Hey Guys, Just bought a 98 Ram 1500 SLT 2 wheel drive yesterday. Truck has 5.2 / auto trans. I have a couple of ?'s for the group. The motor in the truck is bad, cracked a rod.

1)Do I have to put back a 5.2 or can I swap in a 5.9 with no modifications. I have seen a few 5.9 locally but do not want to buy one unlessit's a bolt in!

2) Is there a big performance difference between the 5.2 & the 5.9?

3) What boltpattern are the wheels, I am looking to replace the ones on there. Willwheels off a 4x4 work on a 4x2? Anyone know how big rim/tireI can go on that truck with no extra work?

Thanks so much to anyone that helps!!

Steve

 

As far as i know, you can swap a 5.2 with a 5.9 just by a drop and connect. You'll have to swap your tranny too though. There is a big deference between the two engines. A lot more power with the 5.9, better towing, but 1 or 2 fewer mpg. You can put on 4x4 on a 4x2, the biggest tire that i would recommend would be a 33", you could go with a 35" but it will rub at full lock. Will need to add some spacers.

 

It is a direct drop in, however you may have to use a 5.9 PCM (Correct me if im wrong.)

You DO NOT have to change your transmission, they are both 46RE's (unless you get one from a pre 98 and it will be a 46RH.)

If you are doing it, I would put the 5.9 in, hands down.

 

Wow !!! ..... Not that much HP difference between the 5.2 and 5.9

94-95 had the RH trans OBD 1
96-01 has the RE trans OBD II

lug pattern on a 4x4 is 5 on 5.5 /2wd should be the same..

 

theres only 15 hp difference in a 5.2 vs 5.9 and 30 ft/lbs of tourqe difference, i dont see the big gains...

i personally challange any 5.9 to pull any of the loads I pull with my truck, and I will do the same with mine

 

Yeah don't you need to swap computers? As said they should use the same transmission. Honestly from what I've read there isn't a huge difference. If I had to replace it anyway I might put a 5.9L in there but if it was just for the heck of it I don't think I'd change it.

 

First of all, I've driven both. My first truck was a little 1995 Dakota with the 5.2L, and before I bought my current Ram I test drove one with the 5.2L.

The 5.9L can out-pull and beat a 5.2L in a race any day. Don't kid yourself, Dodge offered them for a reason. I am not saying that the 5.2L is a bad engine, but come on, don't say the 5.2L can outperform an engine with documented more cubic inches, HP, and torque. The only way a 5.2L could beat a 5.9L in a Ram 1500 (of the same trim) is if you did some upgrades, but you can upgrade the 5.9L as well, so that argument is moot.

A 5.2L gets better gas mileage and, according to some mechanics, is a more reliable engine. But thats up for debate.

There are some more differences, if I remember correctly from previous threads (do a search!!!). The 5.2L is internally balanced, the 5.9L is externally balanced. You would have to swap the computer. There's also a couple other parts you'd need to swap as well, but can't remember them off the top of my head. But you do NOT need to swap the tranny.

 

i have also heard the 318 is a reliable engine and " me if im wrong but i've also heard a 5.2 is quicker then a 5.9. but if you want pulling power get a 5.9, if you want speed and a little better mileage get a 5.2 with a couple of light mods. if i can stick with a hemi rumble bee anythings possibe lol. but it all depends on what your going to use it for.

 

I think they made the 5.9 to hang on to a relic of an engine, my uncle has the 5.9 in his dodge and if we race its dead even. Besides cubic inch's dont make a truck work, its the hp and the tourqe, and the numbers arent excatlly staggering for the 5.9, i can make up for the whopping 15 hp/30 lbs of tourqe difference just by grabbing a lower gear.

Your not going to gain much by dumping in a 360, but if thats the route you wanna go, go for it!

but i'd go bigger.....can you say......hemi?