What motor and trans to get?

[JoeyD]

I don't tow very often,10 times a year, and when I do it's around 10k. Is the auto trans as bad as it seems? I will definatly BOMB the motor but I like not shifting. How much to build a trans and should it be done first? Are the 3. 54 gears enough with 33in tires. I like to do some four wheeling and truck pulling and I will plow with it. My current truck does it very well but time to trade. The price of new trucks gets worse eveytime I look. I want a 2500 4X4 long bed quad cab with all the toys. Thanks

 

[Mopar-muscle]

the auto was my choice , but if i had to do it again ????



anywho , how bombed is bombed ? first bomb would be the trans .



plowing and pulling will abuse the trans , pulling will break parts depending on your torque .



its getting harder to bomb the new trucks , dodge has learned all the tricks from this website .

 

[chuck3]

If your going with 33in tires I would go with the 4. 10 rear end not the 3. 54 these things are geared real high, at 2000 rpm in OD I'm doing 75 mph with the stock 265 tires.

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

Choosin a Motor & trans

The HO 6spd is the way to go. . Off road you get Dana 80 Axles, more power 245hp/505lbft, a larger (better) clutch, and a larger selection of gears.



on road you get more power 245hp/505lbft, and a larger selection of gears.



The six speed is bullet proof and the motor already makes more power than a mild bombed automatic.



It's sorta fun getting a 5th gear scratch when you get in a hurry !!

 

[klenger]

The HO 6 speed is a sweet combo. I have the 4. 10's and am happy with them. Pulls the 5er very well. I have no intention of bombing the engine as it does very well stock and I don't want to mess up the warranty. Having 6 gears to pick from takes some practice to know which one to downshift into, but it's really nice to always have the right gear available. Auto vs manual depends on how much city driving you have to do I guess. Good luck.

 

[DGFoster]

Auto all the way

I believe that if you get Bill Ks torque convertor and valve body the auto is the way to go,it seems even the 5 and 6 speeds have problems,I thought I wanted a stick until I got the new TC and VB,I wouldn't trade it for any stick,I would go with the 4. 10 if you go with bigger tires.

I got the 91% package from Bill K and I love it

If you are going to bomb,id go with the Auto with the upgrade.

Just me opinion

 

[JoeyD]

How much is is to do the trans? Does Bill K have a web site? Because of the plowing I think I need the auto. I will do some mods, Injectors and exhaust to start, but who knows from there. I drove the auto and it feels underpowered compared to Ford and GM. The HO stick is the balls. Time to think. When I was on the lot the salesman told me about the 0% finance but he must be full of ****. Some of the things they will tell you are so far fetched it's like they have no interest in their product. I want to talk to the salesman that drives a truck and knows what a truck is and can do.

 

[Okie-Go]

I have actually driven Bill's truck. Nice truck and it does feel stout and quick. I like to shift my own gears and really love the HO with the 6spd. I do quite a bit more towing than you as to what you said you do though.

 

[JoeyD]

I want to do a little towing before I buy. If I go for a test run in a new one and put my trailer on it will it hurt it being that it is new. I don't want to beat a truck someone will buy later on.

 

[chuck3]

Towing.

Jd, from what I've heard and read hooking something behind that truck is the best thing you can do to break in that Eng. they are at their best under load, but I would take it easy because of the rest of the POwertrane at first. I towed my trailer the first month I had the truck but my TT is fairly light at 7 K.

 

[MAX A/C]

Hey jdecampo-

Some things you want to do to break it in correctly (this info comes from the owner's manuals of our '01, '93, and also a '95 Jeep and '00 Crown Vic) For the first thousand miles, be sure to vary the engine speed. The worst thing you could do is hop on the interstate and set the cruise for a certain speed and leave it there for hours. We bought our '01 at a dealer 500 miles from home... we purposely stayed off the interstate, took back roads home so we could vary the engine speed. (we have the 6 spd, love it so far). The manual does say load it with a trailer and drive it hard for the first 6,000 miles "to give proper fit and finish" to the moving parts. This seems opposite to what you'd think, but I'm sure the factory knows. If I was going to be doing a lot of plowing and city driving, I'd get the auto; for towing or highway, the sixer. Good luck!

Scott