5.9 magnum build
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Joined: Oct 2013
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Cooter,
Bottom line is nothing beats cubic inches. So stroking your engine to a 408 is going to get you the most bang for your buck. Now with the 96 are you OBD1 or 2? If it is OBD1 your going to run into tuning issues. I can't answer the question of can you or can't you get it to work. But if you can't tune it with the stock PCM then your going to have to go aftermarket. Look at an item called MegaSquirt for tuning your engine.
A 408 is going to give you that low end grunt for spinning larger tires. Also remember that all the engine in the world isn't going to do much if the gearing isn't changed to match tire size. So as you increase your tire size you also want to install lower gears. And then you get into the issue of axles not being able to handle tire size. You D44 front axle is good for up to a 35" tire. If you have plans to go bigger then you are going to want D60 axles front and rear. Then you're good for up to a 40" tire. Maybe 42" if you build the axles.
I drive a Jeep with D44 front axle & D60 rear alxe. I have 5.13 gears and am running 38" tires. I have a 5.9 that I am almost done building for the Jeep. My Jeep is a little on the heavy side too and weighs in at around 5,000lbs so I am moving almost as much weight as you are. Read thru some of the build threads on here. Also do a search for 408 builds. There are also books on rebuilding your engine and building a stroker engine.
Bottom line is nothing beats cubic inches. So stroking your engine to a 408 is going to get you the most bang for your buck. Now with the 96 are you OBD1 or 2? If it is OBD1 your going to run into tuning issues. I can't answer the question of can you or can't you get it to work. But if you can't tune it with the stock PCM then your going to have to go aftermarket. Look at an item called MegaSquirt for tuning your engine.
A 408 is going to give you that low end grunt for spinning larger tires. Also remember that all the engine in the world isn't going to do much if the gearing isn't changed to match tire size. So as you increase your tire size you also want to install lower gears. And then you get into the issue of axles not being able to handle tire size. You D44 front axle is good for up to a 35" tire. If you have plans to go bigger then you are going to want D60 axles front and rear. Then you're good for up to a 40" tire. Maybe 42" if you build the axles.
I drive a Jeep with D44 front axle & D60 rear alxe. I have 5.13 gears and am running 38" tires. I have a 5.9 that I am almost done building for the Jeep. My Jeep is a little on the heavy side too and weighs in at around 5,000lbs so I am moving almost as much weight as you are. Read thru some of the build threads on here. Also do a search for 408 builds. There are also books on rebuilding your engine and building a stroker engine.
Wildman is right. I was running 35's with 4.56 gears on the D44 and Chry 9.25 and everything worked great for several years. as soon as I lifted it higher and put 37's on, I broke the fornt end within a month. Had to do an axle swap to D60 front & D80 back with 5.13 gears. I hadn't planned to do the swap but had no choice. Another thing I've researched in the stroker motor is the transmission will probably have to be beefed up.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,419
Likes: 4,214
From: Clayton MI
Wildman is right. I was running 35's with 4.56 gears on the D44 and Chry 9.25 and everything worked great for several years. as soon as I lifted it higher and put 37's on, I broke the fornt end within a month. Had to do an axle swap to D60 front & D80 back with 5.13 gears. I hadn't planned to do the swap but had no choice. Another thing I've researched in the stroker motor is the transmission will probably have to be beefed up.
The stock trans is weak, and a 408 will make VERY short work of it.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,419
Likes: 4,214
From: Clayton MI
I would spend the money on some flavor of PATC's Viper trans. Or at the very least, a build very similar. Mega Viper would get my vote, and would pretty much assure you wouldn't have trans problems for quite some time.
