Engine for the 2003 Ram 2500 & 3500

[Bill Stockard]

Here it is--Cummins for the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 & 3500 according to a Cummins News Release dated 4-27-01:
http://www.cummins.com/na/pages/en/mediaresources/marketspecificnews/subjectpressrelease. cfm?uuid=000704DB-9522-1AE9-846280C4A8F00000

Bill

 

[Chris N5CWM]

#ad
Awesome!

My guess is for a new auto transmission and
engine output around 300HP & 575 ft. lbs.

C'mon DC, kick some GM arse! #ad
#ad




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'01 3500 QC 4x4 SLT, Dk. Garnet Red, tan interior.
Cummins ETC, 5-speed, 3. 54 anti-spin; Line-X
Auto Meter boost and pyro
gauges on A-pillar; Valentine One radar detector
May the Boost be With You!

 

[rmrc]

I guess that I have more of an interest in the new 2003 model than most. That's just about when I should be ready for my new, and probably last truck!

[This message has been edited by rmrc (edited 04-28-2001). ]

 

[Paul Herioux]

Last summer I had the pleasure of replacing the trans in a Dodge trans engineering group engineer's personal Intrepid. While I was showing him the root cause of his trans failure(O/D input hub sheered off) he commented "that's the same problem we're having with the 68RFE". This made my ears stand straight up as the designation for the trans behind the 4. 7L in the Jeeps and Dakota's is 45RFE. When I asked if this was the new truck trans we had been promised a year earlier, he got this Oh S**t, I screwed up look in his eyes and replied "it's for the new HO diesel to be specific". We then spent the next hour talking about how this had been fixed in his transmission the model year after his had been produced. He kept his broken parts and photo copies of the failure analisys notes I've made over the past ten years headed back to Detroit. Seeing as the trans hasn't been released yet their probably still trying to get it right. This is good though as it means DC is learning from their mistakes and not putting a new trans into service without testing it like the did with the A604(now 41TE) back in 88.
For those of you unfamiliar with DC's trans nomenclature 68RFE stands for 6 forward speeds, relative torque rating of 8, rear drive, and full electronic control. The current trans is a 47RE, so theoretically the new trans should be stronger than the current design when released.
Hopefully this didn't put you to sleep.
------------------
The smiling ex-dealer technician
89 w250, 47rh trans, cleaned up exhaust, Dynomax bullet muffer, 3" lift, unknown oversized injectors

[This message has been edited by Paul Herioux (edited 04-28-2001). ]

 

[bigkid59]

That news release sounds good. But, as always, they are covering their butts. Just read the disclaimer in the last paragraph. My interpretation is "maybe, maybe not". PR and sales people are always quick to tell you what you want to hear. I certainly hope it is true, but as I said they certainly included that disclaimer.

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92 D250 Auto Trans-Currently stock except for TCI special torque convertor. Now adding 16cm turbo housing, complete 4" exhaust, tachometer, pyrometer, and transmission temperature gauge. Injectors in the near future.
Also have 1984 Volvo D260 with inline 6 diesel made by Volkswagen.

 

[Doc Tinker]

Paul - Thanks for the tech lesson. I found it quite interesting.

Doc

 

[BC]

Yea, Paul, I learned from your post too.

Bill Cook

 

[BCFAST]

So Paul, based on your discussion with this engineer, is it your belief that DC is building its own version of the Allison? A 6 speed, 800ft/lbs electronic automatic is certainly what you just described! If so, who's drawing it?... is DC capable of doing this in-house or would they J/V this with someone? Do you think this is just a variation of the garbage we have now... another bandaid? or a truely NEW gearbox?

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97 2500 CC 4x4 3. 54, 5spd, Green, #12 plate, 4inch open exhaust, 235/85 Michelins, RS 9000's, PrimeLoc, Red Tops, TDR cloisonae grill badge!

 

[R.E. Miller]

Well, that cleared somethings out of my mind, but let us pray that they keep the straight axle 4X4's and don't put a cheese-wiz IFS set up in the 3/4 ton & up models #ad
That wouldn't work anyway, real trucks ride like trucks right #ad
#ad


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1992 W-350 Club Cab Dually 3. 5" Jardine, Swiss cheese air box
1992 W-350 8' contractors dump with 3. 5"BD exhaust, 16cm^2 housing, DI pyro&boost
Russell

 

[Paul Herioux]

I haven't had a chance to look at the power flow through the new Allison yet. It will probably be a long time before I do as the Dodge dealer I just left also owns both Generic Motors dealerships in town and I'm no longer welcome. The new trans is being designed by Chrysler's engineering department and will be built at the Kokomo trans assembly plant(or Kokomo 2 when it goes online) as all domestic Chrysler automatics have been for years. The power flow and control will be based on the A604 design that was released in 1989 MY but in much larger proportions. The last estimated weight I heard for the 68RFE was 150lbs heavier than the new trans. The current 4 speed trannies started out life as 3-speed 727's which were bullet-proof behind the v-8's of the late 60's when they were designed. Now we are making a whole lot more power and have thrown a compounder on the back end of the trans. This compounder was designed by an outside source and is the weak link in the 4-speed auto's. The compounder was the band-aid, the 68 should be a perminent fix but it probably won't be bomber freindly.
Time to go watch a movie with the kids, yak with you all later.

------------------
The smiling ex-dealer technician
89 w250, 47rh trans, cleaned up exhaust, Dynomax bullet muffer, 3" lift, unknown oversized injectors

 

[JohnE]

Paul;

Thanks for the lesson on Mopar transmission designators. I wish I could pass along the same to you and other Rammers on Allison.

I regularly see 20 twenty Allison transmissions go out the door every week. Right now all are connected to Series 50 Detroit gassers (CNG). Some weeks they are on Cummins 8. 3 gassers (CNG), Cummins 8. 3 ISB diesels, or Series 40 Detroit Diesels. We also have a few M11 diesels, too.

The front designator is B400. Does that tell you this is a huge unit capable of 4, 5, or 6 speed; handles 300 bhp and 900 ft-lbs torque? Not me. The suffix is pretty clear though, 1300 or 1600. That represents the retarder rating in ft-lbs.

I hope the HD transmission represents the quality of the downsized unit humiliatingly stuck behind another Gargantuan Mistake (GM) Diesel. If so, that baby transmission is one helluva unit!

Cheers;
JohnE

 

[Paul Herioux]

I always try to help when I can.
Cheers gentlemen.