How good are the 6 Speeds??

[forthehalibut]

I am STILL looking for my F350 PSD. I have seen one for sale that is a 99, and has the 6 spd manual tranny in it. How good are those transmissions? Are they as stout/reliable as the 5 spds? Is the 6th speed an overdrive gear for highway cruising? What are some of the minuses of the 6 speed?

[Dieseltorkin]

I loved my old 6 Speed, i havent heard of any trans failures with them with normal use and pulling Just the normal replacing of the clutch when its time. Think of the 6 spd as a 5 spd in the older trucks but with a Granny low first gear like in the old 70's and such ford trucks.
First gear is actually LO which is used for taking off while loaded or when a extra slow speed is required. Im not positive on the actual output gear ratios of the 6spd vs the 5spd but from all the manuals ive driven the main difference is the addition of the low gear in the 6 spd.

[forthehalibut]

Now THAT is something I could use from time to time. IF the other 5 gears are like the standard gears on the 5 spd, and that 6th is a granny gear like you say it is--that could be a big benefit on the rare occasions I would need to pull/haul heavy loads. Otherwise, I would just be taking off in 2nd spd normally, I take it?

[00strker]

yeah its low 1-4 and overdrive the low is pretty much sam ratio as reverse bout ten 8 mph tops i think

[03-blue-Powerstroke]

Technically you would be starting in first gear. It goes L 1 2 3 4 5 R

[00strker]

no its low 1234 OD

[03-blue-Powerstroke]

Originally Posted by 00strker

no its low 1234 OD

Im talking about a 6spd

[00strker]

dude listen to me it goes low 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OVERDRIVE

[7.3powerstroke2000]

It goes R-L-1-2-3-4-overdrive

[00strker]

Originally Posted by 7.3powerstroke2000

It goes R-L-1-2-3-4-overdrive

thank u dam