your impressionon G56 transmission

[ILIANBG]

I am trying to learn more about the G56 transmission. How do you like it? How has it been so far-any issues? How's shifting compared to the NV5600? I am thinking about a 3-Gen. truck and I want to find out how are manual transmission holding up on your trucks. I would be looking for a used one so both manual trannies are an option. All opinions are welcome.

 

[Regcabguy]

G-56

I am trying to learn more about the G56 transmission. How do you like it? How has it been so far-any issues? How's shifting compared to the NV5600? I am thinking about a 3-Gen. truck and I want to find out how are manual transmission holding up on your trucks. I would be looking for a used one so both manual trannies are an option. All opinions are welcome.

Very timely question as I've ordered an '07 with the G-56. I know a good D/C tech. who can vouch for the durability of these trannies,considering they've only been out for awhile. They're supposed to shift great. Power upgrades are going to take its toll on the clutch,like the NV5600. NV is out of business but rebuilts are available. I can't imagine with all the NV 4500-5600's out there,why they went completely kaput. Seems like the rebuild and service demand would have fueled them for many years to come.

 

[ILIANBG]

Hi Bob, nice to hear from you. Last we met at Avi's house in Manifee. Congrats on ordering the 07 (6. 7l right?). I hope the G56 is a stout unit. It had a really good review in the TDR mag. I hope to hear more about owner's experience.

 

[Regcabguy]

6.7?

Hi Bob, nice to hear from you. Last we met at Avi's house in Manifee. Congrats on ordering the 07 (6. 7l right?). I hope the G56 is a stout unit. It had a really good review in the TDR mag. I hope to hear more about owner's experience.

P. M. time.

 

[JStrasser]

I am trying to learn more about the G56 transmission. How do you like it? How has it been so far-any issues? How's shifting compared to the NV5600? I am thinking about a 3-Gen. truck and I want to find out how are manual transmission holding up on your trucks. I would be looking for a used one so both manual trannies are an option. All opinions are welcome.

G56 non-towing it is geared too low- daily driving feels like it needs another gear above 6th. Towing heavy is probably best for this transmission.



Knowing how this truck is geared, since I wanted an '06 before the emissions change- I would have gone for the auto. Maybe the NV5600 is geared better.

 

[klenger]

The G56 may be a better choice given the very limited availability of NV5600 spares and parts. If my NV5600 ever self-destructed, I'd take a G56 as a warranty replacement. I had 4. 10's on my 2001. 5 truck with an NV5600, and I like it for towing. Since I almost never drive empty on the freeway for more than a few miles at a time, the higher revs don't bother me all that much.

 

[rubberneck]

So far so good, here is my take. I have a 2001 with 3. 54 and 33" tires and nv5600. and the 06 with g56. The g56 shifts nicer, is quiet, and seems to be all around great. Tows like a beast, and i agree a 7th speed would be nice when empty. HOWEVER, I have said the same thing about my 01 ever since i got it. Bottom line is the cummins puts out so much sweet spot torque, i dont think it will ever feel like it has enough gear empty. The 06 is so quiet, and it seems more than content to spin the rpms a little higher that i dont pay it any attention. I drive whatever speed i want and ignore the tach. Seems to works just fine. I would never settle for an automatic over a few 100 rpm, but that is just me. I admit i was anxious about the new trans when buying the 06, but so far no worries, and its not like you have a choice anyway unless you are willing to buy a used nv5600 truck. You could go the slushbox route, but what fun would that be??

 

[Regcabguy]

3rd. gen

I test drove a'06 w/4:10's and auto which would be real close to G-56 and 3:73's. After driving my '99 all these years,the'06 even with low gearing seemed remarkably smooth and quiet.

 

[MMoroney]

If my NV5600 ever self-destructed, I'd take a G56 as a warranty replacement.

Is this a direct bolt-in? I'd sure like to know in case my NV-5600 ever grenades 1000 miles from home with no spare parts to be found.

 

[klenger]

I've heard it's been done as a warranty replacement, but not been confirmed. It seems that it should bolt up reasonably easily as it was a mid-year change and the rest of the truck didn't change.

 

[TAbbott]

So far so good, here is my take. I have a 2001 with 3. 54 and 33" tires and nv5600. and the 06 with g56. The g56 shifts nicer, is quiet, and seems to be all around great. Tows like a beast, and i agree a 7th speed would be nice when empty. HOWEVER, I have said the same thing about my 01 ever since i got it. Bottom line is the cummins puts out so much sweet spot torque, i dont think it will ever feel like it has enough gear empty. The 06 is so quiet, and it seems more than content to spin the rpms a little higher that i dont pay it any attention. I drive whatever speed i want and ignore the tach. Seems to works just fine. I would never settle for an automatic over a few 100 rpm, but that is just me. I admit i was anxious about the new trans when buying the 06, but so far no worries, and its not like you have a choice anyway unless you are willing to buy a used nv5600 truck. You could go the slushbox route, but what fun would that be??

Well, my 06 w/ a G56 and 3. 73's ran me nuts from being too low geared when empty. Solution for me was Rickson 19. 5's and 34. 5" rubber (265-70 R19. 5). Dropped the cruise rpm by about 200 rpms. Purrrrfect!

 

[TAbbott]

Forgot to mention, these tires / rims fit w/ NO lift and also had NO interference during some mild off-roading on an '06 2500 QC LB 4x4. Think its a good thing I have the Bilsteins, though, as stock shocks would never begin to handle the extra unsprung weight of this combination. Steel wheels rated at 5000 lbs and G-rated rubber w/ 5 steel belts in the tread rated for even more weight than that make for a pretty substantial package.

 

[rubberneck]

Well, my 06 w/ a G56 and 3. 73's ran me nuts from being too low geared when empty. Solution for me was Rickson 19. 5's and 34. 5" rubber (265-70 R19. 5). Dropped the cruise rpm by about 200 rpms. Purrrrfect!

Hey to each their own i guess. I am just used to driving my 01 beast which is nasty and loud. The 06 even spinning the r's is so much quieter i wont complain. Anytime i think it is a little loud all i have to do is start the 01 and viola 06 gets even quieter LOL :-laf

 

[CDonaldson]

I really like the g56, great when towing. Like everyone says, seems a little low when running empty, rpms a little high, and at the beginning I too was looking for 7th gear. The truck runs SO quiet, kept wondering if it WAS a diesel, and literally no transmission noise like the old trannys.



I decided to go to a bigger tire to decrease the rpm's a little. Highway speeds here in NM are 75mph, that gives you real poor fuel milage at the rpm's the engine is turning, just a little high-out of the sweet spot. Still an excellent tow beast with the 315's and the drop of 200+ rpms is nice too.



In the MegaCab they only put the 373's on the backside, not sure about any of the other body styles. I am VERY satisfied thus far with the g56.



CD

 

[Bernie]

If my NV5600 ever self-destructed, I'd take a G56 as a warranty replacement. I had 4. 10's on my 2001. 5 truck with an NV5600, and I like it for towing.

From what everyone tells me, the G56 with 3. 73s is about equal to the NV5600 with 4. 10s. The combination you describe above would be extremely low. DC will not sell the G56 with 4. 10s for that reason.



I have a G56, and I love it but it is a bit low. I never got to test drive a G56 truck, so I tested an auto and ordered my truck with a G56. When it arrived I thought they made a mistake and had put 4. 10s in it. I got the 3. 73s I ordered. The G56 is just low.



I just did a 5k mile round trip tow with a 11k lb trailer. No complaints about the G56 on that trip.



Around town and on the highway I do find myself trying to shift in to 7th gear every now and again.



It shifts nice. I have not noticed any gear noise. The only downside is it is a bit low, which runs the motor a little bit higher, and may use more fuel as a result. However I doubt the fuel savings will pay the upcharge for the auto (not to mention auto repair bills).

 

[Regcabguy]

G-56 gearing.

I carry an 1800# popup camper on my '99,24/7. I'll continue that tradition when my truck arrives. The gearing and maybe larger tires will work out pretty good I think. I understand with the hydroformed frame and more outward mounted springs that the new ones are more stable platforms. Lifting my '99 w/KORE setup didn't work for my '99. I think I'll just throw a set of Bilsteins on it and leave it stock height. It's gonna need a Smarty left on 30hp for some more poop though and to preserve the clutch. Stock clutch is supposed to handle mild power increases. We'll see! Sorry to digress. Mindless ramblings of an old guy.

 

[AKaiser]

I just got mine last week. It's an extremely sharp, one-owner (before moi ) bought used from the dealer who sold it new, like all of my previous trucks. It's geared for towing, and I'm trying to figure what tires to put on it to lower the RPMS. I'm leary about going to 315s, but I know 285s are not enough. My question about the 315s is do they cause any turning radius issues? My Dad had issues w/285s on his 95 BR1500 rubbing. Watch for pics to follow.

 

[Graphite 6]

I'm real happy with mine, others have said most of it before, when empty, seems geared a little low, and in Socal, you may be running up and down the gears in slow traffic,(think about that) I've had a load on her a half dozen times and it's just great, I agree that the final gear ratio could be a bit higher for hiway cruising, compared to the auto, which I had on an 04. 5 ( it broke) but I don't know if the fuel economy numbers will shake out all that different, seeing that a slush box robs somes economy, but the manual turns at a higher rpm, at say 70 mph. Hope this helps.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I was told no to a g56 swap under warranty. My 04. 5 with the nv5600 has been @ the dealership for 9 1/2 weeks now waiting for a new nv5600 transmission. I would not recomend a transmission that can't be repaired under warranty in a reasonable amount of time. If you are buying a truck off warranty then the nv5600 might be OK.

 

[AMink]

Can you put a Gear Vendors O/D behind the G56? That way you'd have the best of both worlds, low for tow and high for fly! I too noticed the low final gearing with the G56 when I was test driving before I got the auto. SwampDonkey, your story just plain stinks! I can't believe D/C can't come up with something after this long. I've followed the other thread. I didn't know NV went under. Like has been said, you have the patience of a saint!