Fleece Performance Engineering FPE-TAPSHIFTER12 Allison TapShifter (2001-2002 6.6L Duramax)
Fits: Chevrolet • GMC
Diesel Dollars is Southern Diesel Supply's Loyalty Program. Purchasing with Us Earns you 1 Point for every 1 Dollar spent to use for future buys!
By ordering the Fleece Performance Engineering FPE-TAPSHIFTER12 Allison TapShifter (2001-2002 6.6L Duramax) you will earn 400 DIESEL DOLLARS in your SDS Fuel Tank!
The Fleece Performance Engineering TapShifter (FPE-TAPSHIFTER12) replaces the column shift lever on 2001-2002 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 trucks with the 6.6L LB7 Duramax and the 5-speed Allison. It puts plus and minus buttons on the lever, so you can shift the Allison with the touch of a button, the way 2006 and newer GM trucks do.
Fitment
Fleece lists FPE-TAPSHIFTER12 for 2001 and 2002 GM Silverado/Sierra 2500/3500 trucks with the 6.6L LB7 Duramax and the 5-speed Allison transmission. Our catalog tags this part for the LB7 engine, which ran 2001-2004, but this part number is listed for 2001-2002 trucks only. If you have a 2003 or 2004 truck, verify fitment by VIN or call us before you order. Fleece's product page also notes the TapShifter can be used in gas or diesel 2001-2002 GM pickups with an Allison.
It is not compatible with any 6-speed application, and that includes 6-speed conversions. On 2001-2002 trucks the transmission control module (TCM) must be reflashed to enable the overdrive lock-out and for the TapShifter to work properly. Fleece points to GM Technical Service Bulletin 02-07-30-051 and says a local Chevrolet dealer can do the reflash and update if your truck needs it.
Why this part
The 2001-2002 Allison trucks came without the tap-shift buttons GM added on 2006 and newer trucks. The TapShifter brings that control to the older trucks. Press the minus button on the lever to downshift and the plus button to upshift. Pick a range with the shift lever first, and the buttons let you tap up and down inside that range without shifting past it. Fleece calls this out for sled pullers who do not want the truck going into fourth gear on the track. Picking your own gear also cuts down on gear hunting.
Features Fleece lists for the TapShifter:
- Easy Plug & Play Installation
- Limits Up-Shifts
- Overdrive Disable (requires the TCM reflash on 2001-2002 trucks)
- Command Downshifts
- Decrease Gear Hunting
What you get
Per the Fleece installation instructions for kit P/N FPE-TAPSHIFTER12:
- TapShifter Wiring Harness (qty 1)
- TapShifter Lever with plus and minus buttons (qty 1)
The harness plugs in at the TCM. It has an overdrive lock-out pin that goes into the gray TCM connector, a two-pin lead to the original shifter connection under the dash, and a four-pin plug for the new lever. Fleece backs the TapShifter with a 1 Year Limited Parts Warranty.
Installation notes
Fleece estimates 60-120 minutes for the install. Tools called for: 10MM socket, 6-inch extension, 7MM socket, T30 Torx bit and cable ties.
- Disconnect the batteries before you start to avoid arcing and component damage.
- The TCM sits under a shroud on the driver side of the radiator, held by two 10MM bolts. The harness goes in line with the red (J2) connector, and the overdrive disable pin goes into pin 12 of the gray (J1) connector.
- Check the truck-side red (J2) connector before you plug anything in. Corrosion on the pins can keep the TapShifter from working right. The connectors are keyed to go together one way only, so do not force them.
- Route the harness away from moving parts and hot components, and pass it into the cab through the rubber boot at the factory bulkhead in the firewall.
- The new lever mounts the same way as the factory lever, with one T30 Torx bolt, and the factory shift lever boot moves over to it. The boot can dry rot with age. If yours needs replacing, Fleece names GM Part #26093753.
- Test it with the key in run, the engine off and your foot on the brake, and step through each gear to check the dash display.
- The TapShifter is not waterproof. Keep it out of direct moisture. Moisture damage is not covered by the warranty and can cause early failure.
About Fleece Performance Engineering
Brothers Brayden and Chase Fleece started Fleece Performance Engineering in 2008, and the company is based in Pittsboro, Indiana. Fleece is best known for Freedom Series cylinder heads, PowerFlo lift pumps, turbochargers and turbo plumbing. It also builds fuel, cooling and transmission line kits for Cummins, Duramax and Powerstroke trucks.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to reflash the TCM on my 2001-2002 truck?
Yes. Fleece says 2001-2002 trucks need a TCM reflash to enable the overdrive lock-out and for proper function. The reference is GM Technical Service Bulletin 02-07-30-051. A local Chevrolet dealer can do the reflash and update if your truck needs it.
Will the TapShifter work with a 6-speed swap?
No. It fits the 5-speed Allison in 2001-2002 GM trucks and is not compatible with any 6-speed application or 6-speed conversion.
Can I tap past the range I picked with the lever?
No. Select a range with the shift lever and the buttons only shift up and down inside it. That is why sled pullers use it to keep the truck out of fourth gear on the track.
Questions on fitment? Call the shop at the number in the header. We install everything we sell.
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Finish the job
Parts our Wildwood techs pair with this one — take a look before you check out.
Diesel Dollars is Southern Diesel Supply's Loyalty Program. Purchasing with Us Earns you 1 Point for every 1 Dollar spent to use for future buys!
By ordering the Fleece Performance Engineering FPE-TAPSHIFTER12 Allison TapShifter (2001-2002 6.6L Duramax) you will earn 400 DIESEL DOLLARS in your SDS Fuel Tank!