I am looking for a Duramax and I wonder if the manuel transmission is as reliable and the automatic?

Welcome to the DP. Although all my other trucks I have owned had been stds., I decided to get an auto so my wife could drive it too. Really glad that I did. The Allison is an awesome transmission, esp. when you are towing. Can't speak for the manual, but I certainly am a believer in the Allison now.

You may want to check out the ZF-6 sections under GM transmissions. Some good threads there.

Welcome to the place karvinkarl! I agree! The Allison is an amazing piece of work and it handles the truck well while towing. I believe the manual trans had some clutch issues at one time, but I think they have been worked out. People who own them seem to love them!

allison auto all the way.

when you tow and when you are in traffic you will thank yourself for getting the Auto.

the Allison Tranny is THE best!!

Allison........

What Braino said......

If you want to race it, get an auto....The Allison is a dandy transmission...
Personally, I prefer manual transmissions..Therefore, that's what I got..
The transmission is as reliable as the auto...The clutch setup however leaves something be desired if you go beyond the stock power....Not that anyone would think of doing that, of course ;)

The choice is yours. I prefer to row through the gears myself...this gives you something to do while in traffic. Yes some are experiencing flywheel / clutch issues, however we have one vendor with an aftermarket setup and another vendor working on one in conjunction with Southbend Clutch.

Both the ZF and Allison will need some work if you go much above stock HP. The money you save on the Ally will more than pay for a new bulletproof flywheel / clutch set up.

How about that for muddying the water!!!

MaxRock

I have the MANual. I really like it. I just spent about $1000 on a new flywheel and clutch kit (incl. labor). Not too bad. If I had to work on the Allison it would be at least twice that. All I really needed to replace was the rattling flywheel (TSB if you are still under warranty). A $287 part. But while it was open I replaced everything. Plus I don't have to worry about filters or Tranny fluid with the manual.

:driver:

If you want to race it, get an auto....The Allison is a dandy transmission...
Personally, I prefer manual transmissions..Therefore, that's what I got..
The transmission is as reliable as the auto...The clutch setup however leaves something be desired if you go beyond the stock power....Not that anyone would think of doing that, of course ;)

Even at stock power the DMFW leaves a LOT to be desired.....see sig.:mad:

My opinion: I've spent countless hours in big trucks and don't miss for a minute the shifting. We bought with the Allison so she could drive it too. Even when towing, the Allison performs flawlessly; set it, and forget it. I just can't imagine there being a better automatic transmission available for this application.

you can't beat the allison, wether you tow or not that transmission is a beast

you can't beat the allison, wether you tow or not that transmission is a beast Yeah what he said! I was kind of looking for a manual when I bought my truck but I am so glad now that I have the allison.

My opinion: I've spent countless hours in big trucks and don't miss for a minute the shifting. We bought with the Allison so she could drive it too. Even when towing, the Allison performs flawlessly; set it, and forget it. I just can't imagine there being a better automatic transmission available for this application.

Another reason to purchase a handshaker!!! :D

Another reason to purchase a handshaker!!! :D

Haha, I had my fiance out for her "second lesson" the other night. The "first lesson" went all right, not great but I told her, just let the clutch out real slooooooooow, it will pull itself. So we idled around the parking lot for 20 minutes.

Second lesson, shifting. Hahaha. What a joke.):h :mad: You should've heard me yellin'. CLUTCH, CLUTCH!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIND. :eek: I don't think she wants another lesson.

I'm going to get a case of lager put it in a cooler and go to the mall parking lot either one night or early morning. Once she figures it out, sorry hon, you need to drive home!!

Have a good one!!
Dan

For the original post itself, while I like the ZF6, I too have had a replacement flywheel. The trans itself is fine, it's just the clutch/flywheel kind of stink. Dad's truck has the Allison, man that thing is cool. I haven't towed with his, but did with his old 6.0/4L80E, I can't wait to see the difference, the Allison is smart, it has the right gear ALL of the time.

The Allison grade logic is really impressive. A few weeks ago I towed down a fairly good grade where the speed limit dropped to 30mph (speed trap heading into a small town) and the allison figured I was braking to scrub speed and took over by downshifting and held the load back with no brakes. I was blown away how well this worked. Even city driving with tow haul will save your brakes with extra/earlier downshifts as you touch the brakes approaching a stop light. The logic the tranny uses saves brakes and takes a lot of the stress from slowing the load. On acceleration in tow haul the tc locks up so you don't build heat from slippage. All diesel trannys should be this smart and stout. With a huge load you may still want an exhaust brake but my 6500lbs are well controlled by the allison, and the tranny temp is very cool while towing....everything I want. You gotta love the hummer alpha getting the d/a combo for mega bucks. Makes our trucks look like a real bargain.

Another reason to purchase a handshaker!!! :D

:exactly: I know. I know. But it's her truck too!

Which tranny is better for mileage and what are some off the mileages that people are getting with the 6-speed at 70-80mph?

my hwy MPG with 6-spd is 14-16, but with the larger tires, i'm thinkin its actually 15-17 because of the speedometers off. my in town goes down to 12 sometimes! but it idles alot in town also (like at the food mart, gas station, or parts store)

I have the Allison. I don't like automatics, but I grudgingly admit that this is one of the least-stupid automatics I've driven. From what I've read over the years I've concluded that the clutches in these trucks are a bad design and unreliable, to the point where I'd say that if you want to get a manual, go to Dodge. I hope I haven't slandered anyone here with bad information. Feel free to correct me.

I had a 66 ford 4X with stick and I really loved it. But after an auto I'll never go back. As far as autos go...The allison is the pick of the litter.....In the morning, I'd rather drink my coffee then shift

thats right, wayne. my o3 is on its 3rd clutch, 3rd flywheel, and 2nd throw-out bearing. replaced at 37k and 49k miles now have 62k miles. probably getting about that time again!

I have the Manual and have loved everything about it...I have not been able to find anyother stock duramax out there with the auto matic that can beat me from a roll on start at about 20 mph smoked them all right up through the gears alot less power loss throught the ZF then the Ally I even beat an 04 tuned with the hyper tech on stage three so that tuner really did not impress me much...I would definately go manual again!!!!!

A manual transmission is not for me. I am also impressed with the Allison, especially the anti-rollback feature.

Go for the Allison transmission so you can...

1) Spend more money

2) Get worse mileage

3) Have limp mode

4) Worry about transmission temps

5) Have less than full power because of defueling in certain gears.

I had a 2005 GMC 2500HD with a Duramax / Allison that was nothing but trouble. Based on my experience, I am guessing I would still own the truck, if it had a manual.

I think that the tranny cooler was just another thing in the way that was blocking the air from the radiator and caused the truck to overheat.

After getting a 2005 Dodge with a manual I realized how much better it was for towing than an auto. If I go back to a GM, it will have to have a stick. If GM quits making trucks with a manual, they have lost a customer for good.

i would pick the allison over a the manual any day

i would pick the allison over a the manual any day


That is good - Because GM is picking it for you, YOU can't pick anything else!!

2006 = LBZ = No Manual transmisson

2007 = 3/4 ton truck with Crew Cab or Extended Cab = Short Bed only

GM thinks everyone wants a short bed, smooth riding, automatic truck to drive. I think they are letting the Cadillac engineers design their trucks.

A manual transmission is not for me. I am also impressed with the Allison, especially the anti-rollback feature.

i've never heard of that. must not work on mine because i've found hills where i will roll back slowly if i'm not on the brake.

i like both transmissions. i didn't order my truck, and the one i got had pretty much everything i wanted. if it happened to be a stick on the lot i would be in the 'brotherhood of the handshakers' right now.

slightly partial to autos though. kind of sick of shifting all the time in traffic.

That is good - Because GM is picking it for you, YOU can't pick anything else!!

2006 = LBZ = No Manual transmisson

2007 = 3/4 ton truck with Crew Cab or Extended Cab = Short Bed only

GM thinks everyone wants a short bed, smooth riding, automatic truck to drive. I think they are letting the Cadillac engineers design their trucks.
Really? I know about no manual tranny behind the LBZ, but no long box with a cc or Excab? WTF!:eek:

Really? I know about no manual tranny behind the LBZ, but no long box with a cc or Excab? WTF!:eek:

Look at what is on the dealers lots.

99% automatics

99% of CC or EC are short bed

I asked about ordering a truck last spring.

Want to order a auto and short bed - no problem, $500 down and you can place the order

I asked about ordering a manual tranny and a long bed - $10,000 down payment

Go the Dodge or Ford dealers - pick from a dozen LB / manual trucks. GM is forgetting waht real trucks are about

I've been driving Allison autos at work for years in Freightliner chassis with Cat motors. I also drive Road Ranger(standard 10 speed). I like the Allison in the medium duty trucks, and they made my decision easy for my personal truck. I bought it new in 02 and it is a great package.
Love it, Love it, Love it!

Allison!

I'd charge a $10,000 down payment on the manual too. If you flaked on the deal it would probably rot on the lot for several months before selling.

I'd love to see the official release on no LB's on 07 3/4's :blahblah:

Allison!

I'd charge a $10,000 down payment on the manual too. If you flaked on the deal it would probably rot on the lot for several months before selling.



I'm not so sure about that. It probably depends on location, but my local dealer has had at least 3 (2 new and 1 used) ZFs on its lot in the last year and all have sold quick. I'm not saying they would sell a lot of them if they had a lot in stock, but having 1 or 2 every so often, they seem to sell well.

It absolutely depends on the location and size of the dealer.

Dealers are franchises, they aren't GM. What inventory they hold is up to them. Any inventory held over 30 days they have to finance. You pay for one month built into the invoice (holdback) If it takes 3 months to sell a manual and a buyer demands to pay $500 over invoice, they just lost almost 1/2 their profit. If an allison sells in 20 days they make all the profit. Which would you stock? Some locations wouldn't have that problem...

I believed the $10k like the no LB 3/4 trucks... If you have a relationship (or attempt to make one) I'm sure about any dealer would order anything you want. If not, then go to another one.

The rant was from a dodge owner bashing GM trucks on a GM site :blahblah: :blahblah: