Trading my 06 Auto for 06 STD Trans

[BHenn]

Hello All,



I have been absent for a while from these forums. As a matter of fact, my membership expired and I just renewed today. I am in the first stages of contemplating a trade of my 2006 Auto Quad Cab 4x4 for the same year, model, only with STD trans. I honestly love the truck, but think the auto trans is not all that great. I really hate the way it shifts and hunts for a gear, and think it needs another gear for HWY driving. I think these engines have plenty of go to pull a taller gear at HWY speeds. I have not owned a standard trans truck for many years, but am thinking with a diesel maybe standard would be nice. I use my truck as just a daily driver, have never towed with it. I may buy a small trailer for my ATV within the next year, but have no plans to start towing any major loads. I don't even need a diesel truck, but just love having one and am not about to go back to a 1/2 ton gasser. Would this be an unwise trade? Do many auto owners trade for the 6-speed? I don't want to make a mistake, but I honestly hate this auto trans in the Dodge CTD.



Thanks,

Brent

 

[Motorhead]

I did the same thing but traded my '01. 5 with a built DTT auto for my '07, 5. 9 with the 6 speed.

ONE THING to contemplate is that the '06, 6spd has a much lower geared 6th than the auto's OD. The auto has a . 69 OD and 6th in the G56 is . 79. My '07 has the . 74 6th and it feels a little low to me but I came from having an automatic AND 3. 54 gears in my '01. 5.

I SWORE that I would NEVER buy a stick! I worked at UPS for 30 years and had my fill of shifting! BUT... . Never say Never!!
I LOVE mine!

 

[Ereynolds72]

If you feel the rpms at highway speeds are too high with the auto, then you will certainly not be happy with the standard. I'm pretty sure the '06 model year had the G56 with the 0. 79 OD ratio. That's pretty tall. Check Klenger.net and he's got a rpm calculator. I'd say the sweet spot is about 2,000 rpm. The G56 with 3. 73 axle ratio puts you at 2,200 rpm at 70 mph. If you want to drive 80, then you'll be doing 2500 rpm. The '07 and later model years have a 0. 74 OD gear which lowers the highway revs a little. Some guys put 35s on their truck and love it. It just depends on what you desire most. FWIW, I don't have one (YET) but it is said the G56 is a very smooth transmission. I'm sure others will chime in.

 

[Grizzly]

I love my 05 with a 6 speed manual trans. IMO I believe that Cummins and 6 speed are the best combination for towing.

 

[JJPage]

Why not just build your auto? I love mine. You know the history of your truck, never know for sure on a used one.

 

[DPKetchum]

Build or modify your auto! To heck with shifting.

 

[BHenn]

Build the auto, yes, but at what cost? Probably pushing $5k? I figure I could trade my 06 for another 06 for little, if any cash, going to a standard. I did think that the "overdrive" on the standard would provide a lower HWY RPM. I was wrong about that, but thanks for explaining it. Still, I think the rock solid standard, no hunting for a gear, no bog that I feel from the auto, would still drive better for my taste. I am thinking.....

 

[Regcabguy]

G-56

I owned a '99 w/DTT auto for seven years. I love this G-56 as I make the decisions when to shift. If I want to drive an auto,I hop in the Pilot.

 

[GDMRTN]

I'd agree, build the auto and to heck with the shifting. Auto shouldn't hunt for a gear anyway. Hit high gear/lockup and off ya go. Unless you're underpowerd and overgeared, then it'll hunt badly. Like my boss's 1500 gas truck.

 

[WMoroni]

I traded my 05 for my 07 to get an auto. I got tired of shifting. But then again my 05 was pretty wild and had a DD clutch witch was more annoying than helpful. Love my auto. Wouldn't even think of going back to a stick.

 

[cerberusiam]

Build the auto, yes, but at what cost? Probably pushing $5k? I figure I could trade my 06 for another 06 for little, if any cash, going to a standard. I did think that the "overdrive" on the standard would provide a lower HWY RPM. I was wrong about that, but thanks for explaining it. Still, I think the rock solid standard, no hunting for a gear, no bog that I feel from the auto, would still drive better for my taste. I am thinking.....

Let me shoot down a few more myths for you, you don't NEED to spend $5k to get a rock solid auto with the 48RE. A little VB work and a TC will suffice quite nicely.



The hunting for a gear is a relatively easy fix so don't let that throw you. A hundred dollars in parts will make a world of difference and if you want a little more power a relatively cheap box will help it shift that much better.



If your truck is truly bogging as you say, then there is another problem causing it. An auto will almost always spool faster than a manual so the bog is less. It will be worse with a manual unless you keep the rpm's and boost up.



As for rock solid, well, there is a little matter of the DMF. The trans is no problem but the DMF is another story. Even working correctly they just don't feel like the old manuals and they definitely make some different noises that cause questions.



If want a daily driver, don't tow much, and do a lot of city driving I think you will not like the manual so well. They are just not made for stop and go and really gotta like shifting to do that to yourself. With the shorter OD gear they just don't work as well at hiway speeds. If you can take 65 mph all day they are all right but expect a hit in mpg if you do much open road driving.





Keep the auto and address the issues that really bug you. I think you will be happier in the long run.

 

[robmints]

Brent,



I feel your pain. And have the same truck as you. But I feel like I got a pretty good one and would not want to roll the dice and get a problem child. So I'll stick with the auto until, if all goes well, 2016 when I get a new one and hand this one down. And in the mean time if this auto decides to give up the ghost I'll call Dave or Dusty and keep going. If you can't deal with your auto the way it is give one of the transmission guys a call and see what they say.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

ditto on the wrong overdrive ratio with the '06 manual, its way too high, 70mph will be over 2200rpm thats about 80mph with my 06 auto, I would have gotten the 6 speed myself if it wasn't for that stupid overdrive ratio they put in it, I think the '07s had a much better ratio. also you will likely loose a little when you sell and pay more when you buy. especially if you are using any kind of dealers, I say keep what you got, I like my auto pretty well what I do hate is how I get a 4th gear shift so fast, when I get over 45 mph I get 4th gear unless I am pretty hard into the gas, this causes the engine to lug and smoke running the smarty if I need to suddenly speed up, this is also something the DTT shift enhancer can't fix

 

[BHenn]

Alright, consider me sold, I will keep my auto and maybe start researching a possible trans upgrade. I do appreciate all the information and advice. I will do some searching for small-budget transmission upgrades.....



Thanks,

Brent

 

[JBonpua]

G56

I love to shift so naturally fell in love with my G56. However like many others already pointed out the G56 OD is too short and could use an extra gear. At least two or three times a week when driving my truck I find myself shifting from 6th to a higher gear and finds out I’m already at 6th. At my normal driving speed of 65 MPH it is turning @ about 2,100 RPM…a little high as I never tow anything with it. My fix was to install a 37” Goodyear GS-A which lowered the RPM to just 1,800 at 65 MPH. Go for the G56 but definitely change to at least a 35-37” tires. The G56 shifts almost as smooth as my New Beetle TDI.

 

[Okie-Go]

I have my third cummins now. The first was an auto, the last two were manual. does that tell you anything? I do drive in stop and go traffic on occassion. usually put it in first and can keep rolling most times.

 

[hearingyourlies]

Guess i'm different. Anyone wanna trade their 2006 manual for my 2006 Auto with 43k? LOL



It's the only thing i'd change about my truck (well, and maybe the color, damn black!).

 

[KennethS]

I traded my 04, 6 speet manual for 06 automatic

We travel a lot and I like for my wife to drive also. I do get tired and it helps that she will drive. The 6 speed she hated and got angry when I ask her to drive. I got a automatic and she loves it and I can live with the automatic now. Oo.

 

[JDiepstra]

BHenn, I just had the valve body in my truck replaced with one designed for towing. The part ( by HTS) was $395, plus $100 for installation at my mechanics shop. The difference in shift quality is amazing and well worth the money. I think the converter is also holding a little better because of it. With a new torque converter in the spring it will be like a new transmission considering I have mild mods and do mild towing as well. You are right, the trucks should have gone to a six speed auto for lower highway RPM's long ago but what can we do?

 

[RVTRKN]

If you feel the rpms at highway speeds are too high with the auto, then you will certainly not be happy with the standard. I'm pretty sure the '06 model year had the G56 with the 0. 79 OD ratio. That's pretty tall. Check Klenger.net and he's got a rpm calculator. I'd say the sweet spot is about 2,000 rpm. The G56 with 3. 73 axle ratio puts you at 2,200 rpm at 70 mph. If you want to drive 80, then you'll be doing 2500 rpm. The '07 and later model years have a 0. 74 OD gear which lowers the highway revs a little. Some guys put 35s on their truck and love it. It just depends on what you desire most. FWIW, I don't have one (YET) but it is said the G56 is a very smooth transmission. I'm sure others will chime in.

pics don't lie, sorry for the size but you can see the difference at 74MPH and 70MPH per the RPM. At 70 MPH with the G56 and 3:73 gears, the RPM is 2050 RPM, and at 74 MPH the RPM is 2200. The early G56 had different ratio's than the new G56 so there is a bit of miss information posted here on the subject. These are pics of my C&C traveling through Kansas.