If you can do that, I'd agree. Most mechanics out here are so bad that I trust my own work more, but that's not a compliment to my abilities by any stretch of the imagination. When we bought our K3500, it needed a transmission (Aren't surprises great!), so I bought a used one and had our mechanic put it in. I found out a few weeks later at the top of the Big Horn Mountains that he didn't put a nut on to secure the shift linkage to the rod that it connects to. Of course, the rod fell loose, stranding me in drive. I shut the truck off, and looked under there. When I found that, I was fuming! I had a nut securing one of the bolts on my cap that was the right size fortunately, so I fixed it and was back in business. Imagine what would have happened if I had been going down a steep mountain road, and couldn't downshift though. That would have been very bad!
I have an F150 with the M5OD (It's geared way too high in first), and have a 1986 Dodge D250 with the NP-435 manual (4 speed with granny low). I really wish the Dodge had overdrive, but that transmission will pull. It was an ex-county truck, so they maintained it pretty well, and the clutch is strong. I've driven manuals that were in poor shape, and they're a nightmare. But, give me a good manual and I'll be very content to row my own gears.
Plus, they don't have to be worked on too often, which means the mechanic can't screw the darned thing up!
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