Ok so I've searched for awhile and couldn't find anything I could have missed a thread so if I did feel free to post the link
Anyways has anyone done this? I'm sure some of y'all would say I'm crazy and ask why I would wanna take the Allison out but it's simple I like shifting my own gears so I wanna know if its possible.
I don't have a Dmax yet but I will be buying one in the future and am just planning ahead.
So which manual trans would be the best the ZF-6 (I'm not sure if there's different models of it) if there is what's the best one? And what would need to be done to make it work
Could I mate a G56 to a LMM? If its possible what would I have to do to make it work?
If you want a manual Dmax, dont buy an LMM. Not sure that you can convert one that never had a ZF6 offered as an option. There is no pedal assembly, slave, ECM, BCM or shifter that is designed to work on a GMT900. If there was, I'm sure we would've seen a few running around already.
Well anything is possible with enough time and fabrication maybe the reason it hasn't been done is cause nobody wants to take the time to do it
I understand that one wasn't designed to work with it but I like the LMM and the body style but there are things on the road that have been built that wernt designed to be like that
If you already have it in your mind you can do it why did you ask? No one is here to argue us three guys that answered told you what we have seen or heard.
Wasn't arguing an I just said there's always a way to do something just cause they didnt design anything doesn't mean it can't happen
yea I'm sure it's possible but I'd like to see if anyone else had done it or attempted it, it's always nice to have a starting point or see others mistakes.
If you got offeneded by what i said well i didnt mean it like that wasn't tryin to be a dick or anything ........My statement wasn't to you or the other guy it was to the last guy that just straight shot my idea down
from my understanding the zf6 is a stronger tranny then the g56...i have heard of many people grenading (sp) their g56 and only a few of the zf6. It is possible, it costs about the same as getting a built allison, you might have to get creative to get a few things like the cruise control to work and also turning off errors. Most say its not too hard, but its also just a tad slower at the strip. Go for it!
I was only suggesting the G56 cause that's what I have in my cummins and the fact that you can put a triple disc clutch in it.
Thanks for the info on the ZF idk much about it
I figure I can cover some of the cost by selling the Allison so I basically won't be payin much out of pocket. Yea ill have to get real creative with the electronics I have a feeling that aspect will be a nightmare lol.
And yea ill be slower at the strip but there's not many better feelings than banging through the gears down the strip and a manual LMM would be very rare and I like to be different
Its can and has been done. Ground the Park/Neutral to the ECM and tune out the TCM with EFI Live. Then swap your gagues for a cable driven speedo. Run a older manual shift t case, so you can run the cable speedo. Or figure out a way to make the sensor off the ZF6 Translate into 128 PPM signal and send that to the ECM. Then order a pedle set for a NNBS Gas truck from Mexico. Start with a WT with the manual Tcase. And dont forget the new drive shaft. I would not go for a truck with curise and all that crap, keep it simple stupid.
The experiance I have with the ZF6 is not good, but it was in a F550. Truck was on its at least 2rd trans when I got it, and it was grinding pretty bad. Ended up replacing it, and thats a heavy sucker and $3600 from ford, plus the $700 clutch. But that 14K pound 7.3L 4x4 201" wheel base tool body with 5.38s was much faster than a 6.0 auto 250 one of the guys had. But I know how to race...
I've driven a duramax with the ZF and I felt it didn't shift as smooth as my G56 (but like I said that may be because I'm use to a G56.
I've heard the ZF-6 is a stout trans but I don't like the fact that I can only find dual discs for it but I could be wrong so if you know where to get a triple disc clutch for one please point me in that direction.
Another reason why I was thinking the g56 is cause it has a electronic shift t case and seems like it could be more compatible with all the electronics but I could be wrong the hardest thing I can see with the G56 is it not bein able to match up
South Bend has the Tripple for the LBZ. The remaned one that was in my F550 shifted nice if you double clutched and nailed the shift each time. Otherwise it kinda had a "click" into each gear. I was a good trans, just dont grind them. Though the one in the Fords are different from the one GM put behind the Duramax. I have never heard bad things about the GM ZFs. GM "made them better" so it was not the same as the one in the ford. But they are only rated for 520 ft tq, so it may need some work.
No one has done it because it cant work. In case you missed it, there is no ECM, BCM, pedal assembly or slave cylinder that was designed to work with a GMT900. You would have to get an 06 LLY ECM to communicate with a totally
different system. Sure, anything can be done with enough money. But it would be really fkn stupid to waste a bunch of money just to have a manual LMM.
Well DmaxChris if you have nothing constructive to add to my thread GTFO
You're just sayin it can't be done while everyone else had said its completely possible and have suggested things on how to do it but I guess since you have a higher post count that means your right huh.
He just said its not possible because "these such and such reasons" which most aren't huge things that would just require some work to make them work right
Not to be disrespectful, but Chris knows his stuff and is out here to help the family of DF, I'm sure he has no intentions of getting anyone riled up. Just sharing honest thoughts. We want to give you the most accurate and unbiased information possible, so, it is understandable getting some
Very knowledgable individuals who say, why it hasn't been done or is very hard.
Now we all know that you are up for the challenge, if you choose to do it, then let us know, however as Chris said, it will be a challenge.
Ok sounds great and yea I've searched high and low and ain't found nothing other then other people asking if it can be done.
Glad we could come to agreement I'm not here to pretend like I know everything and argue with people cause I dont really know much about the duramax. If in the end it can't happen then I guess ill be stuck with the ole Allison.
The reason i suggested the zeus is cause I've seen a zeus on a 6.7 cummins and figured if it can control it then I don't see why it couldn't control everything for the LMM but like Ive said I'm no computer wiz so hopefully someone that is can chime in.
I don't like automatics the allison seems like a good transmission? I would just prefer a standard for they are better and more efficient. You see years ago they wanted vehicles to have about 25% of the cost of the vehicle to be electrical and they have made it that way now I don't think for the better! I hope that you do come up with a way of converting to a standard transmission and prove them wrong you will just have to work through all of the variables that are needed to get around.Good luck and hope that you are more determined to make the nay sayers wrong.:thumb
I don't like automatics the allison seems like a good transmission? I would just prefer a standard for they are better and more efficient. You see years ago they wanted vehicles to have about 25% of the cost of the vehicle to be electrical and they have made it that way now I don't think for the better! I hope that you do come up with a way of converting to a standard transmission and prove them wrong you will just have to work through all of the variables that are needed to get around.Good luck and hope that you are more determined to make the nay sayers wrong.:thumb
The only other thing I have found is that the 08 1500 V6 trucks in Mexico had a manual trans in them. And while cleaning my truck the other day, I was looking at the peddles. It looks like there is another mount between the peddles for a third one. I think the big challenge is gonna be getting the trans talking to the engine. Maybe leave the TCM in place and wire up some sensors on the trans so it knows what gear its in. This would need some tuning and all but I dont think its impossible.
Have you lost hope in the swap already? Lol I wanna see someone do it to a lmm cause that's the only thing holding me back from buying one. All I get is hate from other dmax drivers about me swapping my Allison out with a zf6 but who gives AF! Don't get me wrong, a built auto would be sweet but I personally like actually be in total control of my truck. Plus the zf's shift fast as hell! :gearjamin
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