Don T

next year I will tow my fiver across Canada for 3 month trip. I have hopes to find a shop that could install a 6 spd trans in my truck. I hope to find a shop that is close to the US border so the new trans could be easily picked up. I would order and pay for the trans and shipping to a border area close to the shop I find.So a Shop in Ontario or any other province would work for me as long as there is a camp ground close for me to stay. I think the change from my 47rh to a 6 spd std should take less than a day.I hope this is possible and hope some one can tell me a shop that could handle this job. Thanks Don T

I live in Nov Scotia and shipping of the trans is just to much $$$ , so this is why
I have to ask.

Tallguy67

Don,
You might want to ask this on the ABDTR (Alberta) thread. These is a place at the Montana / Alberta border you can ship things to, store and pickup, then it is a 3 or 4 hr drive to Calgary. Lots of amazing camping around. The guys on the chapter will know the good shops in the neighborhood. One do the members even runs a small diesel shop.

Don T

this time thing is why I`am doing this now. I want this to happen in a day of traveling for us . We do have a few stops to make and I do want to get to them all. I now have hopes to get it done like I could here. The 95 ram will be a better towing truck I think.

Tallguy67

Got it. I misunderstood the timing of the replacement. I thought you were traveling across Canada and just wanted to do it somewhere along the way.

Don T

Well the trip will start here and it will be a few days till we start to get out of Ontario. any time then would be good for us.I just want a good shop to work on my truck, I don`t want any issues when I leave to ruin my trip.I have a few trips planned for the years after our Canada trip. I can do PEI easy and Newfoundland will get a trip also. I want to see Canada at my pace( no hurry). If I find I can`t find a shop to do the change from the 47 RH to a 6 speed I will do it here . It will cost way more in shipping and I had hopes to see more with my $$$

gorms

I might be wrong, buy you might want to check with the manufacturer on slapping the 5er on behind a brand new clutch, depending on how heavy it is, and depending on the clutch too I guess. I've heard some SB clutches don't need any break in period, some do. My valair full ceramic had a 500 mi break in, and it would slip before that, empty. Not so much with the 13" kevlar/ceramic I have now, still had a recommended 500 mi break in. Just something to think about.

EDIT- I should add that when I did the 13" clutch I only drove it about 200 miles before hooking up my 27' tt. I went easy on it for sure, as the reason I had to change it (and the reason we left on our honeymoon 4 days late ) was because somebody tried doing a sled pull the week before our wedding day....

Same guy missed the signing for the new clutch on friday Labor day weekend, didn't get it till the following tuesday.... I'll never hear the end of that one.

Hodge

You will want some time to work any bugs out, too. I doubt that a swap from auto to manual can be done in that short of time- unless the shop does it every day, and has worked out everything necessary for the swap, it will take more time.

Don T

I was hoping to find a shop that could change out the auto for a 6 speed in a day.I had my 47 rh dropped out and a new single billet install in 5 hrs. I was back running in no time , and this was done by one guy. So I think a good shop that does this alot should be able to do the swap in a day.I did not know I would have to break the clutch in ! I thought the 6 speed trans shifted smooth and easy. I drove big trucks with 13 and 15 speeds and they were smooth, Even the 5 main and 4 was not to bad once I got use to it. I really want more power and down want to push my luck with the 47RH . My son is in Edmonton and I might just have to go visit him for awhile to get this done.

Who got speed trans and how do you find them ?????
I hate the drop from 5 to 4th with the five speed trans

gorms

Ya know it probably could be done in a day if the shop is familiar with specifically your install, but I'd say have a plan for it being in the shop till the next day. The little things take time and leave room for error! Like splitting the t-case (if 4wd) for a new input shaft, getting rid of the auto shift handle, installing a master/slave cylinder that wasn't there before and putting in a pedal to operate it. I guess you could do some things before hand, but only so much.

When I swapped my auto to the 4500 5 spd, I was able to re-use the old drive shafts, as the new setup was only 1/2" longer, I don't know what with the 6 speed. I think the 5600 also requires a different crossmember, keep that in mind.

As for the whole 5 vs 6 speed, the reason I went with the 5 is I don't tow super heavy (most is once in a while around 15k, then my 7k camper). 5 speed is much cheaper, initially and for rebuild time. The 6 may also be more prone to more frequent rebuilds if they aren't treated right, it's a slow shifter that doesn't like to be rushed. I had good luck with a used parts search, I think it was something like car-parts.com where you send out a request and junkyards contact you.

Might want to look into a G56 trans, I'm not too familiar with it but I under stand it'll take some good power and is a bit more reliable/smoother than the 5600 when being loaded up. And they still make parts for it.

Tate

A day would be pushing it for start to finish. I helped a friend do his, and we had it done in a day, but he had the prep work done first, like having the hydraulics mounted, clutch pedal installed, hole in the floor cut for the shifter, etc. You will need a 98-02 crossmember, or modify your own to work with the 6 spds. Driveshafts will have to be modified, as the 6 spds are longer than the auto's or 5 spd. You'll need either the input shaft in the t-case changed, or the entire case (easiest).

If the reason you don't like he 5 spd is the change from direct to overdrive, you're going to hate the NV5600, as it has a bigger jump. Plus, its a much notchier tranny to shift. A friend just swapped out his 4500 for the 5600, he's not as thrilled with it as he thought he would be.

Don T

Tate and others

Thanks , I was under the understanding that the 6 speed trans was a better towing tranny, I thought I read that all the gears were much closer together and there was no big jump in 6th.If they are such a pain then I will have to get the 5 speed. There is a 96 here local that is rusty that I could get cheap.It is an extended cab 4x4 like mine and everything should fit for the change. I would like to do a few more mods to my tuck to have about 400 hp for towing and an engine brake also. So this is why the change from my 47 RH that soon will see 300000 km .With the install of the single disk billet TC the trans shifts strong in each gear. Buy my wife will soon retire and I can see us towing a lot next year. I ready some where that the 5 spd`s were cheap to rebuild , Is that correct?? Thanks guys . later Don

Diesel Dave2

Your right Don...For some reason rebuild parts for the 6 speed are way harder to find and more expensive, than the 5-speed...I don't know why..

If you could get the 96 with the 5-speed ,that would be your best bet...You will have all the parts(pedals,drive shaft..etc) to do the swap right into your truck...Its a really pain if you have to run around for parts if you only have the tranmission...If you have a donar truck thats the best way to go...

I still have your phone number...I haven't forgot...Just been so darn busy with doing nothing..

patdaly

Don't forget to also put that Dana 80 rear under it as well.......... That 96 is the perfect donor.