I am in the market for a Diesel and i am looking at getting either a 12 or 24v from the years 96-02. I can find so many Auto's for a great price, and even 4x4 but i just dread of when it comes time for a TC and VB! But in the end is it all worth it. What are yall's thoughts? whould you do it different and wait for the other or are you happy.
Thanks, Trapper.

 

if i were to do it again i'd look for a 5 or 6 speed. I love my truck and if i had to redo the tranny would have swapped for a stick. Power flow to the ground is good in my tranny, especially for drag racing but seeing as how i do little of that, it doesn't suit me very well. A manual would be easier on the drivetrain if smooth rather than the abrupt jolts engaging and shifting of the built auto plus it would cost less to upgrade. I just like that it is a direct connection and no room for slippage but its up to you if you like shifting or not just my thoughts. . .
TNutcher

 

i love the stick for driving. but if i were to build another truck it would be an auto. they are just so much faster if you want to race at all. I think it will cost about $5-7k for a built auto tranny to handle serious power, and a replacement for the nv4500 is about 7k when i looked for a new one. it all depends what you want. If you enjoy working on your truck get a 12v they are cheaper power. I dont think i have ever driven a 24v 2nd gen, but i know guys that have them and wish they had a 12v i drove a brand new 6.7 and they dont have about the same snort as what you can get out of a 12v for almost free. just my 2 cents

 

I wont be going to the track much or doing any sort of pulling. It is just for pleasure. I love the sound, look, and performance of a diesel. I hope to oneday add a turbo and that will be about it wit the truck, and of course keep it for ever. But yes i am in college right now and i really dont think i could afford a auto to fix up so i will proly stick with a stick. i have had three so im not worried about being uncomfortable with one. I actually like them! Well thanks for the post. I just hope i can find one i like.

 

I have a automatic because my truck is a driver. I went on a test drive and drove a few powerstrokes and few cummins all manuals. And there is alot of shifting to be done. I was sold on a automatic diesel . You can get in and just mash the pedal to the floor. And let the trans do all of the shifting.

 

I have an auto. Drove semi for years and got tired of the shifting.

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

What are you going to be doing with the truck? Daily driver=auto. What kind of mods are in the future? IF you are going to do A LOT of pulling(horse trailer, flatbeds, NOT sled pulling), Id get a stick, but you can build an auto to hold up to a lot. I've gone thru several autos in other lesser trucks and destroyed them from pulling. My GF and I have decided to get her an auto(TC/VB upgrade only), single wheel ton truck for pulling her horse trailer to events, and I'll keep "old reliable" for heavy pulling and my trucking stuff. I do have a car with an auto just to zip around town and for road trips etc.
Since the newest truck you are looking for is an 02, that is 6 years old, If you get an auto, just factor a new trans/big upgrades in to the purchase/loan amount. If you get it bought right, you can always sell it if you are not happy.

 

I have a stick and really like it but they are not perfect. One of the problems is that when it is cold out, no one else can drive the truck because they can't get it to shift. Also, there just aren't many people who can drive a stick anymore. However, short of getting a built auto, the stick is more reliable and cheaper. If you want to go fast, get an auto, but if you want to have a truck that is cheap and lasts a while and you don't mind rowing gears, get a stick.

 

i have had both, and i thought i would want a stick from what everyone said, since i pull trailers and stuff..and as much as i do like my stick, its fun to drive, i will say that iv i had to it to do over i think a built auto would be the way to go...the stick is just too slow when towing, loose too much boost inbetween shifts, where as the auto just keeps on pulling...

 

iv got an auto and im getting rid of it for a 6-speed. its all in what u like, i tow alot and im use to shifting, i thought id like the auto better but i miss the shifting. plus with a havy load and all the grades around here the auto just doesnt cut it. like i said u need to figer out what u like.

 

Now i dont do ANY Pulling of trailers of any sort. It is just for pleasure. I think i will go with a stick, i have had three and enjoyed all of them. And a clutch is way cheaper than a tc,vb, etc.... Thanks for the post.
Trapper.

 

Hmm, userame is reminiscent of....

Seriously though, I have had both, right now I have a 6 speed and love it. Is it going to be as fast as an auto, NO. But, am I going to have to worry about dumping 5 G's into it,.......?

Depends on what you are trying to do with the truck. Even a daily driven, non power added stock auto can give you problems.

 

I have had the 5 speed in the 94-97 and the 5 speed setup in the 98+ cabs the 98+ cabs do shift faster and have short shift kits avaible for them. That being said im ordering a built goerend trans this week for my 98. I wanted an auto.

 

I personally like auto. I don't think it's a good idea to get a manual just because right now you think it's cheaper to upgrade. An auto doesn't have to cost that much more than a manual to upgrade to a driveable level. Let's put it this way, if you can do some of the work yourself, you can save a lot of money. If you get an auto and have to take it to a shop to get the bands adjusted or vb installed, then get the manual. I'm dealing with the dealer right now for my uncle's Jaguar. My God man! I've forgotten how much they rip you off!!!