Wondering on 6spd +

[CTM]

I was wondering about a couple of things some of you could answer about my '99. First i was wondering why i keep seeing owners with '99 trucks say that they have the 5spd trans and not the 6spd that every one is wishing for? Also i maybe wrong but i think i read in a post that you got the h. o. with the 6spd or you could only get the h. o. if you ordered the 6spd. Like i said im a little fuzzy on the h. o. thing. My truck is a 2500HD 4x4 with the 6spd and the sticker says the 235hp/460tq engine. The production date was 6/99. Did i get lucky or is there something i dont know. I just figured i got one of the first production unit to start coming out? The second question was on the aftermarket rims some are running. I am looking to go with something like or comparable to a 33-12. 5-16 on a 10" rim but i dont want them to stick to far out and look like some of these lowrider cars you see running around. What kind of offset/backspacing would you recommend on this? And last what about speedo recal after changing tires? I know this is long and i appreciate yalls time and feedback.

 

[DarrellB]

Earlly 99's

CTM, my 99 is a 5spd and when I ordered it you could not get the 6spd, so I think since mine was one of the first 99 that the 6spd came out a little latter. I do know that the manual that came with my truck does have the 6spd transmission in it.



As far as the HO's I don't think they started that till 2001 or 2000 not really sure, someone else might know.



The question about the rims, I have 33x12. 5x16. 5 BFG Mts on weld roadhawk wheels(they are 16. 5x9. 75) and weld will not let you change the offset at all if your putting them on a V10 or a diesel. They do this to hold the extra waight of a truck that will tow heavy loads. I don't now about other after market wheels they may let you change the offset.



Hope I helped.

Big D

 

[Alan Reagan]

I bought my HO in May 2000 but the truck is a 2001. You could get the 6 speed prior to that with the ETC engine.

 

[jjdiesel]

'99 6spd.

There was a brief window when the 6 spds were available with the ETC... did'nt last long, there are only a few out there. Most were bought before June of '99... after that it was ETH only. You've got a rare truck!

 

[John Berger]

The six speed was available in 1999, but they were awfully hard to come by. If I remember correctly, there was a problem with them on the production end, but that's all I know. I got my truck in January 1999 and came real close to getting the six speed. No regrets really. I would be the owner of a rare truck, as the previous post mentioned. How has the performance been with that transmission in your truck?

 

[Sixspeed]

Just to change the subjuct a little. This guy that I work with has a 2001 2500 LWB with the HO engine and auto trans how rare is this combo. I thought the HO only came with the 6spd.

 

[BK]

John and JJ are right...



There was a real brief window you could order a 6 speed and actually get one instead of a 5 spd. There wasnt any special engine option, it was the normal standard transmission engine. The HO wasn't out yet.



There was an issue of production capacity on the line that was making the 6 speed and untill it was known whether or not it would fly as an option, they didnt want to committe capacity to the manufacturing of it. When I asked around about it, none of my area dealers even knew it was an option.



You got lucky to get one of the 6spd, rare,,, but the engine is the basic manual transmission rated engine, sorry.



I never heard of any problems with that transmission and you got a bit of a rare truck...



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Bob

 

[Wiz]

Check my signature, as I have one of the early HO 6-speeds. I had a 2000 ordered, but they only came with the ETC. When I heard the ETH would be out in the 2001 models, which would be early in 2000, I had the dealer cancel my order, and re-order a 2001. Worked out perfectly !

 

[BK]

Originally posted by Sixspeed

Just to change the subjuct a little. This guy that I work with has a 2001 2500 LWB with the HO engine and auto trans how rare is this combo. I thought the HO only came with the 6spd.

It's probably not a true HO ETH.

My guess what he thinks is the HO is. . what they did

through some programing tricks and controlling the torque/hp during shifts, they were able to up the basic ratings of the auto engine to that near of the standard manual ratings, but not that of the HO.





Wiz ... for you we do the dance of Joy... .

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For me,,, well I wanted a stick, but yet to get my wife to agree to get the new truck, she wanted to be able to drive it , so she insisted we buy an auto... not that it's bad... but the killer is, she's too afriad to drive it now and doesn't and won't. . too big, too much power...

So for me... .

#ad




... . Post warranty = DTT



On one hand, I got my Cummins with the boss's permission, on the other. . well, the auto is no where as bad as rumored back then.



Bob

 

[ReggieRam]

ETC 6 speed

I have the ETC 6 speed in a 2000 duallie, and from what I understand, there are some distinct advantages to that rare setup, while there are a couple of disadvantages.



The advantages being: From what I hear, the ETC 6 speed comes with the same, heavier duty clutch that the 5 speeds came with, meaning that they are less likely to slip when BOMBs are made than the ETH's. I read all the time about people slipping the ETH clutch with mild mods like just an EZ box, while I'm able to run my PE Comp on level 5, driving like a drag racer, and still can't get my clutch to slip in the slightest. The other advantage that I've heard is that the ETC will get more hp and torque out of mods than an ETH, and are generally easier to BOMB (no hardlined boost elbow or wastegate for one reason).



The disadvantages that I've gathered are: The truck comes with less hp stock, 235 compared to 245 for the HO. I've also heard of, and experienced trans problems. I threw a bearing on 6th gear after only 30k miles, and needed a complete replacement after the dealer screwed around and tried to get me to replace only the sixth gear for weeks. It was a complete nightmare dealing with it, and if you have any problems like mine, go straight to the owner of the dealership right away and demand the full replacement or your truck will never be right. The problem is that it's a different transmission than the ETH has, and they're not easy to get ahold of. I hope this helps.



Chris

 

[MikeR]

As mentioned in the above posts,the 6spd was available in very short supply in '99,and very limited in '00.

The order window in '99 only lasted about 2-3 weeks and not too many dealers knew about it. I tried jumping on it,but just missed it. There were only 1500 6spd trucks built for '99.

The '00 model year only lasted 5 months(aug-dec),and I remember reading a sales report that said there were about 7000 6spd trucks built for '00. The 6spd kept being put on restriction.



The '99 and '00 manual trans trucks were all 235/460 engines. The HO 245/505 was introduced in the '01 trucks.



As far as the trans goes... the '99 and '00 6spd has the same (small) input shaft as the 5spd,so it uses the same clutch. The 6spd in the HO has a bigger input shaft and different clutch.



-Mike

 

[MikeR]

Hey Sixspeed,

I don't believe your co-worker. Next time you see his truck,open the hood and read the hp rating of the engine data plate. It's mounted on the side of the timing gear housing just below the top radiator hose.

 

[RAMalama]

My ETH/DEE has the input shaft end play problem. It makes a faint rumbling-grinding noise only at real slow speeds in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears. It's going into the dealer for a tear down. Who knows how long they'll have it. The interesting thing is, they know of the end play problem. They're acting like they've seen it before. They have a computer email sys directly into what they call "Star". I'm sure it's DC. Sure blows for me though.

 

[FDziurda]

99' 6-Spped

There was a 2-week interval in January 1999 where you could order a 6-Speed Manual with and ETC (235hp/460lb-ft) engine. I believe the 6-Speed transmission was a $168 option! There was a few of us that managed to be lucky enough to get one of these rare trucks. I have heard the initial production run consisted of 1,000-1,500 trucks. The truck I ordered took 6 months to finally arrive and it has been excellent. I now have ~ 40K miles on it.



From what I have read, the "early" 6-speeds have a smaller input shaft and clutch disk, (same as a 5-Speed) and the H. O. engine was not yet available.



FDz

 

[Wiz]

BK,

Thanks for the HAPPY FACES DANCE OF JOY ! !

 

[BK]

Wiz,

'welcome. .



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Bob

 

[GFoley]

About the wheels

Everyone addressed your transmission so I add my $. 02 on the rest of your question.

I bought a set of Eagle Alloy 16x8 and got the BFG 255/85/16 MTs mounted and balanced. I bought the whole package from 4 Wheel Parts in CA. Excellent package deal that included center caps, mount/balancing, valves, lugs, and shipping to my door.

The 255s measure 32. 75 inches tall when installed and on the truck. The wheels have a rated capacity of 3,400#. Although the tires are LR D, they are rated at 3,000# at 60PSI. My BFG 245/75/16 ATs are LR E, rated for 3,040 at 80 PSI.

This whole set up is MAYBE 1/2" beyond the fenderwell. I also bought flares because I thought I was gonna be way out there, but they aren't necessary and I didn't put them on yet.

Glenn

 

[jjdiesel]

Mine was just like Frank's... . ordered in Jan. '99, picked-up in June. Hey Frank, I just turned 40k too! Guess we're following each other around! My truck has been perfect, not a single problem. I did change the clutch out at 30k because I was slippin' it pretty bad with my mods. The O. E. M. clutch was perfect when we took it out... . kinda a waste but, oh well. The replacement is a South Bend and it is perfect! Same pedal-pressure, smoother than stock really, and zero slippage!, I like that. This 6spd shifts smooth as silk from day one. Glad yours is good too Frank!

 

[THancock]

From what I've been reading, there are two 6 speeds available. They say the heavy duty one is the one with the PTO option. Is there any truth to any of this?

 

[CTM]

I just want to say a big thanks to all on the feedback on my '99 6spd +wheels question!!! It makes me feel that the day i traded in my '96 chevy crewcab was even a better day than than i thought. The chev was giving inj. pump problems and after the dealer fixed it under warrenty it messed up again pulling off the parking lot right after they fixed it. Basicly i said screw this im buying a dodge and drove right over to the dealer from chevy. He had 2 identical trucks with the 6spd so all i did was pick the color and drove the thing home. (the look on the wifes face was priceless when i pulled up with it and not the chevy. )Anyway i dont drive it much since i have a company truck but when i do its pulling a 20ft dovetail loaded with 4wheelers or my tractor w/attch. I must say that it pulls like theres hardly a load on it even up the back twisty roads between between nashville+knoxville tn. and the trans it the best since sliced white bread . Anyway thanks again for yalls imput!!!