6-speed manual?

[bobby5]

Im thinkin about buying a new truck(d-max) and was wondering if anybody has a 6 speed manual in there trucks? I test drove one a year ago and reverse is where first gear is usually, are they still that way? Im thinkin about buyin a cummins because i want a manual and i herd chevys 6 speed are junkand go through clutches like no other(dont know if this is true). I just hate the shift pattern of the one i test drove a year ago. What are some advantages and disadvantages of a 6speed manual vs. 6speed ally?

[Daubs]

I may be wrong on this, but I believe both GM and Dodge use an NV gear manual tranny. They are virtually identical except for the input/output shafts (again, I may be wrong on this).

 

That said, I'd opt for the Allison Tranny over the manual. I've got a 8.1/Allison in my 04 and it rocks. Mine is old 5 speed Allison...they are now 6 speed and rated for more HP/TQ with the new Duramax engine. And this is coming from a die-hard manual tranny guy. My first three trucks were manuals, would have nothing else. Opted for the auto on my 99, 01 & 04's. Love them. D.

[Haulin' 8.1]

I'm a die hard stick shift guy and I also say get the Allison. I wouldn't have ordered it that way but I was pleasently surprised with it. Now I wish mine was a 6 speed. All of my cars have stick shifts except the ones that came with my GF and the one my brother bought first. Both of those are with newer automatics (PCM controlled) and work well also.

 

My other brother has a '04 Cummins with the 6 speed manual. At less than 30K the tranny front seal popped out and ruined his clutch with gear lube. He was still in Iraq so his wife took it in for service under warranty. They test drove it and said she must have ruined the clutch by driving it wrong and denied warranty coverage. And wouldn't take it apart to verify unless they agreed to pay all costs. So when he was home on leave he took it apart and found the real reason. Then he went back to the service dept at his dealer to discuss it with them. Basically they said that's to bad but we won't warranty NOW because you took it apart. So now you've heard something else to help you decide.

 

Vernon

[dewfpo]

This is my first auto tranny in a truck as well. The Allison is actually rated by GM to handle more torque than the manual 6 spd. With the lock up of the torque convertor in Tow/Haul Mode in gears 2, 3, 4 & 5 it's aaallllmmmooosssstttt as good as a manual tranny. (650 ft./lbs for the Allsion vs. 520 ft./lbs. for the manual trans.)

 

DEWFPO

[Daubs]

I'm a die hard stick shift guy and I also say get the Allison.  I wouldn't have ordered it that way but I was pleasently surprised with it.  Now I wish mine was a 6 speed.  All of my cars have stick shifts except the ones that came with my GF and the one my brother bought first.  Both of those are with newer automatics (PCM controlled) and work well also.

 

My other brother has a '04 Cummins with the 6 speed manual.  At less than 30K the tranny front seal popped out and ruined his clutch with gear lube.  He was still in Iraq so his wife took it in for service under warranty.  They test drove it and said she must have ruined the clutch by driving it wrong and denied warranty coverage.  And wouldn't take it apart to verify unless they agreed to pay all costs.  So when he was home on leave he took it apart and found the real reason.  Then he went back to the service dept at his dealer to discuss it with them.  Basically they said that's to bad but we won't warranty NOW because you took it apart.  So now you've heard something else to help you decide.

 

Vernon

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

If I were your brother I'd start the paper trail and raise he!! with Dodge. Buddy of mine is service manager and tells me GM gives him ability to cover any damage even if outside of warranty...to keep customers happy!

 

I'd be really pissed if this were my truck. I'd start with scathing letter to Dodge, followed up by phone call week later if they don't call me first. To me that's clearly a defective part that should have been covered under warranty.

 

Paper trail...make sure keep copies of all correspondence and makes notes of phone conversations. Keep on them...they can't afford to lose customers.

[Scyry]

I would go Allison for the same reasons Haulin' 8.1 stated above. I had a HD2500 with the 6.0 and a 5 speed. The tranny went out, the clutch was gone 3,000 miles later. Not just the clutch, but the slave cylinder, master cylinder, and the throw out bearing, basically all that was left was the shell. Now it took them 15,000 miles and 4 trips in before they replaced the tranny. I know the clutch should of lasted more than 45,000 miles. I had to replace it myself, even though I had an extended warranty. I still think it was their fault for not fixing the d**n tranny. Anyways, the Allison, if anything breaks, well they can fix it and not blame it on you.

[moo snutz]

If you ever want to wake up the 496, go for the ZF-S6-650 !!!

 

I had to order mine with the 8.1 & it was well worth the wait. Great tranny! The Allison is rated for more torque but I think that's mainly because the DM flywheel setup on the ZF is crap & they have a tendency to choke. The tranny itself is a monster, check this out - http://www.autoworld.com/news/gmc/zf_s6_650.htm

 

It's rated up to a vehicles with a GCW of 26,000lbs !! I had the NV 4500 5 speed in my old 03' & the ZF just feels beefier - like you're driving a big rig. FWIW - the clutch & flywheel should hold up just fine if you don't add a lot of power via PCM chips & what-not. I ordered the 6 speed because I thought that with the 8.1 motor at 7,000 feet elevation, I would lose too much power with the Allison as it uses a lot of ponies. The one thing I have noticed is that when shifting from 1st to 2nd (if you 1st), it's easier if you double-clutch it as the gate pattern is real close together & it can be hard to find 2nd (especially when cold). It didn't take too long to get used to the shift pattern.

 

 

Forgot to add that: With a 1st gear of 5.79 (I think), 4.10 gears and a decent low-range in the t-case, slow speed manuevering is pretty amazing.