[meskie]

We had a meritor with an auto shift we converted to manual. Best thing for the truck. It was a three pedal truck so all we had to do was swap transmissions and get the correct length of driveshaft made up. The transmission had all the computer stuff on it so no computer flash needed.
$6500 would be on the low end if your getting it done in a shop. Your likely gonna want to do the clutch/flywheel/ rear seal while your in there.
We did ours when the clutch needed replacing so the transmission was out already

 

[meskie]

From a couple guys I’ve talked to the newer auto shifts are a lot better then the first generation ones. One guy was telling me it wouldn’t shift down soon enough pulling loaded b trains through the quapelle valley then would drop 4 gears and once and the whole truck would jerk and buck. The same guy said the newer ones have better programming and it wouldn’t do that and was a lot nicer to drive.

 

[meskie]

I am going to be doing the swap, from the first gen to a 15 or 18 spd manual, how did you wire up the speedo? with the existing wires or you did not need to?

The speedo used the same sensor on the back of the transmission. It was plug and play.

 

[meskie]

No other wiring on ours we had to do except put a couple connectors back together in the cab for the cruise switch as the auto shift had the buttons on the shifter we took out.

 

[meskie]

how about the key? wiring ? for the starter?

That has nothing to do with a transmission swap

 

[meskie]

99 freightliner classic with a N14

 

[meskie]

classic XL with 18 speed N14 set at 525 and 3.90 gears.

 

[meskie]

The older ones had their issues. The one we switched out you had to get things just right for it to shift in less than ideal conditions or it would throw you in neutral. I know guys who drove the 18sp autos pulling B trains that would shift down 4-5 gears at a time coming up the quapelle valley wasn’t ideal to say the least.
newer Trucks with the auto shifts are a lot better I’m told.