Manual Tranny

GMracer · December 12, 2004

Well Im currently shopping for a truck, idealy I want a 99-02 chevy 1500 2wd shortbed regular cab black exterior black interior 4.8L V8 with a 5speed manual transmision. But I cant seem to find any manual V8s for sale around here... what does it take to swap it out to a 5speed, and is it worth it? Or should I keep the auto... also if I get the 5.3 what does it take to swap it to manual and again is it worth it?

jankemi · December 14, 2004

Well Im currently shopping for a truck, idealy I want a 99-02 chevy 1500 2wd shortbed regular cab black exterior black interior 4.8L V8 with a 5speed manual transmision. But I cant seem to find any manual V8s for sale around here... what does it take to swap it out to a 5speed, and is it worth it? Or should I keep the auto... also if I get the 5.3 what does it take to swap it to manual and again is it worth it?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There are a few around. I don't know how to find them though. Searchs on cars.com etc. are not reliable, as the owners of manuals don't often put 'manual' in the ad.

Try looking for a 'Work Truck'. That's what mine was called when I bought it.

I don't think that the 5.3's ever came with a 5spd. That might make the swap difficult.

SlamminL5s · December 14, 2004

Manual Is Always Nice In Trucks!... Not Vans Though... Haha...

PFarkas · December 14, 2004

... what does it take to swap it out to a 5speed, and is it worth it? Or should I keep the auto... also if I get the 5.3 what does it take to swap it to manual and again is it worth it?

It takes a fair amount to replace an automatic transmission with a manual.

Here's some of the obvious stuff:

Clutch pedal & bracketry
Clutch lines
Clutch master cylinder
Replace steering column cover when removing AT gear stalk
Remove AT linkage
Replace fly wheel
Replace trans
Install shifter (I think the hole in the sheet metal is already there, just need the boot)
probably new driveshaft - don't think the trans lengths are the same

Then you'll need to have the PCM re-programmed.

Same steps for putting a manual behind a 5.3, except that the 5.3 isn't available with a manual, which may complicate the PCM re-programming.

The NV3500, the 5speed available with the 4.8 isn't rated for the HP/Tq of the 5.3, and the NV4500 is only available with the 6.0 (the 8.1 and DMax get the ZF-6).

You ought to be able to bolt an NV3500 or an NV4500 right up to any of the current small-block offerings (4.8, 5.3, or 6.0), as they all share the same bottom end.

is it worth it?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In either case, I wouldn't think it would be worth it to swap a manual trans into a 4.8 or a 5.3 truck, assuming you wanted to use the truck as a truck and swap in one of the truck manual transmissions.

In the case of the 4.8, swapping in an NV3500 de-rates the truck, costs more in parts than the used automatic will bring in re-sale, and de-values the truck on at least two levels: Manual trans trucks have a lower re-sale value, and you have an end user installed substantial modification to the drive-line. Many purchasers see substantial driveline mods as equivalent to reductions in safety and reliability.

In the case of the 5.3, you have the same issues if you swap in an NV3500. If you were to install an NV4500, you'd just have the reduced re-sale issue.

Basicly, you end up with something that is mostly unsellable. Of course, if you don't intend to sell the truck, you enjoy this sort of project, and this is what it will take to make you happy, then it may be worth it.

One thing is certain: You'd better be sure you want to do this before you start.

Recommended action:

Wait for a 4.8 w/ manual trans to show up or relax your purchasing criteria to include a 2500 6.0 with a manual trans and/or a larger buying area.