Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 4x4 10 or 13 speed tansmisson

[JLondon]

I'm looking to make my 2001 into more of a "hauler" I have been looking for heavier transmission option. I have researched "Gear Vendor" and am not very impressed with them was looking in the eaton fuller 6005 10 speed but would like to use the 4 wheel drive feature. does any one have any advice on a heavy duty transmission that will work with a transfer case?

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I once researched the medium truck transmissions using an early 80s builders guide. Back then at least, most of the transmissions weren't rated for the torque our B engines get when hopped up. So by the time you spend $15-20K on adapting a newer trans, etc. you might as well have sold your 01 and bought a new leftover 2013 at 10K under list. With the dually/Aisin especially, it is a hauler off the showroom floor. I know thisisn't exactly what you wanted to hear, and no slight is intended. I have just seen too many expensive conversions go wrong, or the truck get wrecked, or something else like the engine needs expensive work later, etc. and a lot of money is lost.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I might add that the really HD trannies will involve cutting out a lot of the floor pan/trans tunnel, and adding a good bit of weight. You may have trouble with the bellhousing, etc.

 

[Slow Six]

I had always had this thought too but those transmissions are just to big and heavy. The Spicer 6 speed in a FL 60 seems like a tough transmission and it shifts nice. The truck I was driving grossed around 34,000 lbs with a 7.2 Cat which had more oomph than my 5.9. I know if I'd had the time and money I would have looked into swapping one into my 03.

 

[JR]

Joe, your one hell of a sales man. Ram should be giving you a percentage on all the potential truck sales you generate. LOL

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

JR, I just know when what I had dreamed of since Issue 34 (Nov. 2001) finally appears. I dare you to get out of your 98,5 and test drive a 2013-14, lol. You will get "New Ram Disease" immediately!

 

[Wayne M.]

I'm looking to make my 2001 into more of a "hauler" I have been looking for heavier transmission option. I have researched "Gear Vendor" and am not very impressed with them was looking in the eaton fuller 6005 10 speed but would like to use the 4 wheel drive feature. does any one have any advice on a heavy duty transmission that will work with a transfer case?

JLondon, welcome to the TDR. I personally do not have advice for what you're looking for but I think it is out there. It won't be cheap but it might be doable. I appreciate your desire to undertake your own project. If you do pick up on something, please share it with us!

 

[Wayne M.]

JR, I just know when what I had dreamed of since Issue 34 (Nov. 2001) finally appears. I dare you to get out of your 98,5 and test drive a 2013-14, lol. You will get "New Ram Disease" immediately!

Joe, this is the 2 gen forum. I did contract said disease in '04. For me it was a one time thing. I won't dare go into the proverbial chicken pox room because getting the disease again will only torment me. Financially it just can't happen.
Perhaps JLondon is plenty happy with his rig and wants to make it special.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Wayne, those of us who joined in the 90s need to help the newbies realize that there might be life after the second gen, lol. I loved my 97 back in the day, but I wouldn't trade my 13 to get it back! It is great to see the Second Gen Rams still out there kicking...I just realize too that putting a lot of money and custom work into an older Ram isn't always the best approach. I got the disease in 2003 and thought I was immunized, just as you apparently think you are.

 

[NIsaacs]

What is it and how is your truck set up now? If you have a 5 or 6 spd and 4.10 gears you might consider an Aux. trans. If you have a dually, it should be long enough. If you have 3.55 gears it wont be as handy, as double overdrive will be kinda useless, however underdrive will help some for startability.

With my '01 2500 6spd/3.55 gears, heavy loads are ok on the highway but off highway starting on a slight incline or soft ground I need low range. The Ford in my sig is wayyyy better!

Nick

 

[JR]

JR, I just know when what I had dreamed of since Issue 34 (Nov. 2001) finally appears. I dare you to get out of your 98,5 and test drive a 2013-14, lol. You will get "New Ram Disease" immediately!

That's a dare I don't dare take, for me it's a matter of want over needs and at the moment my 98 does what I need. A new truck would be nice but just isn't practical right now. I've never bought a vehicle I couldn't pay cash for. Maybe someday, when we get our 2nd property paid off, and I can put some serious cash away, or I hit the lottery...

 

[jgillott]

There was a video online somewhere a while back with a 10 speed in an early 2nd gen. I'm assuming that it was a 2 wheel drive. If you really wanted to do this conversion on a 4x4, using something like a divorced NP205 case would probably be the easiest option. However, once you factor the length of the new transmission/t-case configuration and the fact that you would now be limited by the strength of the case, it doesn't seem like a practical solution for a working truck.

Personally, having a mile or two worth of experience with heavy truck transmissions, I wouldn't want to deal with that in my personal truck on a daily basis.

 

[JR]

I'm looking to make my 2001 into more of a "hauler" I have been looking for heavier transmission option. I have researched "Gear Vendor" and am not very impressed with them was looking in the eaton fuller 6005 10 speed but would like to use the 4 wheel drive feature. does any one have any advice on a heavy duty transmission that will work with a transfer case?

What transmission do you currently have? If you have anything other than a 6 speed I would consider one. There is quite a difference in gearing between the 5600 and the 4500, and even more so if you've got an automatic. A 5600 is something that I've seriously considered. If I could find a good deal on one I would snag it up in a heart beat and kick my built auto to the curb.

 

[JLondon]

I currently have 4.10 gears with 6 speed transmission. I have 265/70/19.5 tires, which does not help my gear ratio.