hey, looking for a new truck.

im currently browsing 2nd gen rams, f150's and silverados... i want to spend about 5000 dollars.

im really skeptical about transmissions (my explorer blew its tranny so i sold it), and i was reading up on the rams. wikipedia said that all rams with v8's (2500s+1500s 5.2 or 5.9) come with the A518/46RH-RE transkission. how is this transmission??? i know the f150's 4r700 tranny sucks, and i havent looked into chevy yet. let me know how this tranny holds up.

whats the difference between 1500 rams and 2500s besides suspension??
are the axles the same??

any common problems with the 5.2 or 5.9???
which is more reliable???
how many miles are average for each motor?

what should i look for when purchasing a truck?
how are the hubs/axles/t-cases???

are all rams solid front axles?? (this is why i want one... solid front beats the hell out of IFS any day)

anything else i should know??

asking for everyones personal opinions.

thanks MUCH

 

5.2 is more relible , but less power, the trans, some people have problems some dont, depends on how you take care of it, and how you got it, all vehicals have the negitives.

as for some probs, plenum but easy fix

 

A 5.2 with a 5 speed trans is a winning combo that will last a lifetime.

 

All 4WD Rams came with a SFA. 1500's have a Dana 44 front and a Chrysler 9.25 rear. 2500/3500 Rams had Dana 60 fronts. Stay away from trucks with the limited slip unless you plan on upgrading.

Get a 5-speed.

 

do all rams (5.2/5.9) have the a518 unless its a v6 or v10/cummins???

 

Yes (except the sticks). The V10/CTD came with the a618 (47RE). The a518 (now called the 46RE) is a modernized 727 ... bulletproof in the muscle cars ... not so much in the heavy trucks.

 

how is it compared to an f150/f250 tranny?? the 4r100

 

Get a stick no matter what brand truck you get. Rams have some issues...search on here for plenum, death flash, transmission, cracked heads, cracked dashes...you will find a lot of complaints. But not everyone experiences these things, and I'm sure it happens with other brands. Just do a good and thorough check of the vehicle and make sure it's solid sounding and feeling. I have an auto/5.9, but if I could have found a 5-spd/5.2 I would have gotten it. Good luck!

 

97+ F150's came with either the 4r70w or the 4r75w. Good transmissions. Same as any other truck, add a cooler.

 

I don't have much knowledge of the newer Ford/Chevy tranny's ... but I do speak old school ... C4 ... TH400 ... maybe you'll be able to translate old to new.

The 46RE is about the equivalent of a C4/C5 or TH350. The heavier 47RE/48RE would align to the C6/TH400. The 46 series isn't the heaviest but usually adequate for the tasks asked of it. A better choice would be the 47RE but they don't bolt up to the 8's.

Don't know what the lineage of the 4r100 is but I'd bet it is a derivative of either a C3 or C4/C5.