Im running a fully built auto tranny now.. but im getting tired of having to replace the clutchs and steeles in it every 8-15k miles from minor slippage over time wearing them out... I have to replace them more often when i drag the truck at the drag strip.... which has been nearly every sunday for osme time now....... but im thinking of maybe going to a manual... and get a slap stick for shifting........was thinking of doing the 5-speed NV-4500 since they still make them in the brand new GM vehicles and there are so much more stuff to do to them available .... they make a GM Slap Stick Shifter... which fits the GM NV4500 but the guy at the speed shop said that he has heard people putting them on there jeep's....

 

You will still have problems. Probably more of them. Auto is also faster. I would not trade mine.

 

Changing to a stick is gonna add at least a second to your 1/4 mile times Is there a chance your trannys frictions are not holding up due to some problems with its build?

 

Have you spoken to Goerends? They might have better clutches etc. for your use.

 

Not to knock your tranny...but i have heard...and this is all second hand, the tranny you run is good up to about 350-400 HP or so. I might make a suggestion selling your trans to someone with less power that can take advantage of the better built trans (and its not a bad trans at all) and maybe look into a DTT. I have heard (see before) that the unit they build is very solid and is more apt to handle the power (actually going on first hand experience with RJohnsons truck...he is getting about the same power as you. He just upgraded his shafts and they looked at his clutches, and no probs found after 2ish years.) You might have the same amt invested in swapping over to a NV4500 as upgrading your trans. Plus you truck will never be as fast. The stick seems faster due to the jerkiness and 1:1 hook up. But the auto is smoother in power delivery and multiplies the torque on take off. Keeps the engine in peak HP range longer. You are willing to give up speed off the line, its not bad. BUT you will burn up clutches, and brake gears....if you run it hard like you do......pick your poison.....

 

I've never owned an auto until I got the Ram. Since it's my daily driver, I prefer it. In reality, whenever you run mega HP/TQ, you're gonna break crap and wear things out regardless of who built your tranny. It's the price of bragging rights When you look at real world vehicles that were designed from the factory to handle such power levels, they don't use trannies, diffs, or really anything drivetrain related that was designed to fit in a pickup, no matter how well it's built.

 

If you were towing and wanted brute strength and simplicity, I'd say to go with a manual and a heavy duty clutch (I'm swapping my auto to a manual in the very near future, hopefully this spring). But your case is one of the few times I would say to stick to an auto. As has been said, manuals are slower shifting, so for racing, you would definately lose time. I just barely installed a #10 plate a couple days ago, and i can tell already that my auto isn't long for this world. With the TC locked up (no slipping) the truck pulls like a freight train rear-ended me. But while accelerating without the TC locked, I feel no difference except that the engine winds up quicker. I know its slipping bad. And I'm not about to spend $4000+ for a built auto that may or may not work well, especially for a truck with 250K miles. In your case though, like others said, build up your trans more or swap in a stronger auto.

Jim

 

Yeah...what Jim Said......

 

I'm getting to that point now. Any gear other than lockup sucks. There's almost no acceleration at all. I have to go half throttle to get the frigging rpm's up to 2200rpm and they just sit there as the truck goes through first, second, third and then finally drops rpm's once it hits lockup. Boy I hope I get that DTT this summer.

 

Anyone try a Lenco ? for a stick or look into 727 buildups to see what Blown Hemi cars are running. I know theres a difference in weight we are pushing.
Also what size tires are you running and whats your gear ratio? Your final drive ratio may have something to do with it. Im no expert here but in my past racing experience even the best built tranny will not hold under some conditions. The guys that say manuals are the way to go well they to can only handle so many cycles before things start stressing and break. Ive rode in a bunch of manuals the syncs were trashed from slamming gears.

 

get in touch with Timinva (dtr member)...he builds DTT trannies.

 

Well if you abuse the transmission, it doesn't matter what you have or how much its rated for, it will eventually break. Thats why I did say an auto would be better for racing. I've tried shifting my father's NV4500 quickly, and it just ain't happening. If used hard, but not abused, manuals are the hot ticket for towing, in my opinion. One example- I see guys on this site who have towed 30,000 lbs. I know if i tried to tow 30,000, I wouldn't even get it moving, because my auto would just slip. I tried towing a 10,000 lb. GVW load, and while the engine handled it like a champ, the auto just let the engine rev to 2500 and sit there. I wouldn't even want to guess what my trans fluid temp was. On the other hand, we used my father's truck to move around an 18,000 lb. excavator on a heavy equipment trailer, and it had no problem at all. We didn't slam gears, we drove it carefully, and never a hiccup from it.

There is another reason an auto would work better for racing than other uses. While racing, RPMs are higher, which brings up the line pressure and helps the auto work better. But while taking off with a heavy load from a stop, the engine is trying to put out tons of torque at low RPMs, which the trans just doesn't have the pressure to be able to handle.

Jim

 

see the problem is... dave goerend when i went to his shop.. he has a big block chevy engine that he runs to test out the trannys when he builts them.. which is putting int he 850hp range.. but it dont have near the amount of torque that we are running in our trucks... I have dealt with dave myself many times... and he has helped me out LOTS from when i use to have a built ATS tranny that ATS wouldnt warranty because i was pushing more then 500hp.. haha they were like yeah what upgrades you have.. and i told them not knowing they were jerks like that.. and then after i told him he said due to you having the modifications you have.. we are unable to warranty your tranny....the tranny me and dave goerend have built is a really good unit.. we have all the same upgrades that DTT runs in there trannys minus there custom valve body.... but im running 48re internals.. upgraded pump for higher preassure and the whole nine yards... the tranny will hold 100% on full drag launchs for the first 20 runs.. then it starts to slip from there on out....
i have even converted over to run 5 frictions/ 5 steeles... so im running more grip power then DTT runs in theres and it still slips after a while....this last set of frictions i put in they have yet to slip once in the last 8k miles due to the fact i have only launched on them about 4 times....but other then that it doing really well...

 

You should have your tranny looked at. A properly built auto will hold as much HP as a manual. Our shop truck makes over 800 RWHP and the tranny is working great, and this is a trans that was setup for 600 RWHP not 800+.

Doug Smith

 

You do not have the same tranny as DTT builds. Just because it has the same parts doesn't make it the same. My DTT has held over 500hp for over 50,000 miles with no issues and that includes heavy towing and 1.66 60 foot times. If you'll take a look around at what the fast trucks are running most are either using a Suncoast or a DTT for a reason.