Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) transmission change

[MFerraro]

hello all. new to magazine, forum, and owning a dodge truck. have been a gm owner for 35+ years. recently purchased a 1995 ram 3500, dually, 4wd, 5 speed, cummins, 4. 10 rear end. really like the truck. wanting to swap stock trans to fuller 9 speed preferably with od. reasearch i have done so far indicates people are doing this, have done it. can anyone direct me to where i can get info on parts required to do this?

 

[Hammer]

I have only ever seen 1 truck done like this and it was a 3500 2wd.
The 4wd transfer case was why he choose to do a 2wd as no one made the adapters to mate a Eaton with our transfer cases. He also added that the air system he added to handle the high/low range shifts was needed(which I knew from driving truck).
I rode with him in it and it was a PIA to shift all the time in traffic IMO and not something I would do.

Have you ever considered just adding a Gear Vendors instead of the Eaton to give you the ability to add some splits for towing?. it would probably be a cheaper option and all the needed parts for that swap are available... ... . Andy

 

[cerberusiam]

A 4x4 is gonna cause issues. Most of these heavy duties are divorced t-case so you will have to dig around and fund all the pieces and change the mountings.



In this case buying a heavier truck may be the better route.

 

[MFerraro]

thanks for taking time to answer my question. i'm not concerned about the need for air, it is my understanding that the cummins will allow me to mount an air pump in the same manner as the "big" trucks do. as for an adapter for the t-case, i have fabrication available and have considered using a driveshaft to connect rather than making an adapter to mate to trans. Hammer, you mentioned a gear venders. do they make a trans to fit this truck that has a gear splitter? do you know if it is synchronized or not?

 

[NIsaacs]

Sometimes we build things that don't make sense, but the fun factor makes up for it



The little RT/RTO 510, 610 or 6610 will fit with a small body lift. I have not done one but have done a lot of measuring. The transmission size is not the problem, it is the #2 sae bell housing size. Like you said, a remote mount transfer case will work.



The engine mounted air compressor will interfere with the motor mount, however with the Eaton conversion you will be using a front and rear style motor mounts anyway.



Nick

 

[cerberusiam]

you mentioned a gear venders. do they make a trans to fit this truck that has a gear splitter? do you know if it is synchronized or not?

What exactly are you trying to accomplish with this trans change?



Granted the fun factor of just "doing" it can be attractive, there is still usually a specific perceived need thta drives the questions.

Is it just wanting more gears, wanting to tow heavier, or ?????



A gear vendors is an overdrive unit that mounts after the t-case for a higher gear ratio. Its not something to shift all the time. Not something you want to use towing heavy loads either, only really for DD and light loads.

 

[MFerraro]

What am I trying to accomplish? Hopefully several things, some may not appear to be good ideas to everyone. 1. I don't tow much, but haul frequently, and heavy (3 to 4 tons). It is hilly and windy were I live. I don't like the spacing between the gears, and feel the truck needs more available gears to pick from when climbing steep hills. 2. Personally I would prefer to be able to shift without using the clutch. The sychronized trans will not let me do this. 3. Not that I do much highway driving, but the current trans with the 4. 10 rear end doesn't give me much road speed without revving the engine more than I am comfortable with. 4. I like difficult projects. I did look at what gear venders offers. From what I have read on their website they offer what they call an over/under drive. It seems as though it will effectively allow you to split each gear in the stock trans by shifting their unit from under to over drive. I will inquire of them further but it looks like it may be a solution.

 

[GAmes]

hsmith has one on his '96 2WD. He does a pretty heavy 5er with it. Pm him, I'm sure he will answer your questions.



I took care of the gear ratio problem between 3rd and 4th gear by installing a G56 6 speed.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

The Gear Vendors is a planetary, so synchro is not an issue. As an under/over drive, it is one or the other, but not both. It provides direct and over, or direct and under, depending on how it is set up at installation.



I think the 9-sp is a cool swap, but I have no actual need for it and it's not likely to ever reach the top of my list of things to do.



Have fun!

kevin

 

[JMcCoy]

Welcome. Some more HP/Torque and a 3 or 4Gsk will aslo help fill the gaps between shifts.