I've been looking for a QC 4wd 12v 5-speed for a couple months now and can't find one within 1000 miles. I want the stick because I don't want to be replacing the trans if I get an auto. Auto's are easier to find in my part of the country and I'm considering settling for one if I'm convinced it will survive.

What will I be using the truck for? Well it will be my dd and offroad truck. Mods will be #10 plate, 3gsk, starwheel, all the normal stuff. I won't be pulling heavy loads, if any at all, although I'd like to be able to should the need arise. Build plans are to more or less end up with a dependable expedition style rig that can handle backroad travels, mountain exploring, along with some rock crawling. I will be fitting 38's with minimal lift, cutting as required. I realize that the size of the tires alone will probably be the biggest problem for the tranny. Am I going to have to regear as I'll probably end up with 3.55's? I know 3.55's would be easier to live with with a stick, but that's not the point of this thread. I'll get a truck with 4.10's if I can find one.

Will I get away with a stock tranny? I know that I probably won't. Will a TC and VB be enough to withstand what I'll be doing? What should I be looking at $$$ if I do the work myself? Or would I need to go with something more aggressive?

Looking for the expertise of the board. Convince me to buy an auto!!

 

You could probably get by with the TC and VB, but I am going to recommend holding out for the stick. I settled for an auto. I have a friend with a nearly identical truck to mine except 5 speed and I really wish i would have held out for the manual. I had an 03 6 speed, so that didn't help my want for the manual.

Either way, good luck.

 

I can't comment on the auto too much, other than mine is definatly not big in my books. The stock TC sucks the big one by robbing a lot of power, and has a lot of trouble locking up and staying locked. I'm going to buy a VB first, then a TC as funds/my patience allows. Apparently then they'll hold together decently. But if you're running 38s on too high of gears, you'll really be over-heating the tranny, which won't help it any.


I can see the exploring/mild wheeling being alright... But rockcrawling? If it's anything like my interpretation of the sport, there will be a few 'issues'. The first is the front D60. It's a pile. Really. I wish dodge had wised up and used a real version of the axle, but they didn't. With the big weight and big torque of one of these trucks, I'll give the axleshafts about 3 minutes of fun in the rocks. The NP241D has a slip yoke for the rear output, which blows. And any tranny you have just might not be up for the task - I've seen a lot of broken trannies behind far lesser motors. With the auto, again, that heat thing. And with a stick the added shock loading has a higher likelyhood of breaking things.

 

You'd want 4.10's with 38's. The stock auto doesn't sound like it'll suit your needs. The stock torque converter is very inefficient. If you upgrade it it'll be great! Just get the auto and add another few grand to the total of the truck.

 

Would a TC and VB suffice for what I need or am I looking at a complete tranny like from Goerend?

 

I think a tc and vb would be great. Now if you're aiming for 500 hp that's a different story. As long as you don't abuse the tranny it'll last a long time. The main thing holding the auto back in my opinion is the tc. With the stock one, you can sit there and gun it from a red light and not really go anywhere. The rpm's would shoot up and you'd hurt your fuel economy but the truck won't move like it should.

 

pretty sure you'll need to get a jeep as well, i can't see using my truck crawling rocks like i can in my yj. mild rocks maybe. i setteld for an auto and it's been growing on me, but i'd like to do a tc and vb to really get the beans to the ground.

 

Just curious, what mod is the "fishing pole?"

 

thats the thingy in the delta toolbox that pulls them there brookies and rainbows outta my secret spots

 

I think the biggest problem you would encounter is the heat your tranny would build up doing things like rock crawling. You can't lock your TC at crawling speeds, and when it's not locked, the heat builds up pretty fast. WTS, I have an auto for a dd and towing. I'm going to add a trans cooler with a fan to help cool my fluid at low speeds. I like my auto, but I'd rather have a stick.