fletcher359

Ok guys i need a little help from some professionals here.. I recently bought a 98 12valve auto which i have plans to convert to a manual trans. The guy i bought it off of is offering me either a 6sp or a 5sp with double disc along with the truck. Which should i go with? I have always heard great things about the 6sp but recently i've heard rumers that they dont hold up as well as the 5sp. Now i know they did not offer the 6speeds for the 12 valves so i am wanting to know for sure if it will bolt up or not. I'll be towing a lot so i was leaning towards the 6sp. But let me know wut you guys think thanks!

Tate

6 speed will bolt up same as the 5 spd. The cross member might need changing, maybe not. The one in my 98 would work for the 6er. I don't know if the 6 spds are weaker (many will disagree), but the 5 spds are definitely cheaper if work needs to be done. The NV5600 is discontinued, as are parts for it, so it gets pricier all the time. The 6 speed will reduce the drop between shifts, but the 5 spd has worked well for years and years, I don't think you could go wrong with one. The NV4500 has the 5th gear issue where the nut comes off and you lose OD. Atleast with this kind of failure, you can still make it home without any damage to the tranny.

fletcher359

Is the nv4500 and 5600 both 6speeds? Also the 5 speed comes with a double disc clutch, and the 6speed is just stock. I beleive the 6sp came out of an 01 2500 but not sure what the 5sp came out of. Will nv4500 or 5600 be stamped anywhere on the tranny?

Tate

The 4500 is the 5 spd, 5600 the 6 spd. I don't know if it is stamped anywhere, but if you can see them beside each other, the 5 spd will be quite a bit smaller. The clutch should be able to go with either tranny, as most dual discs use the 1-3/8" input shaft. One thing I'd look for on the 5 spd is the newer cover. The newer ones have a bolt on shift tower, the older ones are intergal to the cover. You can get short shifters for the newer covers.

Are the 5 and 6 spds the same price?

fletcher359

Yes they are the same price. Pretty much to make a long story shorter.. i bought the truck off of this guy, the truck has an auto thats bad, so if i give him back the auto he is giving me my choice of either the 6sp or 5sp. It kinda works out b/c I wanted a manual anyways.

TxDiesel007

six speed is a towing machine

five speed has longer legs per say and can be built to tow fairly well. Having driven both, the six speed is like drivin a mini big rig and the five speed is a bit sportier in my opinion and with a 12 valve and gsk can be shifted at some decent rpms...

I perfer the five speed overall however, but also consider this, is is harder to find parts for a six speed nowadays...

Rick

fletcher359

Thanks guys for all the help so far. Do you think any aftermarket companys will come out with some parts for the NV5600?

Hammer

5 spd final drive is .75-1
6 spd final drive is .73-1

Other than the added gear there is little difference.The wide powerband of the 12v makes the 5600 a more efficent tranny.When that is in a 24v they rev to fast and make one shift alot quicker instead of the slower winding 12v.Ma Mopar has always it in reverse the 24v trucks respond better to the 5spds due to their quick and short powerbands,where the 12v's with their longer and wider powerbandlike the 6speeds better.

Its your truck and your choice,but,either would be a fine one.I am not sure what you mean by aftermarket parts,but,there is a wide assortment of them already......Andy

Fred Swanson

For towing, the 6spd is hard to beat. Consider this, the 6spd is about 3x the cost to rebuild as the 5spd.

Box5

The nv4500 is a good trans to go with. Rebuilds are alot cheaper, and they tow nicely how there geared. Hopefully u have 3.5 gears though, because with 4.10's forget about cruising on the highway under 2400 rpms... The auto turns quiet a few less rpms.

fletcher359

Thanks for all the help guys! I think im going to go with the 6sp since its going to be used for towing a lot. One more question... wondering if anyones ever done an auto to manual swap in a ram? Just wondering if the center floor is stamped or marked for the shift lever to come up through the floor. Havent even picked up the truck yet till thursday so i havent had the chance to pull the carpet up and look. But i was kinda assuming that they'd use the same floorboards in both model.

mr_ed

I'll be interested to hear what folks have to say too...I'm workin up to one of these auto to manual swaps too.

Fletcher 359, you wouldn't happen to know if the gentleman you're buyin from would be interested in selling the nv4500 (5-speed) and if so, how much?

Ed

Dodge359

I dont know if the floor is stamped for the trans shifter but I know my 2wd was dimpled where the bolts go for the transfer case shifter. It made it nice when converting to 4x4.