Hi I am looking into a new truck for me. It is a 1999 Ram 1500 5.9L 4x4 lifted 4" suspension and 3" body. It is a southern truck with 118,000km. Underneath is rust free and body is good condition also. It is saftied and e tested and everything appears to be working fine. It has brand new 38" BF Goodrich Mud Terrains which I hear are like $300 a piece. Also has K&N air filter. and aftermarket rims and exhaust. Also comes with touch screen cd player and nice speakers. Interior is great shape as well.

However I drove it and the transmission obviously has a problem.. You have to let the gas off in order for it to shift.

I talked the guy down to 7500 from 9500. Would this be a good buy or should i just stay away? It does not appear to be abused the work is more so done for looks...

Is it best to have the tranny rebuilt OR is there a better transmission you can buy and install without mods? A more heavy duty build that wont fail like the stock one? I read into this truck and the transmission is a VERY common problem.

Just wondering how some other people went about it, I think if its possible it might be best to just buy and install a better tranny.

Any comments and advice are greatly apprectiated, Thanks!
And yes I am taking off the box wing and sun visor lol
Tyler

 

That thing looks great aside from the visor and wing deal.

The transmission probably has trouble upshifting because of the 38" tires. Ask him what the gear ratio is in the differentials, it should have 4.88 gears in it for the best power/mileage combo.
The stock 3.55 gear ratio with 38" tires would make that truck a slug.

 

^More like an escargo snail.


Looks good.

There are a few aftermarket transmission companies out there that make 46RE's.

The most known are Dr.Evil and PETC (thats right, right?)

A couple guys on here have them, I just don't remember which.


BTW, since you're in London, have fun with petrol!

Welcome to DF!!

 

ya if the axles are not done i would not buy thats a 2500 just to do that, and also if i were to buy a ram agian i wouldnt get a single bed ?

 

so how many beds are you looking for in a truck??



Tyler, as the others have mentioned, check out the gears in that truck. Those 38's are what wrecked the transmission if they are stock 3.55's... If they are stock, plan on dishing out a decent chunk of change to re-gear, or you'll just keep burnin through the trannys....


Welcome to DF!

 

Hi thanks for the replies!!
The truck has 4:10 gears in it but it still feels kind of gutless...
Any other places i should look..
Dont know much about this stuff but i thought maybe compression test and what not make sure the engine is good.

Any thoughts?? I also have never drove a lifted truck before .. mine now just has 33" tires and everything else stock it seems to pickup ok...

Any thoughts?
Thanks again!

 

4.10s are really not adequate for 38" tires...... being as it is a half ton..... the big tires are going to EAT front suspension parts as well. (another place to thoroughly inspect.....) Most folks recommend 4.10s for 33 inch tires..... 4.56 for 35's... (which is coincidentally the largest tire recommended for the half ton axles....) So, gutless is easy to understand. Add to that, transmission problems, and there is the rest of the story.

A trans rebuild runs anywhere from 1600, to over 3000 dollars here in the states.... and gears plus installation run anywhere from 1500, to over 2000. Neither one is a cheap endeavor, and you are looking at both. You don't technically HAVE to do the gears, but, that is going to be hell on the trans. (and probably why it is failing now.)

Not to mention the single-digit fuel economy you are going to see with that..... and, gas prices being what they are in your neck of the woods..... that truck is an expensive proposition all the way around.

 

yea you would def. need to regear....i run 4.10s with my 265/75/16 10 ply tires....(31.8 inches)

andi got the reciet when i bought my truck for a recent trans rebuild..my tranny was built for towing...(previous owner had a farm and towed alot...) but the rebuild for that was $2400 and change....

id move on...there are deals out there

 

alright guys heres an update

so weve been trying to find a solution for the problem
friday it goes in for safety and e test
they will also check the throttle cable sometimes that affects u having to let off the gas to shift i guess
he has also got a superchip for me

we are looking into installing superior gears
4:88
what do you need for this upgrade?
The chrysler 8.25 inch 4:88 gear set or what size would it be 9.25 or how would i know?
also the ring and pinion master install kit?
anything else needed?

Thanks!

 

You have a dana 44 front, and a chrysler corporate 9.25 rear. ONLY gears for those differentials will work.

So, for each end, gears, master install kits. You will either need thick cut gears, or, you will also need to replace the carriers, front and back. Not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. And you will STILL have tires that are larger than the max suggested for the axles....... You WILL be breaking parts regularly.

For the front, since you are going in pretty deep anyway..... U-joints, axle seals, outer bearings, cad bushings/bearings. Check the wheel bearings while you are at it.

Rear, just outer axle bearings and seals. See what the brakes look like when you get in that far.

I think there was a member here that found a complete 'kit' (gear sets, and master install kits, for both axles) for about 550 american. Not sure it the company shipped to england though......