I talked to the powers that be & found out that the 6 speed Allision Automatic transmission is indeed going to be on the 2006 trucks. BUT, they won't be putting them in until after the first of the year. Since 2006 trucks are built right after change-over (7/1) slowly increasing in % as the weeks go by-till they reach production figures for the year, this figures out some 2006 will have the 5 speed & the ones built after 1/1/2006 will have the 6 speed. Will keep you posted!! Howard_m18:cool2:

many thanks for the update.

just wondering if you or anyone knows what the 06 body style will look like or if it is the same? i am also wondering if the gmc will be the same or different?

They are only changing it a little - here are the pics.
http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/tb_lg_gmc-lg.jpg

For 06 the trucks will look pretty much the same. The major redesign is 07.

For 06 the trucks will look pretty much the same. The major redesign is 07.

Which is good cause I'll be ready for my new one in 07, so that gives me a year for them to fix anything that they may of gotten wrong.

ALL 2006 models will have the 6 spd., this is fact.

Greg

So what's it going to take to upgrade to the 6-speed?

I guess the big question is will the current 04.5 allison 5sp.be able to have 6 speeds? I know that the computers will be upgraded in 06 and the current one may not be able to work with 6 speeds? I have tried to find out more on the MW7 RPO code Allison with no luck. I know that the trans. has 3 planetarys and this would make 6sps. possible but what about the electronics to control it? I am not trying to open a can of worms, I was just thinking of how the current electronics could control it.

Probably better of trading in the 5spd. to get the six.....a brand new tranny will be pricey to say the least.

There is an element out there...people...who have a problem with GM because of the gas guzzlers the company produces--the H2, Denalis w/6.0s, Escalades, SS pick-ups and so on.

Now I've got a motive--I would like to have the 6-speed, but am not willing to part with my current truck just yet. I think it would be a splendid idea IF all it took was reprogramming of a couple of computers and a few more switches & maybe a harness mod to convert over to a 6-spd, granted that the hardware is indeed there...I could even go so far as cracking the case to do a little stroking here or there.

Follow me..... If indeed the 6-spd is worth having and could save on fuel economy as well as give an increase in performance it would be a good PR move on the part of GM. Some folks here might object to the idea and say that it would cost GM money in trades, but I submit as long we are talking about injector issues a lot of trucks will continue to be traded in, perhaps at very close to the same rate, because people don't want the headache or the cost as the window for warranty work begins to shut--100k approaches.

Like I said I have a motive. I'm not looking for a handout from GM, but a reasonably priced & warranted upgrade.

Maybe this has been said but I haven't seen it. In 06 will the 6 spd handel more power than the 5 spd?

I would say it would. I would not be surprised if GM upped the power a bit in some more one-ups-manship against the other two diesels.

wishlist...buy the house...can't hardly go wrong with reale-state whereas cars...well they're about the worst thing you can put money into. Try this go into the shower and take a handful of $100 dollar bills>>>roll them up real tight>>>shove them down the drain one at a time>>>>if that doesn't give you a cool feeling then get the house.

The 6 speed Ally will be installed when they no longer have any more 5 speeds.

never mind

There is an element out there...people...who have a problem with GM because of the gas guzzlers the company produces--the H2, Denalis w/6.0s, Escalades, SS pick-ups and so on.

Now I've got a motive--I would like to have the 6-speed, but am not willing to part with my current truck just yet. I think it would be a splendid idea IF all it took was reprogramming of a couple of computers and a few more switches & maybe a harness mod to convert over to a 6-spd, granted that the hardware is indeed there...I could even go so far as cracking the case to do a little stroking here or there.

Follow me..... If indeed the 6-spd is worth having and could save on fuel economy as well as give an increase in performance it would be a good PR move on the part of GM. Some folks here might object to the idea and say that it would cost GM money in trades, but I submit as long we are talking about injector issues a lot of trucks will continue to be traded in, perhaps at very close to the same rate, because people don't want the headache or the cost as the window for warranty work begins to shut--100k approaches.

Like I said I have a motive. I'm not looking for a handout from GM, but a reasonably priced & warranted upgrade. Unfortunatley, I doubt GM would do this for us. I'm not in the know on this, just my opinion. It certainly would be a great upgrade. If only we would all write to GM on this, then just maybe it might happen?

Old '97 5.7 gasser towed well with 4 speed A/T. 01 with 8.1 and 5 speed Allison towed well. Imagine 6 speed will do well to but will it really do any better than the others? Be interesting to see what comes out of the wash.

Unfortunatley, I doubt GM would do this for us. I'm not in the know on this, just my opinion. It certainly would be a great upgrade. If only we would all write to GM on this, then just maybe it might happen?
Between Suncoast, ATS, and DTT and smart folks like Mike L, Eric and Steve Cole one would think that they could come up with something. In fact I think it would behoove them to do so...economic opportunity.

-:t -:t :eek: :eek: WTH is thatThey are only changing it a little - here are the pics.
http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/tb_lg_gmc-lg.jpg

Maybe this has been said but I haven't seen it. In 06 will the 6 spd handel more power than the 5 spd?

Some of the techs here might be able to shed some better light on this, but it sounds like the changes are mostly valvebody and electronics. The "hard parts" are still the same, and unless they put in a better converter the HP/TQ limitations stock are going to be the same/close.

My biggest question is the 6 speed overdrive and how much it will be able to handle.

Those that remember the the 700r4/4l60e remember the "do not tow in OD" slogan. If 6th gear is not able to be used for towing at full towing capacity then it does no good for those that tow. That deep of an OD gear adds alot of leverage on the tranny......

It will be interesting to see.
I am waiting to get an 06 myself as I do not tow heavy often, but I'm a little scared for it being the first year of the change.....We'll see though.

Some of the techs here might be able to shed some better light on this, but it sounds like the changes are mostly valvebody and electronics. The "hard parts" are still the same, and unless they put in a better converter the HP/TQ limitations stock are going to be the same/close.

My biggest question is the 6 speed overdrive and how much it will be able to handle.

Those that remember the the 700r4/4l60e remember the "do not tow in OD" slogan. If 6th gear is not able to be used for towing at full towing capacity then it does no good for those that tow. That deep of an OD gear adds alot of leverage on the tranny......

It will be interesting to see.
I am waiting to get an 06 myself as I do not tow heavy often, but I'm a little scared for it being the first year of the change.....We'll see though.
I think there was talk about the '06 Allison having different friction material with crosshatching on it...

I would like to get the 06 but it won't handle more power I won’t. The house most likely won't be bought because I plan on moving back to TX 3-4 years. And I don't want it keeping me here when its time to go. Unless I find something I can't pass up, but I don’t know I have kind of been looking at houses for a year now.

One more thing with the 6 spd would the price of a Suncoast and ATS go up?

Here are some new things I know about Allison 1000 and 2000 series from Allison, not GM. I don't know how GM will implement these changes or if they even have a choice.

New Plus4 control system starting July 05
New TCM for Plus4 with greater memory and processor speed
New Internal Mode Switch will replace external NSBU
Max input torque raised to 620 lb-ft when used in combination with engines equipped with Shift Energy Management (SEM)

Shift Energy Management (SEM)

A.K.A. Defueled shifts?????

:confused:

"Max input torque raised to 620 lb-ft when used in combination with engines equipped with Shift Energy Management (SEM)"

looks like the allison boys are taking a few hints from ats and suncoast, about time, really how much more would it cost them to do it upright the first time