How do I tell if my synchronizers are out on my truck in my sig. Also which manual do i have its a six speed is all i know.

 

You have the NV5600.

If you haven't had the truck too long and you think it's hard to shift, change the oil. PO may have a heavy gear oil in and that's wrong - our transmissions take a syncromesh fluid. It's light weight (but do not use a light weight engine oil). If you've had the truck a long time and haven't changed the oil - change it.
If after all of this it is murder to shift and/or grinds constantly - then your synchros are probably shot.

 

I have not done anything to the truck but put some tires on it. are the any tricks to emptying and filling the fluid. Right now it grinds really bad in all gears unless i let the rpms drop and kind of hold it next to the gear i want and let it slip in gear.

 

Bottom bolt on side cover will get job done. Make sure you get correct oil. it is expensive. Dealer will have correct stuff.

 

I use royal purple in mine, I think its synchromax. The easiest way to fill it is to just pull the gear shift out. Remember to get an extra qt of oil, these trannies need an extra qt so when you put a heavy load on it you dont starve and burn up your front input bearing. I think yours should take 6 qts.

 

Your problem could lie with the clutch slave/master.

 

the early '01s had bad syncho's from the beginning, when you change the lube and it looks like gold, you need new synchro's

 

how many miles? does it get easier to shift at higher speeds? thats usually a sign of the hydraulic clutch going out.

personally if its a high mileage truck (>100k) id do both the oil and the clutch. ive had good luck with redline mtl

 

Yes it does fifth and sixth are not bad at all compared to going from second to third and third to fourth. It has almost 180,000 and im not sure if PO ever has changed the fluid. Where can I get that redline.

 

Check there website Google redline and then look for authorized dealers or something to that effect.

 

when you drain the oil, if it looks like it has a lot of brass filings in it don't waste money on redline or the other high dollar lubes as they will not do any good .....the synchro's are made of a brass alloy... i had the same symptoms at low mileage and ended up rebuilding the trans, cost 2000 dollars ......

 

i'd strongly look at that clutch too.

 

soon as i get the funds im dropping a sbc in it just dont know which one yet.

 

I'd pull the whole pto cover off, not just the bottom bolt. When I did mine, there was a magnet on the bottom of the case.... cleaned lots of sludge off of there. I know that mine has seen better days.....