DemonSilverado

I would, however, make sure to get one of the 04's or late produced 03's or you may end up with the same problem I had.

To tell you the truth I never considered that to be a problem with the longevity, just with the design, but since not all of the 5-Speeds will be the new re-design of the NVG3500, you are certinly correct there are some SERIOUS issues to consider.

As I said before, my new one works beautifully, although I have no illusions that it will last much past the cam, if at all.

zippy

i agree, i've driven more than my share of the silverado's since for a couple years it was part of my job. the 5.3 auto can beat the 4.8 m5 without too much problem, but only because of the trans. the nv3500 not only uses a terrible shifter set up, but even with a better shifter they aren't syncronized well enough to take any kind of hard shifting. the 4.8 with a good manual trans would run with the 5.3 without too much trouble, but not with that trans. i'd way rather buy the 5.3 auto truck just for that reason.

zippy

PappyDan

iTrader: (4)

hang on now, lets weigh out all options here.
auto trans
3000 stall
install shift kit
firm up shift points
TM turned off
20 0/0 loss of power for auto trans
trany blows big bucks rebuild
auto shift set shift points
needs lunch control for high rev take off
needs trans cooler for auto
150 nos shot can blow pump seals

manuel trans
high pressure plate and race clutch
install speed sync rings
long arm reach, long stick cut down shifter
no TM to turn off
no loss of power at all
clutch wears out cheap replacement
manuel shift at peek power
can rev up to 4000+ RPM's then pop clutch on take off
needs no trans cooler at all
150 nos shot no seals to blow

it takes more money to build up an auto trans, and not everybody knows how to shift gears, it depends on what floats your boat and how serious you are about the race you run.

oh you can run better mods on your motor with a manuel trans with out having to upgrade to a stronger auto trans and putting in the stall and the shift kit all over again.

842ta

iTrader: (1)

I will probley be heavily modded and mabe a motor swap in the far future which would be better auto or manual.

blk03

iTrader: (2)

Now that I drive an automatic Silverado,I miss having a manual transmission like I did in my mustang and f-150. The only time I didn't like it was when I got caught in bad Houston traffic.

6gear

I had a 4.8/5 speed in my 01 and raced several 5.3 auto's and I always came out on top. I have had half a dozen 5 speed trucks and no problems.

hyper

u put a hpp3 on the auto and itll be just as fast or faster than than the 5spd. im not very into the stick trucks, dont like the big gimpy shifter. id just get the auto

2003Silvyrado

I don't think you can really fault the 5 speed for longevity. A modded 5.3 would probably destroy the pos 4l60E as quick as a modded 4.8 would destroy the 5 speed anyway, right?

So if I had to buy again I'd get the 4.8 with the 5 speed and save my money for an ls1 with T-56 transmission. It would probably be a hellavah lot easier to convert a 5 speed truck to the T56 then it would be to convert an automatic truck to a manual. That way you wouldn't have to worry about GMs weak autos. The other option would be to get a 4l80E.

So what would be harder, turning a 5 speed truck into a ls1 /w T56 or turning an auto truck into an ls1 or 6.0 /w 4l80E? ...and what would be cheaper?

PappyDan

iTrader: (4)

now this is good, because me and a buddy have already done this on a 2001 5.3 auto changed to manuel.

we went out to a junk yard here called pick a part, he payed out 355.00
for the clutch pedal and bracket down to the fly wheel and trans the whole 9 yards, droped off the trany at lou's for an upgrade on sync rings and shift forks this was over 200.00 and the high pressure plate and better clutch plate
only cost him around 400.00, we spent the weekend goofing off while we put it in, and oh my god when he reved it up to around 5000 rpms and let it lose

DemonSilverado

Several people have dogged on the shifter in the 5-Speeds.

Clearly you have not driven the late model 5-Speeds. The shifter is long, but the throw is short. My throw is the same distance as my buddies Mustang SVO (comes factory with a Hurst performance shifter). Its not the shortest out there, but it is the shortest as far as truck floor shifters go.

As for the syncros. Where can I get speed sync rings that will fit my trans??

Also there IS TQM on the 5-Speed Manual just like on the auto's.