The only thing I don't miss about my E4OD is that it blew up!
Other then that, the auto was sweet.

My bone stock auto lasted 4 years of me hauling gravel, topsoil and a 9ton trailer.

 

I voted manual because of the options. The only way I'd ever own another E4 Uh-Oh D is if it was given to me. Then I'd only drive it locally.

But manual VS C6? That'd be a tough call for me, normally I prefer to have control over my engine via manual shifting, but my knees aren't getting any better. That's kind of why I bought the '86 with the C6, I'll drive it when I want a brake from the '85 (manual).

But as most have said, it's a matter of preference, not really a question a forum can answer for you. If you let others make the decision you might end up not happy.

 

 

I am really old school, I prefer a C6. They may not be the most efficient, don't get the best fuel milage, and no O.D, but they are close to bullet proof. As far as "go fast", other things being equal, a C6 will out drag a manual 99% of the time. Besides, I'm old, I'm tired of shifting gears.

 

i told the boss i want an automatic trans in my new dump truck!!

i have run them all, and and automatic is just a better all around trans.
especially for towing or hilly country.

 

Well since you went there....

Ya he HAD a ZF in his truck, which he blew up and complained about the slow shifting in. There might be a reason his Cummins is getting an E4OD (something about they don't make a manual that can handle the power or some such). As far as launches go having driven both for a turbo application Id still take the auto over the manual, yes you can rev up the manual but your in neutral so aren't really making any boost where as if you power brake the auto you are building boost.

 

I've run both, and I much prefer manuals. Autos are fine, but you can't really keep the RPMs low, max things out or anything. And the damned thing moves when in drive, at idle!
However, I think the most important bit of having a manual is the failure-proofing it provides:
1. (mostly)Dead batteries? Push-start it(or drift it down a hill).
2. One or more cyls not working right? *you* control which gear it should be in, so you can control where you want to be. Really nice for limping between places. (see note 1)
3. Engine breaking - While not as useful as on a gas engine, you can slow yourself down with the engine quite nicely. This both preserves brakes, and when things fail horribly, it's nice as an assist. In our engines, it also reduces fuel usage if you're in gear going down a long hill -- gravity is powering the alternator and power steering, and (as far as I can tell), our engines aren't injecting *any* fuel in this condition).
4. Move it via starter: At least once you 'fix' the stupid manual switch, it's possible to move the truck slightly by starter power alone. Can be nice if you need to move it just a few feet and your engine won't start.
In addition, I think there's less to fail. With anything other than the c6, you've got an electronic control module which can fail(and long wiring harness), in addition to all the moving parts which are roughly the same on both. With the C6, you've got a complicated valve system and such.

(Note 1:
This happened to me today: My parents' 02 F350, 7.3 PSD has an auto. It's been having an intermittent failure issue where one bank of injectors isn't firing(wiring harness). When one bank fails, it runs very rough on the remaining 4 cyls, but it does run, and can put out a /little/ power. However, as it's got an auto, the amount of power it puts to the wheels prevents it from running at anything over idle, and will kill it after a bit.
If it had a manual, you could put it in first and play with the clutch to make it move, while keeping the revs up. You might even be able to keep it in low(er) gear and actually keep it driving, if it failed like that at a bad spot. )



That being said, in your case, I'd say to stick with your auto, if only because trying to retrofit a non-stick truck with a stick is a lot of work.

 

I cant vote.. as i cannot decide for myself. Contrary to most on here, i like being in control of my pickup via manual trans. but i can relate to shifting being a chore. There are many things i like about both, i love the extra "gears" you get from the TC locking and unlocking, the auto can be built alot stronger. However i like being able to downshift for grades, manuals are easier/ cheaper to maintain.

All of that being said, likely my 79 will get a built E40D... and should the ZF in the 92 go, it will likely get the same, unless in an unlikely turn of events a ZF6 happens to fall in my lap for near nothing.

As far as the mention of clutches, you can buy 500hp/900tq clutches for the IDI, only needs a SMF

So in short, i would say that since you have the E40D, fix it and give it the parts it needs and keep it.

 

I converted an auto Jeep Cherokee to manual... wouldn't even consider an auto truck. This is personal preference though I HATE automatic transmissions... Driving them confuses me. Actually when I first got that automatic Jeep to replace my previous manual Jeep I remember quite a few times stomping with my left foot and dropping off the throttle trying to shift.. Auto didn't like that much. I like cars that do what I tell them to.

 

I Think it depends on what kind of driving you do. In town a stick gets old fast. On the hwy I love a stick because I can down shift and hold a gear.

Autos are expensive. Manuals are cheap and basic. I switched out my c6 for a zf5 and there is no comparison. A stick pulls harder to me. Now I have a turbo and really like the stick towing in the hills.

 

Personally I prefer manual transmissions. I like having total control over the vehicle and it makes driving more enjoyable. A manual also gives you better feel in low traction situations, where as I find it's harder to feel when you are going to brake traction in an auto. City driving and heavy traffic where you have to grab a lot of gears it can be tiring, but I try to stay away from that crap anyway.

Definitely a matter of personal preference.

 

Well auto trans are stronger. More teeth in contact with each other and your torque is multiplied 2x by the converter. But they are spendy and they can only react to the input they receive. A manual is cheaper and is more commonly understood although I personally think autos are easy to understand as well. So it really depends on the application and preference. I have a manual and I wish I had an auto because it's my daily but at the same time driving a manual is very gratifying to me so it shall remain a manual.

 

That's absolutely not true, the note about injecting fuel. If the engine is spinning and the FSS is open, fuel is being injected.

 

I don't know for sure, but I read a while back that no fuel is injected during engine braking.

 

If there wasn't any fuel being injected, you wouldn't hear the engine running. Plain and simple. Does your engine totally quit when you let off the throttle? Nope. Therefore fuel is still being injected.