much appreciated