What have you done to improve your 6-speed manual?

There is a member on CT called Sparky. He did it. It was an ambitious swap.

 

This is '34 Ford 3 window Coupe. Glass Outlaw Body. Ford 5.0 V8, FI, Tremec Trans, 9" Ford rear end with 3:73 gear s and an Auburn Carrier.

 

I'll take one of these, and one of your shifters.















Seriously tho, I am interested in the shifter. Not sure I'll be able to buy yet - I need to do some more research and figure out exactly what combo I want to buy, then I'll shoot you a PM.

That motor is amazing, looks like a lot of the wiring is hidden - there was some hot rod I remember they called "grand master" or something - t'was a bronze/gold color, and you couldn't see any f-ing wiring at all looking in the engine bay. Incredible attention to detail. Obviously more pics in here would just derail, but if you have links I wouldn't object .

Edit - here's the "grand master" hot rod I was talking about



Here's the meticulous attention to detail in the engine bay:



Sorry for the derail, carry on.

 

Coupe's shifter, along with the URD SS!!! This is the best modfor the money I havespent on my truck, hands down. Coupe provides a great product in his shifter and URD with the SS. It turns the sloppy, noodle like stock shifter into something you would expect from a sports car! About a 3 1/2 to 4" throw, from a 10 to 11" throw. Awesomeness is the only way to put it! no prblems getting into any gears, it almost WANTS to shift for you! If your 6 speed feels sloppy, or you forgot what it was like to have a CLEAN shift, get this combination. More than worth the money! Coupe is super easy to do business with, and so is URD (props to Gadget). You won't be dissappointed, believe me. Thank you Coupe and URD. Hats off, standing ovation! Any questions about it, PM me i'll fill you in. 6 speed revival! Straight drive for life!

 

New best thing that takes the cake is having the spring u-bolts at proper torque (I had one way loose). Once I did that the 3rd gear 'wall' disappeared. It finally drives like a Toyota instead of a Freightliner.

 

I don't think different clutch and throw-out bearing is going to change that way the truck shifts.

 

If you have to spend money to improve it then it isn't a real manual just sayin.
I sure like my auto then all I have to do is worry about what temp the ac is set at.

 

I thought the 2012s got a hydraulic clutch which would make them real smooth

 

^^^ This thread was originally started to cover what most people still have (2011 and prior trucks). If there are improvements on the 2012, such as a hydraulic clutch, then that's all very welcome. I haven't driven a 2012 manual yet, but I plan to eventually.

I'm hoping for 2013 we see improved gearing as well as the new engine. We shall see.

 

All the 6 speeds are a hydraulic clutch.

Best thing I've done bar none is get the axle u-bolts at the proper torque. One was sloppy loose (scary!) and it was a bear to shift sometimes. Now it actually is easy to get into any gear.

 

Swapped in an 09 transmission. World of difference.

 

Bought a 12 TRD 6cyl 4wd 6spd two weeks ago. I really like the way it drives. I hadn't had a Tacoma since I traded my 99 Tacoma in for an Expedition (family vehicle). I specifically wanted a 6spd. I found ONE in the greater Columbia, SC, area (about six dealerships). The dealer said no one wanted a six speed anymore, that few new buyers could drive them...it's a dying skill. Really...i hope not. Years ago no one bought a Jeep or a Toyota truck w/an auto.

I really like my '12 6spd, I don't know that it needs anything to improve it, very easy to drive. I will probably switch it to Synthetic fluid at some point, but that's because I use synthetics in all my vehicles.

What learning curve? Get in it and drive it. A couple of miles into the test drive and I had the feeling for this transmission down. I have had many standard vehicles over the years (going back to '86) and this Toyota has to be one of the smoothest I've owned/driven.

I can say that I don't think my '99 4cyl 5spd was any easier or smoother.

 

I think this is true.

I got stuck with a long wait at Jiffy Lube with my company truck the other day. (I don't take MY truck to Jiffy Lube) Anyway, they were so packed with cars that they were shuffling them around. On two different occasions, two different employees opened the door to my truck, and yelled out "manual". Then someone else came over to move it. These are supposed to be car oriented people working here. It's a two college town, so they are all young.

It's quite possible that the next generation won't even be taught how to drive a stick shift.

 

A couple weeks ago I found my p.s. rear axle u-bolt was way loose. Between that and the rev hang it was a real challenge to drive at times. Third gear kept getting blocked out and the truck would badly buck with a botched shift. I can say it's 100% bettter with everything tight.

 

i own an '08 6 speed TRD OffRoad and i have never had a problem driving it or shifting. that being said, they do make awesome products to facilitate those that can't seem to figure out how to drive these trucks... they're called automatic transmissions.

 

I dont know what generation youre referring to, but I'm 19 and I drive a 6-spd manual. I learned how to drive a manual car at age 12.

 

How many of your peers drive manuals? I'm 24 and in my office I am the only person out of 12 that has a manual. It wasn't a dig at you.

I enjoy the Tacoma's 6 speed. The synchros are slow so aggressive tire chirping gear changes are not possible but it truly rewards smooth gear changes, even at redline. I think of the many manuals I've drive this is the easiest to drive around redline because of how smooth it is...

Edit: I also think this transmission and the truck react nicely to rev matching downshifts, it makes driving in Baltimore traffic a breeze...

 

I own 4 cars and only one has an automatic.

I work in a small office of five people. Only one drives an auto.

 

I'm 33 and not really up on who is gen x, y, etc. But I was referring to folks my age and younger.

A car forum is probably not the best place to make a survey on stick shift driving skills. Most of us tend to be more car savvy than the general population. We know how to change our own oil, batteries, brake pads, etc. These are things that most people would be clueless on.

My grandma knows how to drive a 3 speed manual with the shifter on the column. In her day, that's what they had, and that's what they used. She also can change the oil and spark plugs in her lawnmower. Growing up on a farm with no running water or electricity in the house will teach you to be self sufficient and adaptable. Technology moves forward, and people stop doing things that take more effort to learn, simply because they don't HAVE to do those things anymore, and they don't have an interest in those things.

 

Recently I was looking at a used SUV for beach duty. The story behind the car goes... the mom bought it for her son to use for college. The kid doesn't like or want it because it's a stick. So, mom and dad had to put it up for sale. Pathetic.

I really don't get it. I've been driving for over 16 years and I only drives sticks. My parents know this very well. To this day, every time I mention I'm buying a car, they ask me, "So, you are buying an automatic, right?" In a tone of voice like if they were saying I SHOULD otherwise I'm wrong. It still pisses me off. I don't understand how it is they can't understand that manuals are the only type of car I care about.