Does anybody know if GM plans to.....

BMainBH · December 26, 2001

Does anybody know if GM plans to mate their new 5 speed automatic tranny with the 5.3L v8? If they do I will get one in a heartbeat! (no pun intended) LOL

Shaners · December 26, 2001

Welcome to the forum Bmain,

I haven't heard anything in the stuff that I've read about a 5-speed auto in the truck line-up... so if it were to happen, I'm sure it's down the road a few years.

Enjoy the website, and keep watching our reviews and You'll be one of the first to know when it happens!!!

Shane

CMNT81 · December 26, 2001

Nope, no need for such a heavy duty trans for an 5.3 when a perfectly suitable 4L60E or 4L80E (aftermarket) are available, both of which are capable of being built to handle absurd amounts of power. Many people with automatic equipped F-Body's run their 4L60E's in the high 500 - low 600hp ranges.

A lot of it has to do with cost. Allison 5 spd's aren't cheap!

Import Hater · December 27, 2001

Were you thinking Alison 1000 or the passener car 5 speed Hydra-Matic that GM has been selling to BMW for years now, which will wind up in the new Cadilac CTS in a few months? Either way, it won't happen in the 1/2" pickup. The Hydra-Matic MAYBE could wind up in the Trailblazer and/or the upcoming S-10 replacement. Colorado I believe it's called? But I would hold your breath on that. I drove a 2500HD with the Duramax and the 5-speed Allison a couple months back. Whooo! Brand new off the lot, before the tranny even "learned" the conditions, that thing shifted really nice. Almost seamless. If only the powertrain combo wasn't a $6000(!) option on top of a $37000(!) truck, I would have traded in on the spot.

Rob

Import Hater · December 27, 2001

Were you thinking Alison 1000 or the passener car 5 speed Hydra-Matic that GM has been selling to BMW for years now, which will wind up in the new Cadilac CTS in a few months? Either way, it won't happen in the 1/2" pickup. The Hydra-Matic MAYBE could wind up in the Trailblazer and/or the upcoming S-10 replacement. Colorado I believe it's called? But I would hold your breath on that. I drove a 2500HD with the Duramax and the 5-speed Allison a couple months back. Whooo! Brand new off the lot, before the tranny even "learned" the conditions, that thing shifted really nice. Almost seamless. I think my friend who is a salesman told me that they won't put the diesel/Allison combo in the Suburban because it won't clear the floorpan, so I image the same would apply to the 1/2 ton pickup.

Rob

Kansas Kid · December 27, 2001

Heck, I don't even know if a Vortec 4800 or 5300 could even turn the cogs in that Allison auto. It has alot of mass and fluid to take away the power the motor makes. That thing just plain saps the power out of the even stouter powerplants in the 2500Hd trucks, I can't imagine what it would do to a small V8. If you don't believe me, find a 8.1/ZF to compare to a 8.1/Allison....