Hi guys I'm new to this forum but I was wondering if anybody would be able to help answer this question. I have a 2005 dodge ram 1500 with a 5.7 hemi and a 5 speed auto. I am planning on doing a tranny swap and putting in a T-56 magnum six speed. I have run into a few obstacles but the one I don't know anything about is the computer which won't recognize a manual. Would I have to get a new ECU? or how should I go about doing this? Thank you!

 

They offered a stick shift hemi in the 2500, I wonder if you can get away with using the PCM out of one of those?

 

actually I believe you can do have any idea where i can get one of those?

 

Find the correct part number, then do a search I guess. The trick will be finding the right one. Hell, try posting to see if anyone has an 05 2500 manual trans and see if they're willing to cough up a part number.

 

That might be a tough one. Are you also going to get some **really** low axle gears? 1st gear in the Dodge T56 is only 2.66:1. Daks and 1500 Rams have a 4.23:1 1st, and the HD's are something like 5.6:1. Your T56 will make doing "trucky" things like towing and hauling very hard on the clutch.

You will honestly want 4.88's. Maybe 5.13's if they offer them in the 9.25" axle. Consider this - if you can cram 5.13 gears in the axle, your overall in 1st will be 13.7:1. My Dakota with 3.21's in 1st is 13.6. Mine is good for a pretty enthusiastic pull to about 31 MPH at redline. Your OD will be 2.57:1, mine is 2.53. It's very much a 65 MPH cruising gear.

Obviously a Hemi can do alot more with tall gears than my little V6, but you are putting a sports car transmission into a 6000# truck. It's not going to feel right without compensating in the rear axle.

 

actually my first is 2.92 and my sixth is .50. I do agree with you though I will be switching my axle although now I'm worried about the numbers I had calculated. I have a 3.92 axle right now and I calculated my top speeds in each gear to be approximately this: 1st: 50mph, 2nd 76mph, 3rd 105mph, 4th 144mph, and 6th gear theoretically 288(obviously never gonna happen) but 1500 rpm at 75mph. Let me know if I'm wrong with these calculations. The ram Srt-10 has numbers similar to these but it has a 4.10 axle ratio I believe. Now I have to make sure I have the right numbers so I get the right axle

 

T-56 gear ratios
2.972.101.461.000.740.50
my 5 speed automatic gear ratios
1st: 3.00
2nd: 1.67 - upshift; 1.50 kick-down
3rd: 1.00
4th: 0.75
5th: 0.67

 

sorry the T56 aren't clear
1st: 2.97
2nd: 2.10
3rd: 1.46
4th: 1.00
5th: 0.74
6th:0.50
bottom line is first is almost the same and than 2nd thirs and fourth area a lot closer

 

2.97 is not the 1st gear ratio for Dodge versions. That trans was used in Mustangs and Vettes. You might have bellhousing issues if you try to use a GM or Ford T56 on a Hemi motor. You might have your hands full getting a V10 bellhousing and clutch assembly to fit up to a Hemi block and flywheel as it is.

The SRT-10 also has 500 ft-lb to overcome those ratios. A 350 ft-lb Hemi will dog without some deep *** rear gears. 2.66:1 is a lower 1st than the automatic transmissions have (545RFE=3.00:1), and they benefit from the torque multiplication of the torque converter.

Most small cars, Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, have 4.XX gears to get any sort of *** off the line. You need the same! Or else you will be huffing clutch fumes and wondering why your spiffy new 5 speed Hemi is slower than it was before.

 

I did some research on this about six months ago. Have you already pulled the auto tranny out? If not, unplug the cannon plug on the tranny and take a gentle drive. If it still shifts normally, it should be fine. Since you have a HEMI, you could step up to an SCT flash tuner, which will allow you to bypass tranny inputs.
I don't think 04s had MDS (not sure though), so a 2500 ECU might work. Hope that wouldn't drive VIN issues.
I sure would like an SRT10 T56.