I really want a 6 speed truck since I just enjoy driving a manual, but there aren't any for sale in my area.. All of them are auto's. I'm starting to consider just getting an auto instead. Assuming I get an 03-06, which tranny can hold more power in stock form? From what I've read, I get the impression that the stock auto cant hold much! I know with the auto if you want to make power you need to upgrade a few parts, and the manual will need a stronger clutch. Also, if I go to upgrade the tranny down the road sometime, what kind of $$$ are we talking to get either tranny to hold lets say 500 hp?

Thanks for the imput,
Jason

 

This is going to be a daily driver/work truck if that makes any difference...

 

The six speed definately.

 

I suppose thats a good thing since thats what I want anyway... I just cant find one!!!

Jason

 

The 48re can hold some good power, its just the converter is crap. My stock converter is only 66-68 % efficient. Once the auto is built it would be hard for a 6 speed to keep up racing, but the manuals do tow well, those close gear ratios are great. I think this winter, I am going to do a new converter, vb or shift kit, and new clutches, replace all the plastic actuators. It should be around 2000 bucks, but that would be doing everything myself.

Course it all depends on what you do, how hard u are on it and how much cash u got. I just want a strong towing trans, that I can play with a little bit and not worry about killing it.

If I want to race I have other rides for that, and there waaaaaay faster then the truck could ever be hehe.

 

As much as I love my 6 spd, if I had been thinking, I woulda bought a slightly used truck, and spent the rest of the $$ I was gonna spend on a new truck, and had a built auto installed. I love the way a built tranny automatic drives.
Scott

 

in stock form I held around 400 with no problems out of my auto. One of my buddies went through a clutch in 1 month with around 375-400. Of course he cant drive though

Seriously, I think you have to consider the driving habits and how you are going to drive. I would think you can control the horsepower a little easier with the stick. but like I always tell people : Im just a dumb WV hillbilly, what could I really know.

 

In a drag race the auto will leave the 6 speed, turbos love auto trannys.

 

I like the 6-spd better, better control and makes my drive seem meaningful. I won't knock a built auto, but I just enjoy the rowing.

 

From personal experiences I go with the manual. I looked for 3 months and had to drive 230 miles to get the one I have. Like everyone here says, it depends on your driving preferences. It is nice sometimes to just hit the go pedal but if you are like me, there is no substitute for rowing the boat. My stock clutch held up to the Bully Dog Crazy Larry for 30k and I only changed it because I wanted to start to compete with it.

The manuals are hard to find for a reason and worth the wait

 

Stock vs stock there about the same. It doesnt take much to slip both trannys.

Clutches arnt cheap..... A dual disk clutch with hydro upgrade cost's about the same as it would to to upgrade your torque converter and valve body.

A TC and VB will hold 500hp.

Ive had both a built auto w/ billet imput and two NV5600 manuals.

I really really really miss my built auto.

I bought my 03 with a 6 speed on pourpose because I will never buy a used auto. At the time I figured I wasnt going to go big this time and figured a $600 SBC OFE would be fine, but have bigger plans.

Auto's are nice and fast and make burnouts, donuts, and boosted 4x4 launches easy.

 

Mads recomends you go no higher than Level 3 with your Smarty on a stock auto, while the manual with a stock clutch can go as high as level 5. HHmmmm...

In my opinion, the manual is the most reliable way to go. I doubt it will ever leave you stranded without some sort of warning.

That said, it really depends on what you want to do. If you are into pulling, it's hard to beat the manual. If you're into drag racing, it's hard to beat a built auto. Nobody shifts faster than a built auto.

Like some of the other people around here, I drove a long way to find my 6 speed. My new truck had to have two sticks. I didn't want any ***** to control my transfer case.

At times I wish I had an auto. But, you can't beat the reliability of a manual.

 

I just traded my 04 QC 4x4 6 speed for a 06 mega cab auto. The auto is better for just general driving but I do miss rowing the gears. I have not towed with it yet but will either this weekend or next when we go camping. I know that for towing the auto wont be as good as the 6 speed was but now my wife can drive the truck as well. I bough the 04 new and had around 56000 miles on it an dmy wife never put on of them on it because it was a manual. We decided to trade to an auto so the wife could drive it when nesasary. The side benifite for loosing my 6 speed was getting a Laramie pacage with all the bells and wistles and the color I originaly wanted when I bought the 04.

Heres the 04 6 speed I traded in.
Its at Voss Dodge in Sioux Center Iowa if ya wana go get it.

 

Thats what I'm looking for right there! Thanks for all the imput, I really think I'm going to stick with the stick!

Jason

 

Right, we all buy 8000 pound diesel trucks so we can drag race!

The manual will take more power stock, no doubt. I wanted to buy a used truck, a year or 2 old, but wanted a manual tranny, same thing, couldn't find a long box 1 ton QC on singles that I wanted so I ended up buying new.
No regrets.
My stock clutch is holding up fine with the triple dog on 'extreme',I know Crazy Larry would fry it so haven't been tempted to try it. Extreme is fine for me, and I don't do anything stupid.


I would NOT sell my truck just cuz the wife can't drive a standard, no way! She has an automatic car she drives. I've onle had standards for over 25 years, my wife will only drive it if she really has to, like the time she took me to the hospital when I dis-located my shoulder.



But sure, if you wanna drag race, sure, get the auto, it'll be quicker off the line no doubt. Just be willing to put a few thou into it and the converter, and the flex plate etc etc.