I personally am sick and tired of rowing the gears in my cummins with 6spd manual BUT....I am also not a fan of having a weak trans. After reading multiple threads on the issue of new rebuilds failing quickly because they can't handle extra power...the thought of a swap comes to mind. I didn't think that hard about it until I heard that you can easily swap in a NV4500 and a shift kit like this! What say ye?
Manual trans swap unpopular?
- Thread starter drowssap
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Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
Pretty damn cool. I think there's a member on here who did the swap.
If a NV4500 is an easy swap then a NV5600 would probably go easily as well.
Personally I have thought about a stick conversion but I always assumed it would shift like a school bus which I don’t want. I also absolutely HATE the 4L60e. It shifts good but the ratios are terrible IMO. When I get on it from a light it doesn’t shift out of first until 45ish. Also when it locks in OD and I hit a slight incline it comes out of lock and shortly there after downshifts. I blame this mostly on the 5.3 lack of power to move a suburban. I prefer an automatic in bigger vehicles typically though. I have been emailing a few companies about doing a 6L90 or even the 8L90 swap . I would convert the 6.0 over to a 58x reluctor ring and four position cam before I swap it in. That’s what’s needed to control a 6 or 8 speed auto with the older LS ecm according to what I’ve read. Dimensionally it’ll fit just need a custom cross member. Anyway do the swap and let us know. You have my attention
mals
Full Access Member
My wife's main complaint with our Yukon is that it's an automatic. It's the first automatic car we've owned since I taught her to drive stick when we were dating 22 years ago.
Maybe I can sell her on this idea when our 4L65e gives up one day.
cmc76
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I remember watching the forum member here, but I can't remember his name.
He had to do some serious fabrication for the shift linkage. But looks very slick in the video above. I doubt I have the ambition any more. But the manual swap in my Cummins was always a dream.
He had to do some serious fabrication for the shift linkage. But looks very slick in the video above. I doubt I have the ambition any more. But the manual swap in my Cummins was always a dream.
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drowssap
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This would be awesome but I thought those transmissions needed a seperate ecu that doesn't get along well with older electronics? I am also really liking the idea of this swap. I think the gearing in the NV4500 would be ideal for rpm's below 2000 at 65mph in these trucks. The problem is that the Tahoe is going to become my daily driver and I will need to wait to get my hands on another back up vehicle to drive as I will be selling my Ram in a few weeks. The Tahoe is CHERRY with only 75k miles on it and I want to be careful to choose the best mods for long term use. I also read somewhere that the swap will also play well with the auto 4wd so that is interesting too!
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drowssap
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You know....I normally do not make decisions based on appearance but this set up looks pretty cool too!
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drowssap
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It's actually not that bad at all! This youtube poster has another video showing exactly how he built the setup and gives dimensions as well!
swathdiver
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Why would this be so foreign to do when the 2001-2006 Sierra and Silverado 2500HD and 3500s as well as the 2007 Classics ran this transmission from the factory? The 6.0 and earlier Duramax engines used the MW3.
about20ninj45
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@01ssreda4
Aren't you the one else doing this swap?
Aren't you the one else doing this swap?
You are way overcomplicating that. Find someone local with hptuners to tweek the way the trans acts during driving, and consider a steeper rear gear ratio to keep you in lockup longer while maintaining acceleration ability. 8l90e and reluctor swap. Wow that sounds flat ridiculous.
Not me brother.
I’m actually considering 4.10s because my front diff bearings are starting to make noise and the rear can’t be far behind. As for 8L90e it wouldn’t be to hard to do with money. The question would be is it worth it? I don’t think so. Companies like speartech and few others have boxes now that can convert the 24x reluctor ring signal etc. it would definitely take and time and money but in the end I doubt I would put that much into this vehicle. I’d do duramax swap before I spent 7k on an 8 speed auto behind a 5.3
swathdiver
Full Access Member
Same here!
I wouldn’t think so on the frame but I would definitely upgrade to stiffer torsion bars and I would use a duramax from a Van that is mated to a 6l90e. I would also leave it mostly stock. My dream vehicle would be a 2500 NBS Suburban with a van duramax swap.
PatDTN
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Not at all likely to happen but if I built a Suburban with a Duramax and 6 or 8 speed automatic my father in law would borrow it and never give it back. LOL!
Can’t say I blame him. Lol
http://www.speartech.com/product_p/ls36l802.htm
I’d probably do this swap before a 20k+ duramax swap. I see it like this. I own my suburban outright. To get a zero mile on the drivetrain/engine suburban it’ll cost 50k or more.
Option 1 - take a loan and pay 600 a month for 67 months. That’s zero interest and 10k down on a 50k price tag. No thanks. That’s a rental property, not a vehicle
Option 2 - Keep driving this one and continually put money in to every 6-8 months as things break and that’s on about 500-1000 every 6-8 months. (currently where I’m at)
Option 3 - spend 1500 on this driveline and install it myself. Trailer suburban to speartech or another speed shop and let them get it running etc. assuming 3k bill I’m at 18k. Now spend 3k more on new rear ended, front end, tcase and replace all bushings, bearings, ball joints etc. sitting at about 22k for a zero mile driveline and zero payment Suburban.
Option 4 - replace everything with reman oem stuff and be at zero mile driveline for less than 15k.
Option 5 - duramax 30k.
Option three is my favorite
03catburban
Full Access Member
I know is is a very old thread but if this is still an interest to anyone. I'll be 5 speed swapping my suburban in a few weeks
Dantheman1540
Full Access Member
If you have any questions or want pictures of something let me know. I've got 2 5 speed gmt800s one with the trans out and going back in this coming week. I'd love to help.
