6spd manual vs 4spd Auto?

[AFBLUE]

I am in the process of upgrading to a 7.3 Superduty, from my 95 OBS 5spd, but I cant decide on which trans I am going to get in my new.....er Truck.

SO.... Looking for facts and a bit of opinion.

I am partial to manual transmission but are only 5-10% of market.

What are the pros and cons, manual vs auto?

Performance:

Daily driving minus being lazy or cant drive stick:

Towing:

Maintenence:

Problems:

Overdrive rpms:
(I know my OBS turns 2500 at 70, and is screaming 3k at 80)

Sticker price of auto vs man:
(how much does it change blue book)

[pipelayerjdh]

This is my oppinion of it...

I am getting older and starting to like autos, but I still love manuals.

In the 7.3 trucks, the autos left a lot to be desired and didn't like extra power or heavy loads. The manual is the way to go in these trucks, unless you don't tow a lot or don't plan on adding more power.

with the 6.0 and 6.4's the auto is light years ahead of the previous versions. The 6 spd are still good trannies, but having a reliable auto that can handle towing and power is too hard to resist.

That is why my '97 is manual and our newest trucks are auto. Autos are just easier, but you don't want one that will leave you staranded.

[Ditty]

OK...so When I was looking for my truck, I didn't really care eitherway. I knew I wanted more power and all, but I've always been of the school of thought that Manuals were faster, at least up until you get to 10seconds or faster in the 1/4.

So, here I am, a few years later and a few grand in mods on the truck (which is pretty heavy) and I'm still in the low 16's! WITH a 6spd! Also, if you do ever seem to break the 6spd, (which I have THREE TIMES) they are much harder to find and cost more for a rebuilt replacement than a nicely performance built auto. Yes, the auto is going to run you a little more $$$ upfront, and some of 'em won't take to mods very well, but just think of the 'what if' factor of the 6spd.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have found my exact truck with an auto tranny. For the near $10,000 I have spent on trannys in the last 2.5 years, I could have one AWESOME auto that would hold up to anything possible AND I would be about a second or two faster at the track AND my left leg wouldn't hurt so much in traffic AND the g/f might actually want to learn to drive the durn thing.

Face it, (I had to) for trucks, an auto is the way to go. Hope I helped.

(Not to mention that getting a decent clutch is going to run you $800 or more and they are a PITA to install!!!!)

[willholl79]

My 01 is 6spd and 96 is auto but I wish it was 5spd.
In my personal experience the most dependable heavyduty pickups are Ford diesel manuals......pre 6.0!

[willholl79]

Originally Posted by Ditty

OK...so When I was looking for my truck, I didn't really care eitherway. I knew I wanted more power and all, but I've always been of the school of thought that Manuals were faster, at least up until you get to 10seconds or faster in the 1/4.

So, here I am, a few years later and a few grand in mods on the truck (which is pretty heavy) and I'm still in the low 16's! WITH a 6spd! Also, if you do ever seem to break the 6spd, (which I have THREE TIMES) they are much harder to find and cost more for a rebuilt replacement than a nicely performance built auto. Yes, the auto is going to run you a little more $$$ upfront, and some of 'em won't take to mods very well, but just think of the 'what if' factor of the 6spd.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have found my exact truck with an auto tranny. For the near $10,000 I have spent on trannys in the last 2.5 years, I could have one AWESOME auto that would hold up to anything possible AND I would be about a second or two faster at the track AND my left leg wouldn't hurt so much in traffic AND the g/f might actually want to learn to drive the durn thing.

Face it, (I had to) for trucks, an auto is the way to go. Hope I helped.

(Not to mention that getting a decent clutch is going to run you $800 or more and they are a PITA to install!!!!)

Well Ditty, I can understand your point ......but not everyone is trying to make a race car out of a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup. If you want to tow big (20,000 Ibs) and you want it to last, and don't drive it like Dale Jr. on the last lap of the Daytona 500 then manual trans is the way to go.

........and my girlfriend DOES drive the 01 6spd....EVERYDAY!!!!

No hard feelings but I have owned/driven 2 (88, 01) Ford diesel manuals and have only put a clutch or 2 in em for several 100k miles.

[AFBLUE]

I have a manual and I am leaning towards one because I like to drive stick, and think an auto is just boring. Buying a truck with 150,000 plus I like the idea of simplicity, less things to break in a manual. Not going to take it to the track, just want to get on it once in a while. What are the rpms/speed in top gear on a 6spd, because my OBS really screams too high for me down the road, and I feel like the motor is going to explode, and refuse to drive over 75.

I see the stick on a 6spd is L,1,2,3,4,5. Is it just a lower granny gear or is there more on top?

[willholl79]

With 35's and 3.73 gears my 250 is @ 1900 RPMs at 60 MPH.

I can squeeze 20 MPG

[AFBLUE]

Originally Posted by willholl79

With 35's and 3.73 gears my 250 is @ 1900 RPMs at 60 MPH.

I can squeeze 20 MPG

is the speedo calibrated for the 35s? or you just have them on there?

My truck may have 4.11s not sure, but if thats the case that a 6spd has 3.73, then 70mph would be 2300rpm in my truck.

[willholl79]

No it's calibrated via a 40hp hypertech programmer. The only reason for the programmer was to correct speedo.

[Ditty]

I understand your point. The reason I've gone through three 6spds is 1) The previous owners dogged the crap out of the truck and the bearings were shot soon after I bought it. 2) When my LUK stock replacement clutch went out I installed a SouthBend CONFE and broke the trans cooler line (My fault). And 3) The "new" replacement for it that AAMCO put it failed after about 3K miles. Turns out it was a reman. I'm pretty hard on wear parts like the clutch. My stock one was good for about 170K, then I went with the LUK during tranny #1 and that lasted about a year, a few 4wd launches at the track smoked that bad boy, and I'm now rolling with the SB CONFE and it's AWESOME.

I would suggest that if you are going to get the manual, at least get a short shift kit for it. I've heard GREAT things. They are a little pricey but I haven't heard a bad thing about any of them...except price.