I agree that the 2wd Rams with the 5.2 V8
will get something like 2 to 3 MPG better
than the 4x4 5.9 Rams in stock condition with oem tires.

A 5.9V8 Ram 2wd with a 3.21 rear differential
will come within about 0.5 MPG
of a 5.2 with the 3.55 differential
and the 5.9/46auto/3.21 combo can tow better in
daily driving rpm ranges of 1500 to 2500 rpm.

The fact that used 5.2 2wd Rams with 5 speed manual transmissions can be found
is a real plus if you are wanting better city MPG and don't mind shifting.
5.2/manual trans combo can be 3 to 4 MPG better in the city if your driving habits are good.

Find a well designed NV5600 six speed to swap in
and not only have more fun
you avoid the NV4500 'fifth gear nut coming loose' problem.
You could even use a 2.96 differential gear with the six speed
and further improve the highway MPG on flat and downhill sections.

 

Just find an old 12 valve diesel. run forever and good mpg I average about 24-26 mpg with mine and it gets used hard.

 

I concur!!!!!


THANK GOODNESS SOMEONE HAS THEIR THINKING CAP ON THESE DAYS !!!


you wanna pull? you want power???

CUMMINS!!!!![sm=badbadbad.gif]

 

Man I'd love a project cummins from like 96-97. What were your price ranges for one? Doesn't need to look that good either, just a beast. And the best beasts aint pretty.

 

from $3000 to $10,000


you have to look hard. they are rare. even in bad bad condition...I found a beater 1st gen cummins. had some pit falls with it, but its better than when I first got it

 

Yeah I've looked pretty hard. Couldn't pass up my 3k 1996 360 with a near perfect body. Of course i've dropped a tranny rebuild, ball joints, and needs a little TLC on the inside.

But I wouldn't even mind a 1st gen. A turbo straight six diesel is just like ... sex with cylinders or something. lol.

 

the 1996 to 1998.5 Cummins Rams are indeed the MPG champs
and easy to 'bomb' for more hp
but check out the current cost of diesel fuel
and consider that the ULSD EPA reg
will probably keep it high 'forever'
and your cost per mile advantage
with the diesel is being killed off more and more each day

My younger brother runs a trucking company running Kenworth T600s with cat diesels
and he and his family just ended a 2 week vacation with me.

During just that two weeks the price of diesel had risen 30 cents
and he showed me a Flying J page of all their US stations
and almost half now had diesel over $4 per gallon

diesel prices don't have to be that high
if the USA built synthetic diesel fuel plants using western USA coal as the feedstock
ULSD could be made for less than $1.40
and adding on the fed and state taxes
the 'as sold' cost could be less than $2 per gallon

if you want lowest cost per mile driven in a Ram right now
the best option is to find one of the compressed natural gas 5.2V8s
that Dodge put in 15 passenger vans in the 1990s for government motor pools
and transplant that gear into your Ram
(but change to the MPI intake manifold)