Other than just having a clean floorboard, is there any other reason to go electronic button shift?


The price for the electronic is not much so I don't consider that an issue.

If you want the center console you can't have the floor transfer shift. I personally like the center console, give a place to store stuff.

So that center console is the real deal?


The LT's come with the elect shift. Very few LS come that way.

I have an '03 LS trim 2500 Silverado, front buckets with center console, and pushbutton 4wd. Here are my opinions:


Biker> So that center console is the real deal?


The center console is nice to have to store stuff but it doesn't really give you very much storage area. My previous truck was a '94 K1500 Blazer and its center console had about twice the storage area (more than 3x the space if you include the enclosed space under the cupholders) compared to the current console design.


In my current truck, the driver and front passenger compartments from the hip down are completely isolated by the center console. There is plenty of room to get comfortable, but still, to me it feels crowded. The driver/front passenger area in my old K-Blazer by comparison was voluminous.


Biker> Other than just having a clean floorboard, is there any other reason to go electronic button shift?


Having the pushbutton 4wd is nice from the convenience standpoint but it is one more system that might go wrong at an inconvenient time. There have been issues with the pushbutton 4wd system -- search for "encoder motor" on any of the GM truck oriented websites. Also see http://dieselplace.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=277&KW=encoder+motor


I've had the '03 Silverado for about 12 months now and haven't had any problems with pushbutton 4wd system yet. Knock on wood. I'm seriously considering the next truck I get will have the floor shifter. A 4x4 without a floor shifter just doesn't seem like a real 4x4.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wink.gif


Sean

Hi-


The button is a lot easier to use. I can easily put it in and out of 4 wheel drive as needed.


It's out of the way. So it leaves the floor open to do any kind of modifications you may want to do.


I have the factory center console and It is a very nice item. Good layout. A lot of little places to put things. An extra hole to put a nice fitting XM radio if you want or some guages. At the dealer's, I did not want it. Now I am glad my wife talked me into it.


And last but not least. It's good for hours of good fun debate as to what fluid to use in it (auto-track fluid or transmission fluid.) because GM made it totally confusing in the bookhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif.Edited by: JohnnyO

The fold down console in the bench seat gives you a little storage space, but not much. I prefer the floor shifter just because that is what I am used to. Plus, I like having the open floor space, so I went with the bench. It's mainly a personal preference as far as which one to get. I don't trust the pushbutton. I had a '93 with the pushbutton 4X4 and it would sometimes take several tries to get it out of 4wd.

What I fine funny, learn somehting new every day I guess, is that when I was looking at ordering my 02 you could not get the floor shift with the allison trans. Hmmm. Even after a few phone calls to GM from the dealer all said it can't come that way. Something about the linkage around the allison wasn't doable. If I went with the 6sp man. trans then you could get the floor. Well I've been happy with my push button. I keep my goves and hat down where the shifter would be so I guess I've grown to perfer the open floor space.





cmc

You can't compare the speed of going in and out of 4x4 with the pre-97 models. Not sure if I got the year right but somewhere around there they discarded the older style front actuator with a newer style servo motor actuator. The old one was prone to failure and slow actuation in cold weather....

Either style system you choose, you still have the newer actuator.

http://www.uscom.com/~hoot/cars/actuator_upgrade/install%20005.jpg

The new one is almost instant on....

http://www.uscom.com/~hoot/cars/actuator_upgrade/wholenew%20008.jpgEdited by: hoot

What I fine funny, learn somehting new every day I guess, is that when I was looking at ordering my 02 you could not get the floor shift with the allison trans. Hmmm. Even after a few phone calls to GM from the dealer all said it can't come that way. Something about the linkage around the allison wasn't doable. If I went with the 6sp man. trans then you could get the floor. Well I've been happy with my push button. I keep my goves and hat down where the shifter would be so I guess I've grown to perfer the open floor space.





cmc








I have an 02 with a floor shifter and Allision. Ordered it that way, did not like the buttons/

I would order the pushbutton type. I haven't used the newer floor shifters so I don't know how well they function but I can say that the new buttons work much better than the floor shifters in K series trucks of late 80s or early 90s.


If I was just a recreational user I might think otherwise. I use 4WD at least a few months a year and shift several times a day sometimes when conditions are inconsistant.


I think that the T-cases are the same regardless of which actuator you choose. One thing that I like about pushbutton is that there isn't much gray area concerning whether or not it is functioning properly. If you push the button it should shift, if it doesn't then it's not working. Where as with a floor shifter you may be able to get it locked in after fussing with it for a few minutes, but that doesn't mean that it is working properly.


I have traveled tens of thousands of miles in 4WD, and had more problems with floor shifters than with buttons. And the buttons are just more convienient for my needs. --SS

rtquig,


Not sure if it made a diff but I was after a short bed CC w/8.1L. I see you got a LB CC. Again I don't know and doubt that would make a differance but who knows up in GM land.





cmc

the transfer cases for each are different, the guts are the same, but the cases and a few other things are different.

I have an 02 with a floor shifter and Allison.....


Me too. I like the manual lever, one less computer malfunction to worry about.

I guess you guys with the manual shifters have never had one freeze up with ice or dirt. I bought the electric shift as soon as they were available and have never looked back. Later! Frank http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

I had the electric shift in a 96 Chev. pickup and when I traded it in thye 98 Dodge Cummins. I sure wish I had the Electric shift back. Not sure how the Newer GM manual shifters are the one in the Dodge was hard to shift. It is nice to just oush the button and go!!!

Got a floor shifter with my stick..wouln'dt have it any other way..now if only I could get manual hubs :)

I have the electric shifter with an 02 Suburban and the floor shifter in the Silverado. So far neither one has given me any trouble, but I did have trouble with a S-10 Blazer with electric buttons. I had a 98 Dodge 2500 quad cab 4 X4, and the floor shifter seemed to go in and out more easily than the chevy.

I've had both and I'm glad I have the electric shift now. The hassles of fighting the transfer case to go into 4WD just are not there with the pushbuttons. Also, the times when I needed 4WD are not the times to be losing concentration on the road. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

You know what would be funny?


I'll bet all you guys with a floor shift actually have electric push button. GM just made a handle to fool you!!!!! LOL

I've had a few of each too and now prefer the electric system to the manual shift for all the above reasons. I did however have to have the button system changed on an 01 that wouldn't work for me one day but they are definately handier!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Don't forget the Bose amp and subwoofer are in the console too.


That is why it doesn't have as much room as the old ones.

I think that if I had the floor shifter I would be inclined to leave it engaged almost constantly for a few months of the year, and often for about two additional months. This in my opinion would cause more overall wear than shifting often as I do with my pushbutton setup. The pushbutton shifting on these seems so quick, smooth and seamless that I wouldn't expect frequent shifting to be much of a wear factor.


There again if I was only a recreational user I might think differently, but I like being able to shift in any traffic conditions without taking my eyes off the road. And I don't miss the knob on the floor or manual hubs either for that matter. We put a man on the moon before I was born so I think we should be able to handle auto 4WD. And if we can't than I would blame the manufacturer for POS quality. --SS

Really fellas, it's not all that hard to reach down and tug on a lever. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif Oh, it might take me about 2 seconds, but my right arm is developing muscles much bigger than my left arm. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif


Honestly I don't see a difference, besides the fact you lose out on the center console (something I do wish I had) with the floor shifter.Edited by: Smitty

You probaly like manual windows and door locks also?

It is a lot easier to push the button when alternating from dry roads to snowy back roads.

I have the push buttons. also had them on my '98 1/2 ton. Hated them just cause I was old school. 2 yrs after getting the '98 I learned it dosen't matter as long as you have 4x ability. I like the push button. am in the process of pulling my center consol out and putting a seat in. more floor space for legs and people. anybody want one or know of a seat available pm mehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

Have a good friend that has a '97 with pushbuttons that would just quit on him "in times of desperate need". 4X4 would just unlock or the lights would keep blinking and not get solid so the front end would not lock in. Besides being a little higher for me it was on down the road that bothered me. There was/are a electric motor on the side of the transfer case that those nice little buttons are commanding to engage the 4x4. He went through 2-3 of those little motors and seems they were around $300 each besides having to order it and wait on that and then take the rig in and let the mechanic dig all the mud off the side of the pickup and wait for him to get it fixed.


I don't know . . . I just got the stick. Easy on, easy off. By the way, my same friend bought a 2001 with push button 4x4! He hasn't started using it in the mud yet though!