Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Manual Transmissions on a 1500

Does anybody know what the last year was Chevy/GMC offered a manual transmission in a 1/2 ton pickup?

Side note, how difficult would it be to put a manual in an early 00's Chevy 1500?

Aside from my other projects going on, I am looking forward to the future. My wife's current 06 1500 has been uber, and I'm likely to bequeath it to my son, and would like to find a manual to give her to replace it. Problem being, they really don't make such a thing anymore. Unfortunately. So I was wondering if a guy could get ahold of an early 00's Chevy without the traction assist bullchit, could he get a mechanic to shoehorn in a manual or am I tilting at windmills?

As for the Ford/Japanese emperor brands arguments I'm bowing out. Looking strictly at Chevy's and possibly Dodges if they kept the manual as an option longer than GM.

Thank you,

Jason

I know they made halfton 4x4 with the 4.8 V8 and a 5 speed as late as 2003. A buddy had one he bought new. Not sure how much longer they lasted after that.

You can still buy a new gasser from Dodge with a manual transmission.

Cool, i wonder if it'd do ok behind a 5.3?




In a 1500?

No, just a 2500 tradesman.

According to Wikipedia, a manual transmission was offered until 2007. Not sure in what configurations though. mtmuley

You would sure be in the minority with that manual transmission. Old Blue had a five speed and we used it for a trip truck. It was fine if I was driving it, but my relief drivers really abused it by forgetting when to shift the thing. That old F-150 had the 5.0 V8 and that engine should have never been put in a pickup with a manual transmission. My neighbor had the same engine with an automatic in his van and he pulled a 26' travel trailer. That torque converter made all the difference.

While the 4.8/5 speed/4x4 setup is kind of nice, it was also a GFY to the General. The manual was listed as standard on the V6 and small V8, while the auto was about a 1k option C.2005. Getting the local dealership to find me one with three pedals was a hoot and a half.

Why not put 4L80E w/ transfer case in it from a 2500. No traction control stuff just pure 4X4

Yeah, unfortunately many don't know how to drive or appreciate a manual transmission. In this house we do, myself and my wife both learned to drive on standards, and prefer them when possible.



Back in 05 or 06 I wanted to trade in my Denali for a Chevy 2500 duramax with a manual. The dealership in Tucson required a non-refundable $2k deposits just to get one in to test drive. I said GFY. Kinda gave up at that point, but now back at it. I realize it'll be an older truck, and would much rather it be a 1/2 ton as I don't need another 3/4 and the 1/2s handle much nicer as daily drivers.



Google says that is an automatic transmission. Not at all what I'm looking for.

I forgot to ask-are you looking for a standard cab? IIRC the manual was only available that way, at least in the 21st century Chevy 1/2 tons.

Ideally an extended or quad cab, but if I could find a regular cab that'd definitely work.

I am with you Billygoat. Evrything ha its pluses and minuses, but the manual has more good.
Provided te driver has a brain to operate it with.

Unless someone has recently started offering them again, the only manual in a full sized pickup is the the Dodge diesel. As of a couple years ago, they were only available in smaller pickups like the Chevy Colorado and Toyota Tacoma. A/T's have got really good. They get better mileage than the manuals now with the computerized shifting.

I quit the manual trann,y after a couple of instances on Ice and a hill , loose traction truck stalls and slide back put in clutch goes faster. With an auto same scenario you can feather it to maintain control while sliding back. Have even put it in reverse while sliding back words in a plow truck.

I know you could get a GM 2500 with 6.0 and NV4500 5-speed for a while in the early 2000s. Such a rig would be pretty bomb-proof. I don't fully understand any reluctance to get a GM 2500 vs 1500 - the 2500s ride quite well empty compared to other 3/4 ton trucks.

Toyota or Nissan or a Dodge 2500

On slick stuff, there's an issue with the Dodge diesel and a manual. It comes with what they call Zero Throttle Launch which is how you get going on a steep hill. You let out the clutch slowly with no throttle and when the engine starts to stall, the computer takes over and gets you going. Pushing on the throttle cancels it and you take it from there. The issue is crawling over stuff or getting going on ice. Sometimes the computer will take over when you don't want it to. It will pull faster than you want to go to get moving. There have been times when I wish the ZTL had an off switch.

Chevy/GMC quit manuals in the v8 half tons in 2006. They id make the v6 with a manual in half tons in 07. The 3/4 tons could be had with a manual til 07 as well. Ford quit in 2003 with manuals in v8's. They did however keep them with the v6's until 2004 or 5. Dodge put manuals with the v8's in the half tons until 08.

As of now your only choices for manuals in gas powered trucks are the Nissan Frontier and the Yota Tacoma. If you want a manual in a full size you will have to buy a 3/4 or 1 ton Dodge diesel.

Sad days for clutch lovers. I have an 08 Dodge with a 6 spd manual and a 2000 Silverado with a 5 spd manual. Both have been completely trouble free.

I wanted a 1500 because it's basically a commuter, but upon reflection another 3/4 would answer the mail on some other things as well. I will keep my eyes out.



No nipponese vehicles in this household, and I'm not a fan of the Dodge 6 speed layout, though if they still made it in a gasser I'd be tempted.



If I could clone my '06 1500 and put in a 5 speed it'd be the $hit. But alas, it's not to be.