I am getting ready to order a new 2005 SD, and I am thinking about getting a 6- speed tranny....I have had 4 - speeds in the last two pick-ups that I have owned .....I guess I am old fashioned.....When I inquire to the dealer about ordering a 6-speed, I get some strange looks......I guess NOBODY wants a manual tranny anymore....I have also seen some comments on here about the 6-speed in SDs being a POS......True or not..??....give me some opinions....

 

Ive had mine for 4 days now. And I love it. Ive been wanting a stick since i got my licence.I think alot of people dont like it is because the pattern is so tight. The first day every time i started out it was in 3rd gear and stalled. My luck i showed up on the lot and they had 2 6.0 6 spds.

 

You've seen negative comments about the ZF6 here? That surprises me, because it is a practically bulletproof tranny.

 

It's definitly not a POS but compared to my father's 1987 F250's ZF S542 5-speed and my old 1999 F250's ZF S547 5-speed, it's not as smooth. It's a heavier duty transmission than both of these and it's a bit harder to shift not to mention that it is very noisy (but at low speeds only, you can't hear it at road speeds). But once you get acquainted with the trick of shifting from 1st to 2nd, it's actually pretty descent. I figured that if I shift from 1st to 2nd while keeping my RPMs bellow or at 1500 rpm, it's just like Barbara Streisand: butter. All the other speeds are pretty good and will shift smoothly at any RPMs. Another trick is to replace the stock ATF with Mobil 1 ATF. I did that at 5000 miles and it's both quieter and easier to shift. The "L" gear in that tranny is worth it's weight in Chevy's stuck in a ditch. 1000 rpms it all it takes to suck a burried truck out of a mud pit. (From practical experience.) Not good in a Dallas traffic jam you might say? Not so. I stick it in "L" and it just rolls along at 1.5 mph whereas before, in my 2002 with an auto, I had to creep up and get on the brakes, creep up and get on the brakes at infinitum. L is also great if you do get stuck, and with the stock tires, you will, you put in in L, let the clutch out, then you get out and push or put stuff under the tires. I've had mine for a little over a year and it gets my vote. Definitly more entertaining to drive than an auto.

 

If you don't mind the shifting get the manual. Clutch isn't heavy considering, well it's a big truck. Syncronizers are great. Just get in the rythm of shifting at 2500 and grab the next gear. Double clutching if for wusses. Low or 1st is way low. There is almost no limit to the amount of weight you can get moving. 4 Low and low gear and you'll be amazed, astonished is more the word. My 550 is outfitted with the manual. The truck weighs 17,500# and I leave the light in 2nd. So I'm sure 3rd is attainable in a much lighter truck.

On the flipside the automatic is phenomenal. My F250CC shifts so fast. You get tow haul mode. It's a five speed (six) so it shifts a little more often than most auto's well just because it can. The auto is programmed to keep the diesel engine it's powerband especially while you're loaded down. Drive both. There are both pros and cons. Then make yor decision. Or you can have one of each like me .

 

Thanks for the good comments guys, the 2002 F350 I am all hot & bothered to buy is set up with the 6th speed manual tranny too. Glad to hear that others opinions are similar to my opinion following my test drive.

I have had problems with the E4OD automatis in a previous F250, behind the 351v8, I haven't had a problem with the E4OD behind my 460v8 in my current F250 but have always lived in fear of it failing. Thats one of the reasons I am planning to go with the 6 speed Mannual Tranny.

 

Welcome to FTE, this is a great place.

Just about everything I've read here about the 6spd is positive. The only negative things I've read come from the guys with the torqshift and most never even owned the 6spd....the Auto vs Man debate.

I ordered the 6 spd in my 04 F350 CC LB 6.0 and would not have it any other way! I like to be in control and have had some bad luck with autos.

Tsheriff: "pattern is so tight"???? ......I will be purchasing the BD shift kit to tighten the pattern up. I think the throw is a little long.

 

My 04' F-350, V-10, 6-speed with the 4:30 LS, has been great, I would definately get the 4:30 gears, if your going to do any type of pulling there "acpick",,I think you get better mpg with the manual too,I just filled up, got 10.71 mpg thats around town, (rural, country, town, no highway) driving. All & all not that bad for a DRW truck weighing 8k ,,,It keeps creeping up, over 7k on it now, looks like maybe taking a trip soon,,see what happens then. I am less then 1 mpg, from what my 99' PSD got for mileage,,,2 weeks before the trade the PSD got 11.5,,best I ever got was 13.1, mpg, but the psd was an auto, and weighed 10 k, see what happens.

Later,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mark

 

Have had manuals in my sports cars in the past, but the last few vehicles have all been automatic just because of the "convenience" of it for me...
I just don't "need" the manual.... and the torqueshift is much more tranny than the 4 speed auto was IMHO...
but again, it's what YOU want - the old "boxer's or briefs" question :-)
neither is wrong !

and then there are some that shouldn't be ALLOWED to have a manual
Check the first Skyline video out !!!
this is both a slam against ricers and the ills of not knowing how to move a simple shift **** !
http://www.toprpm.com/eng/videos.htm

 

I'm with you there, dude. Where can you get the shift kit?

 

Hey Oppy,

You can get one from BD-Power.com. I haven't ordered mine yet, but I asked some of the other guys around here a while back about them, and one guy lives not too far from the BD plant. He picked one up, installed it, and he liked it; said the shifting pattern was much better. They run about 275 if I remember correctly and I'll be ordering mine in about 3 weeks. Take a look at my gallery for a picture of the kit.

Terry

 

The six speed is great. I have 60,000 miles on mine in 2 years and have had no problems. I would get 3:73 gears unless you plan on lifting and installing bigger tires. My CC SD 4x4 V10 with 305 75 16 tires will pull anything and gets about 11 mpg to 13 on the highway wtih 373 gears. Would expect even less with 4:30's.

 

Thanks for the link bass - I'll check it out.

 

HAs anyone atempted to get rid of the ugly looking tube shifter and install something like a chrome hurst style with a custom shift ball. How does the old shifter shaft come out. mine needs some massaging. I got a bruse on the side of my knee from reverse and Low gear. Now i know why this tranny in a gm truck has a kick to the right and up.

 

I bought mine used, however I love the 6 speed. I was looking for a bullet proof vehicle and so I went for the PSR/6 spd combo.

Also mine came with a chrome shift ****. I stuffed the original in the covey hole right behind it. It I drive my wifes car with a stick, sometimes I need to look to see where reverse is.
JR