Automatic to Manual Conversion

[drumset5994]

So my 91,000 miles on my Silverado got me thinking...what if one day i have some tranny problems? Then i had this idea...

 

Has anybody ever converted their truck to a 5-speed? I have 3.08's with a 4.3L V6.

 

You'd probably need an entire 5-speed donor truck, am i right?

[03blackburb]

Cheaper to just dump it and start over.

[CoastyAV8R]

I have a manual tranny, it's the same they used with the V-6 motor and from my experience, I wouldn't do it. This tranny is weak, I had to have mine rebuilt at 100,000 miles as it was howling and would pop out of gear. The gear ratio's are spaced very far apart so unless you plan on putting in a 4.11 rear end, your final drive ratio will be almost undrivable. Also the clutch on this thing is very expensive, mine was $600. I've contemplated putting in an automatic which I think would an easier conversion than the other way. Unless your really attached to that truck, I wouldn't do it. Oh yeah, when it comes to towing this tranny is the lowest rated tranny in the fleet when it comes to towing weight.

[95Sierra2500]

On the contrary, I believe it would work if you could find the donor truck, that'd be the easiest route. I've also pulled more with manual transmission trucks than I would ever DREAM of towing with an automatic (sorry boys, gimme a stick over a slush-box any day). As for clutches, $600 is pretty steep unless you're having someone do it for you. Installing a clutch is pretty simple but takes time, and I can pick one up today for my dad's truck for about $150.

[CoastyAV8R]

On the contrary, I believe it would work if you could find the donor truck, that'd be the easiest route. I've also pulled more with manual transmission trucks than I would ever DREAM of towing with an automatic (sorry boys, gimme a stick over a slush-box any day). As for clutches, $600 is pretty steep unless you're having someone do it for you. Installing a clutch is pretty simple but takes time, and I can pick one up today for my dad's truck for about $150.

 

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If you look up what the NV3500 is rated to tow, it's 3500 lbs, not the 5000 I had posted earlier. I agree for heavy towing a manual tranny is the way to go but this manual tranny is a lightweight setup. I got hosed on the clutch as we had just moved here and were still living in a hotel waiting for our house open up when my tranny & clutch callled it quits so I didn't have a place to do the work. They didn't charge anything to install the clutch since the tranny was already out for replacement of all the bearings and synchro's.