Normal clutching and double clutching I can t tell much differance, either way is smooth as butter. I can float the gears in mine but it does take more skill, effort, or attention, whatever you want to call it, than in a big truck or in a vehicle with worn synchros. If you want to float a G56 try easin up to about 17-1800 rpms (some trucks may like 1600 some may like 1900, I dont know) and just be easy with it, roll off the throttle and bring the stick to the gear you want to be in and let it "fall" into gear with just a LITTLE pressure to help it.

I havent perfected the techinque and still grind from time to time but it can be done.

 

Just be sure you have a magnetic drain plug.
Every time you grind em you make that gear a little smaller which intern makes the slop between the teeth a whole---lot----bigger.
If ya can't find em grind em, and I'm glad its your own truck .

 

That's funny right there!!! To the contrary I did the same (except the grinding!) when test driving the first '03 at my local dealership. They hadn't checked it in yet so the salesman, a service tech, and one of the service writers went along for the ride... all of their jaws hit the floor when I shifted from 1st through 6th without touching the clutch.

As was mentioned before it is all about the RPM. Once you do it long enough in the same truck you could close your eyes and do it. You really need to "feel" the appropriate time to shift. While you are trying to learn you can gently put pressure on the stick as you gently raise or lower the RPM with your foot to find the right spot to allow a gear change, but I would suggest learning on someone else's transmission!

 

I wouldn't recomend shifting without the clutch. I did on my 98 and had to replace the syncros within 14000 miles. (they were only warrantied to 12k). The tranny tech said that the 1998's and on would continue to burn them up.
I got lucky though and finally melted the clutch at 28k miles and traded it for a new 99 Powerstroke. I made sure that the clutch was totally cool when they test drove it and didn't catch it

 

My nv5600 floats them in nice, seems like the gears are
spaced about 400rpm apart. I just wind out to about 2K, let it drop to 1600, and slide in the next gear.

 

I had always heard from various persons to never float gears in a fully synchronized trans as this would be the end result and for the life of me cant fathom why anyone would do this to a $40,000 truck. And floating gears in big trucks is hard on them as well. The clutch is there for a reason and they are a lot cheaper to replace than transmissions.

 

When I first bought my truck it had 80k on it. Shortly after the clutch went Tango Uniform. I bought a heavy duty one mad e by LUK...it cost me almost a grand, and is supposedly rated at 1000 lbs ft. I quickly figured out how to shift, up or down, with out using it at all. I just listen and feel with my hands. I really only use it when I am really getting on it. Anything over about 1900 rpm it wil grind anything under 1500 it just won't budge. Tap the gas or brake as needed and go!

 

It's not about forcing it and hurting the synchros or the gears. It's about finesse. When speeds are matched it drops right in smooth as can be. If you have too pull on the shifter you're not matched. If done properly there is actually less wear on the synchros because you are not using them.

Wetspirit

 

Uh huh EXACTLY!

 

I know perfectly well how to finesse and float them. But from that experience I also know that you cant be perfect 100% of the time. Everyone grinds or has that slight resistance from pulling too soon once in a while when floating. It doesnt fall out and into gear perfectly every time for anyone of us we're all human. It happens to me in my big truck yeah I'm too lazy to use the clutch and besides it's not my truck. Every time you miss or pull/push that's needless wear and tear. It doesnt have to happen. Use the clutch and it wont ever.