Driving Sounds / Cummins 24 Valve NV5600 6 Speed Manual driving around town

In this video I drive around a relatively stock 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins 5.9L 24 Valve turbo diesel engine and a NV5600 6-Speed manual transmission. I love the sounds these trucks make - and I figured I'm not alone in that - so I decided to make a video.
I wrote about fixing this truck up on the website Jalopnik.com and in the Turbo Diesel Register (TDR) magazine. Check it out!
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Truck specs:
-2001 Ram 2500
-276,XXX miles
-5.9L Cummins 24 Valve turbo diesel engine (H.O. version)
-NV5600 6-speed manual transmission (rebuilt at 140,000 miles)
-2WD
-3.73 Dana 80 limited slip rear axle
-FASS 95GPH fuel lift pump and filtration system
-K&N stock-housing air filter
-ISSPRO EV2 digital fuel pressure gauge (0-30 PSI)

[@Obsguyutah]

It’s midnight and I’m sitting here watching a guy drive his Cummins around .. love it

[@stever.747]

It's @ 1 a.m. here and I'm watching this again!

[@Anthony-zb3to]

12:45 and I'm watching this gotta work at 6AM but this is worth staying up for

[@alexhawkins1795]

@@stever.747 same after some whiskey.

[@scottygraybelljr9968]

11:36 and I’m enjoying this

[@dali4897]

Rip American pickups with manual transmissions

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

Agreed. :(

[@gabrielgomez6898]

Its sad even though automatics may be getting better manual will still always be my first choice

[@josepablofonseca5258]

Dali 😢😢😢

[@johnpearson492]

This is why I have no interest in new trucks.

[@wylderburch3593]

Bruh manual transmission are fun as hell

[@koreymcfarland8737]

That rumble Dodge makes when letting out the clutch is quite orgasmic.

[@loganfaske6424]

this video was simple and as much as it needed to be. Nothing extra just what was needed. I love that.

[@240fxst]

Half way around the world. I miss my 2001 dodge 2500 6 speed at my house. Thanks for the ride.

[@SimplexSM]

"steering wheel needs to be re-centered" most '90-'00 Chrysler thing I've ever read!

[@ziggy3237]

A family member has a second gen Dakota with a Magnum V6 underneath, a 5 speed and a 7 foot bed, and it has only had one problem in 300,000 miles, and that’s the clutch went out when I took it to school one day. And me and it’s owner don’t even baby it. If you’re dissing Chrysler, then you’re gonna have to go through me to do it.😉😉

[@fiddle24v]

@@ziggy3237 I mean is he wrong though? Build quality had gone way up after the FCA merge.

[@ziggy3237]

Fiddle true true. It’s just my experience with Chrysler has been a phenomenal. Chrysler products will always have a place in my heart.🙃 That Dakota is a work horse. It was only last week that the rear suspension finally started getting too low when carrying a load, and that’s after 16 years of my family member owning it. So, I apologize if I seem to be haughty about it, I just love Chrysler.

[@fiddle24v]

@@ziggy3237 I love Chrysler too, I have a '99 Ram 2500 and a '11 Ram 3500. Cummins trucks have a place in my heart, but I'll be honest; I'm way more dependent on the 6.7 solely because it feels way better built lol. But yeah I used to have a Durango, awesome trucks.

[@FishFind3000]

SOULTAKU 100% so what about all those transmission issues??? That’s what dodge was known for.

[@bigmurph1447]

I love these 2nd gen trucks I have a 96 12v that has 462000 miles on it still going strong

[@Reznor_Meeks]

my biggest regret (carwise) after leaving the US and moving to Australia, was not owining a Gen2 Cummings or any other Diesel truck.... pick up trucks in Australia just doesnt compare.... do i regret .....

[@greysonwayne1741]

You couldn't take one with you ?

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

There's no such thing as a "Cummings truck," haha!

[@Kakiharaichii]

At least you get 4cyl. diesel manual midsize pickups also fuel efficient. D-max are decent. North American size would be too big Australia

[@senatorarmstrong1]

That’s why I’m never selling my ‘01 manual 3500

[@kCI251]

Sounds just like the school bus I used to ride everyday.

[@DuoDoUrden]

Many schools busses used and still use variants of the b series inline 6. Infact I have an engine from one being rebuilt for a repower project of mine.

[@Steverinomeister]

My 97 F350’s got a 5 speed stick and manual transfer case and hubs. That’s why I bought it. I think that was the last year for that setup. 1st gear in low range is real, real low.

[@yamaguy]

You could get that through the 2010 model year trucks. When for went to the 6.7 they dropped the manual trans.

[@AustinGotcher]

This is very soothing

[@Navs126]

I have an 02 with the same transmission and my steering is crap too 😂 Never selling it! Great job with the video/editing.

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Even without the random slash!

[@austinhuitema4604]

I have a 2000 with a 5 speed and my steering is bad too lol

[@PodCastWrld2.0]

Yeah my 02 steering is so loose and not to mention, I go straight when the wheel is all the way left

[@smokedoutwolverine8208]

Diesel asmr

[@aaronwilcox6417]

Got a 2000 model I bought new, still have it 4x4. Had lots of injection issues but now it's been mostly rebuilt with upgraded injection pump, radiator and cooling system and head valve work, transmission, updated steering box, new front coils and all new shocks, new flatbed, and tires. I'm on track to replace the front bushings, tie rods, steering arms, ball joints, bearings and seals. The only thing on mine that hasn't been repaired and replaced is the motor itself, turbo fan, and differentials. The parts are worth way more than the whole by along shot.

[@LMB222]

Fonally an American car I can admite! Cummins is such a good diesel lroducer that even Germans put those engines in their teains (class 642 if you dont velieve me )

[@davekana8388]

Liked and subscribed, 6 speed, oh yeah, nice sounding 24V. When I was looking for a truck in 2015 only thing available in a gen 2 was an automatic, had to upgrade that to a triple disc.

[@kendalmyers9445]

Love the way Cummins sound

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

The ground rumbles when these things are running. Is that saying something?

[@a-dog8075]

The rumble of a diesel. I'd even be bold to say better than a V8

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

@@a-dog8075 hey bud lol.

[@a-dog8075]

@@oldcroneysgarage9739 Hey how'd you been? Watched this at 9 at night and saw a familiar name!

[@stever.747]

@@a-dog8075 I'm looking at a gen2 2500 cummins to go with my 93 f250 idi.

[@afterhoursfab842]

Nv5600 is the way to go , feels like shifting a big rig

[@tannerdamico9895]

Not even close to Semi

[@kendalmyers9445]

Nope your not alone. My grandad has one and its really loud (does sound nice) but it needs a lot of work. It just hasent been taken care of well. It's got lots of problems and things are broken plus the dashboard is cracked. But hey yours seems to be in good shape.

[@TheGoat-fw7pr]

That dash is so clean there’s like one crack

[@nick_osas]

My uncle used to have one of these. I think I might end up buying one like this after college maybe

[@leesaunders7232]

I love the sound of these old Cummins diesels, and yours is a great exsmple I'm from the UK and ha e often wondered what are these actually like to drive in the real world? I'm thinking probably quite agricultural and sluggish, but probably quite the experience ?

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

Agricultural is a good description of it! They're great on the highway, but I certainly wouldn't want to drive it around town every day. Plenty of power, just huge and a bit sluggish at the controls as you predicted. Short gearing too so there's a lot of shifting before 45 MPH.

[@spencersgarage]

Yours looks so buttery smooth going into gears. Mine is difficult to get into gears most of the time.

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

It varies. I've found that it actually likes higher rpm for smoother shifts. But don't force it into gear, let it slide in by itself.

[@daftnord4957]

also diesel pickups are the best manual shift trainers. so much torque you will never stall, easy to get a feel for the mechanics of shifting

[@tannerdamico9895]

It will stall out for sure.

[@Krispy_TM]

Anyone noticed how clean the inside is

[@williambreeze2659]

What a beautiful truck!

[@mdmwelding3189]

Great video ❤MY CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL 6 speed...

[@Humphrey2309]

Its amazing that dash is still intact lol mine is kinda still intact with gorilla glue... Good video man

[@jlo4905]

james humphrey lol

[@marcellopasini]

Very nice truck my friend!

[@mizanizaan]

Gotta love the sound of the whistling turbo in these trucks! Does this truck also has an "anti-stall" mechanism, where you put it in first/second gear, take your foot off the clutch and then it just takes off although you do not step on the throttle?

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

It does have some sort of anti-stall system. You can tell it's there when in neutral and you let out on the clutch. The RPM does a brief upward "blip" when it passes the engagement point. Although, I don't think it needs it because the engine produces over 300 lb/ft of torque at idle.

[@2500mike]

I really miss my 01 now. If its a 6 speed why is it not the HO? Should be a 245hp right? Educate me

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

I just checked the timing cover and VIN and sure enough, it's a high output (245 HP) version. I wasn't aware the 6 speed was only offered with that engine. Thanks for the info!

[@2500mike]

@@PracticalEnthusiast Hey no problem. As a Dodge/Ram nerd I thought it had to be an h.o with the nv5600. Although I thought maybe its a unique truck with a story behind it. Awesome videos 👍

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

@@2500mike: Then why did you get rid of it?

[@ObsTurdBucket]

@@HelloKittyFanMan. if I had to guess, it probably has something to do with the 4th gen profile pic

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

But, @@ObsTurdBucket, you don't tend to get rid of something if you're gonna keep wanting it... do ya? If you still do anyway, then it's for practical reasons that make the viability of keeping it slim. But that might not have been his case if he hadn't bought the newer one, huh? Hence my reason for _asking_ him (and BTW, *he* and you... _aren't the same person,_ so... 😉).

[@-DC-]

Sounds fantastic!

[@daftnord4957]

i remember when i was like 5 or 6 i said "dad can you wait to turn on the engine until i get my door closed" haha

[@markquiswest6607]

With these Cummins, they're sound like a freight train!

[@spencersgarage]

What RPM do you usually shift at? 2003 Cummins with NV5600 here.

[@teddybear2123]

Looks like first gear has no purpose!

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

It's only useful when 8000 lbs are behind you! Even in second, you don't really use the throttle to get moving.

[@leoweber3629]

Yeah bud, it is...

[@DAVID-mc7hn]

Granny gear for launching heavy load (especially uphill) or else creeping along in slow traffic.

[@ziggy3237]

First is mandatory in a 5 speed low output engine, I.E. my Jetta, but not in a 6 speed paired with a high output I6. It’s all about the torque output. Although my car puts out more torque than horsepower, it’s not enough to undermine first, given it is a 5 speed though. However, the 300 odd HP turbocharged Straight Six Cummins put out a lot more torque than my car. Paired with a six speed, the amount of torque needed to get it going can be fully achieved in second, and partially achieved in third. The other factor is that it’s built to put torque down immediately for towing loads. Not only is it achievable in second, but you could probably do a quick 0-60 in it as well.

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

@@ziggy3237: Yyyeeaaahhh, but... I love the feel of just dashing through all my gears whenever possible, so I treat mine like a car and start in "G" (1) almost every time! This is the only M6 vehicle I've owned so far (since Jan. 16, so for 5 years), and it's about time. Except that mine has been a MONEY HOG! I'm about to give up on it! Every few weeks or months, another thing breaks!

[@ryanm4738]

I got the same truck other than that its in silver with duals and its an ‘02

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

What I wish my dodge sounded like

[@o2boutdoors]

Double clutching for third @5:45; I'm very familiar with that. Still, these are a pleasure to drive.

[@andrewneilsen1516]

love this! Thank you!

[@hreindustries]

nice rwd my friend like it

[@steveguitz4738]

where are your rpms at 70 mph? i have a 2001 with a 4 speed auto, and at 70 i am sitting at about 2800 rpms. i am thinking about a swap but i don't know anything about the 6 speed. either way, your truck is really sweet, and looks like it drives fairly smooth.

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

Mine is about the same RPM. Right around 3k.

[@icecubez130]

awesome, love diesel pick ups. is this one of your new vehicles?

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

Nope, I've had this one a while now!

[@mikecowboygilbert9944]

98 12 valve getting a G56 caning the 47 re

[@jamescollisiii3524]

Getting that steering wheel straight would take like 15 min mane.

[@cynicaltexan9639]

I have a 2018 ram 2500 cummins with G56. Wonder if I should get rid of the G56 for a NV or something else

[@zacharydarnell3638]

I’m new in the NV5600 world. Where do you like your shift points or where you recommend them best for (xyz) driving scenarios?

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

I've tried all kinds of shift points, and there's no golden ticket. 2-3 shift is always the worst, it basically comes down to giving the synchro all the time in the world to slip 3rd into place. Sometimes a double clutch helps matters. Aside from that gear change, the rest slide into place without much trouble. Don't be afraid to run the engine up past 2,000 RPM. It makes good power up there and the transmission can handle those shifts just fine.

[@zacharydarnell3638]

Practical Enthusiast Awesome. How would you describe the shift from 2-3? Slow, clunky, or wanting to stall/jump?

[@zacharydarnell3638]

Practical Enthusiast Also- do these H.O. NV5600 trucks have the anti-stall on them? I heard a lot of guys delete them with a Smarty tuner, I kinda like it, but what’s your take on it?

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

@@zacharydarnell3638 2-3 is just a slow shift. I assume it's because it is the most used gear change and thus wears the synchronizer down. The anti-stall is there but it's fairly unnoticeable. If anything, it makes crawling in traffic easier because you just need to feather the clutch without any throttle input. I wouldn't bother removing it as there's nothing to be gained.

[@zacharydarnell3638]

Practical Enthusiast That’s my thought. I’d prefer the anti-stall to be left intact, as you said it makes traffic driving / hill launching easier

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

My dad had a 2001 dodge ram 3500 2x4 6 speed he said the only reason he traded it is cause I was a 2x4 not a 4x4 when I get the money I'd like to have a 2 gen dodge ram 3500 6 or 5 speeds one day

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

@HOLDEN IVERSON if u can u might find a 12 valve they might be a little cheaper but its you're money u do what u want with it

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

@HOLDEN IVERSON and you don't have to have a 5.9 cummins to have fun there are tons of v8 and v10 dodges out there but just keep saving your money you will get there

[@ernestogarciat.8363]

mighty pickup

[@wyattsklee6769]

Makes me wanna swap my 47re for the 6 speed

[@_shrek2on_dvd_]

Its so worth paying for an nv5600 , it is so more reliable than the automatic and has the smoothest shifts.

[@TheCirrostratus]

Woowww👌, the interior of your looks almost like new...By the way, the windshield mirror is aftermarket rigth? I saw the Blue micro towel rigth there...🙋‍♂️✌

[@xxgd90]

Just curious, are you able to FLOAT the gears in a truck like this? Honestly never driven a diesel pickup so I'm unsure. I drive a big truck with a 13 speed 12.7 Detroit s60 and that's the only way I drive it.

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

Yes, you can float gears on these.

[@theshadetreewelder3523]

@@PracticalEnthusiast IF you know exactly what you are doing otherwise you'll grind the synchros into powder

[@soggytortilla066]

How do you get it re-centered mean looks like that too

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

I haven't done it yet, but I believe it is corrected at the drag link adjuster.

[@martinez6030]

Why did you start on 2nd gear?

[@damiandelapp5490]

Got my 01 nv5600 off an original owner anal retentive old man 3 years ago with 105k on it..only needed a heater core, the truck was like freakin new..pulls like a 15yo after his first date, pto coolers, mag diff cover..fass system you name it he had on the thing ..$9500,00 got a nasty Rug burn on my hand from my Levis from pulling out the cash.. regular filters and oil changes at nearly 200k I think maybe a clutch and rotors but I really don’t beat it up I think the only thing I want is a 3:30 gear set so I can cruise 75mph without pushing the rpm

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

Are you gonna do a video on it?

[@DopeNinjaGaming_]

From a stop, does he start in second gear????????? If so, why?

[@chrisbastin1040]

If my trans ever goes out I’m swapping a manual in it

[@LasVegasAutoAesthetic]

what is your gas mileage?

[@jamesrobinson5801]

Its the guy from Blues Clues driving a Cummins...

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

If only my Blues Clues contract lasted as long as this truck.

[@ziggy3237]

I see... you’re one of those people that buys a vehicle with a fun factor and a business factor, but only ends up using the business factor.

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Wow, how did you keep your dash so nice after all these years? Or... did you replace it? Haha!

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

By avoiding potholes! Actually it has cracked since this video was made because I hit one too many potholes. But that just means it's an opportunity to make a future video replacing it.

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

@@PracticalEnthusiast: Except... I'm talking more about how they used cheap plastic that would crack from so much baking in the sun. What about that?

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

@@HelloKittyFanMan. Chrysler man, they specialize in that crap. This truck had sunshades put in the windshield any time it was parked which probably helped preserve it.

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

@@PracticalEnthusiast: Haha, Chrysler "specializes in that crap"! What I don't get is that they used better plastic in their Dakotas and Durangos of that era. I had a Dakota that was from 2001 before I had my 01 Ram that I still have at the moment, and the Ram's dash is all broken up but the Dakota's was fine that whole time! I don't get it! But yeah, good idea to use sunshades! I wish my Ram's previous owners had thought of that.

[@venividivici4253]

0:50 - Need a better camera stabilizer my friend. Great video overall.

[@guitarman1569]

How does this thing have sooo many miles yet it’s not rusty at all?

[@stephenhansen8034]

Do you still have this truck?

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

Yep!

[@DAPchatt]

My dad has one of these manual and a 1999 when I can drive he will give it to me

[@arieltorres4597]

Tengo 2000 dodge2500 2wd como puedo hacer que mi speedometer funcione usando una nv5600 alguien podria ayudarme!

[@jeywrath]

I've watched this video like 5 times.

[@eduardocaste23]

Any upcoming videos on the e30?

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

Yep! Still working on it but hopefully a new video will be up in the next week or so.

[@eduardocaste23]

I just found you channel this week and almost watched all the e30 videos , best e30 channel by far . Thank you for the great videos , super educational and helpful!

[@DiegoGonzalez-jc1hg]

Are these the bulletproof proof Cummins everyone seems to treasure?

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

Yep! They're great engines. The truck surrounding them aren't the best, but if you look after them they'll last a while.

[@dilsher12]

Don't the 2001 cummins have the cracking block issue?

[@oldcroneysgarage9739]

@@dilsher12 the 53 blocks do

[@Dmccraw1998]

these motors are pretty awesome, the truck usually falls apart around it haha. as long as you maintain them correctly theyll last you a long time

[@MatthewSmith-to1hz]

You're not a man until you can drive a manual.

[@tyemilne6446]

1gen 12 5 speeb

[@jonathanseibert761]

Are you floating?

[@marwenfarhat]

gears too short

[@miguelhacienda9657]

ola ablas español

[@davidchi8914]

I don't mean to be rude, but I just don't get this. It's a huge, lumbering vehicle, built for work and nothing else. I accept its use as a matter of necessity, but in this application? It's just converting diesel and oxygen into sound, and making the world around it just a little bit worse for everyone else. One could argue that it's just another drop in a full glass, but that argument leads nowhere. The sound is sweet, but if that's all there is to it, I cannot wait for electric engines with fully artificial in-cabin sound.

[@PracticalEnthusiast]

While I wouldn't recommend one of these for a daily driver, they do have their purpose. If someone ever wants to get into the hobby of reviving vehicles that no longer run, having a truck like this will bring it home for you safely and efficiently. You certainly could call a flatbed, or rent something from Uhaul, but not being held down to someone else's schedule is where the justification for something like this comes into its own. Does it pollute? Yes. Electric trucks will probably do everything better than this diesel will. However, they haven't arrived yet and will be astronomically expensive when they do.

[@davidchi8914]

​@@PracticalEnthusiast Whether it will bring you home safely or efficiently is very debatable. These things, having been built according to old regulations, aren't particularly safe at all, and good lord, if all you need to do is get home, they are definitely not efficient. But as I said, I accept its use as a matter of necessity, even if that necessity is commuting. But leisure driving... eh, a bit much.

[@-DC-]

@@davidchi8914 Rush to your Safe place immediately!

[@davidchi8914]

@@-DC- Don't be a dummy.

[@greiner7414]

David Chi Good grief! Turn off the liberal media and use your mind. Cummins diesels helped build America, and look at the exceptional service life of this machine. Where do your batteries and electricity come from; hint they’re not grown organically. Live a little man!