Manual transmission versus automatic?
 

Thinking of trading from and automatic behind my 6.5 in my 97 Suburban into a 5 speed behind a 6.5 in a 96 GMC crew cab 4X4 dually with a utility bed.

Question is what are the advantages/disadvantages in a straight shift?

~GOD BLESS~

john

(1997 Chevy K2500 Suburban LT 6.5L TD 4" turbo back exhaust, New remote mounted PMD, New MT tires, Limo tint on rear, barn doors, 220K miles Runs GREAT! )

Don't know much about this but I do know auto's put more ft pounds of torque than manuals.

I have the NV4500 behnd my 6.5 in my 1993 and by far it is way better than the 4L80E's I had in my other trucks first though it is more a 3 speed ih a low and a over rive than a 5 speed rarely if ever do I use the L range in it you will go 5 ft before you have to shift if the trans is original you will want to eventualy swap the dual mass flywheel as I have to a single mass flyweel the spings tend to grenade and it will sound like the trans is going to fly apart the only thing you will have to remember to do is keep the clutch pedal depressed when shutting the truck off to avoid engine backlash which can lead to the crankshaft to snapping in half as I have heard of them doing this may be a myth but I figure better safe than sorry

Mayhem - pardon my ignorance but...
 

So the NV4500 is the manual and the 4L80E is the automatic? If so it sounds like you like the 5 speed with modifications better. I knew about the less tourque when towing but I don;t think I will be putting that much of a load on it. I thought the manual might give me a better chance to get the most out of the rpms by shifting myself and having that control vs the auto...

Thanks for the tip to clutch it before shutting down : O

I dont belive the less torque thing the auto will leave the line a little quicker but when I hit 2nd gear its on like donkey kong and the NV4500 pulls just fine I have pulled loads as much as 15K up 8% + grades with no problems at all without comming out of 3rd gear so yes I like the manual trans way better than the auto and I have had 2 autos in my last 2 trucks with no problems with either of them

When they put out the power specs for the engine and show that the automatics have more power, it just because they tune them differently from the factory. They measure the power at the crank, not the rear wheels. They put more power in the auto trans engines to make up for the loss of power of running an auto trans. With auto trans there is always some slip and that slip equals less power. Manual trans are just superior transmissions and you don't have the slip to think about. Autos are quicker just because they are controlling the clutch and shift on their own, so they can get quicker starts, but overall the manual is a far better transmission, especially for towing.

Never knew this
 

I never knew that - it makes sense the way you state it. I did trade for the truck and will get some pics up soon. I am really enjoying driving the 5 speed. It did great on the 2 hour trip back and I drove it into work today. About to take it out for some erands. Thank you for explaining this!

~GOD BLESS~

john

i'm runnnig the 5 speed manual in my 3500. It works nice but the gears are very low sped-2500 rpm @ 60mph

Dang, when I was driving through Wyoming I wanted to have a little fun and mine runs 85 mph at 2700, should be about where yours runs 65 mph.

The GMC
 

The truck I just traded for ran in 5th 89mph (based on my Garmin) at around 2500 and still had more to give. I just did not want to risk it if you know what I mean (Ticket = $$)

It also runs about 5 mph slower than the Garmin reads. I have used the Garmin in my P71 crown vic with the certified spedo and it is dead on. So I checked the rear tires and they are a 235 when they should be a 265. Will replace soon...