Don't let anyone get you down about the 5.9. That's a good strong motor that's stood the test of time. In stock form it may not be as fast as the hemi, but the hemi reliability is still to be proven. With some well chosen performance accessories, you have the potential to embarrass a few with the hemi badge on their fender.

Your truck doesn't seem as fast because it only has 245HP and 335ft/lbs of torque. The new HEMI has 345HP and 375ft/lbs of torque. I have had the 5.9L in my old 1995 RAM and the HEMI in my new 2005 RAM. The 5.9 is reliable as hell with nothing more than regular oil changes. I have 218,000+ on my old 5.9L. However, the 5.9 is a dog and gets worse MPG than the HEMI. Don't get me wrong, it sounds like you got a nice truck. I would have just held out for an 03+ witht he HEMI. Besides the HEMI, you also get the 5 speed auto. That 5.9 has the older 4 speed auto. Can't say the 46RE is exactly super reliable. I took care of mine and it still went out at 163,000. The overdrive lockup clutch broke apart and sent material trough the tranny tearing everything up. 2300 dollars later, I was back on my way. Anyway, didn't mean to crap in your cereal... Just wanted to you know why yours doesn't perform like your buddies.

163,000 miles on a tranny is a lot of miles. Personally, I'd have expected a tranny rebuild by then, however, not due to catastrophic failure as you mentioned. Just new pump, plates, etc.

I would have waited for the HEMI as well. The 5.9 is alot worse on fuel economy and while it may be true that there alot more mods available for the 5.9, it will take a supercharger to equel a stock HEMI. Now, if you really want to compare aplles to apples, a stock HEmi vs a stock 5.9, then there is no comparison. I had looked at the Rams in 2002 before the Hemi and my big turnoff was weak motors. The 4.7 and the 5.9 are dogs. On top of that the 5.9 gets alot worse gas mileage, not saying that the HEMI is good at all. However, I can handle the fuel economy since everytime I get on the throttle it brings a smile to face. OH, I raced a modded 5.9 and whupped it hard. I could tell he had the throttle down since the aftermarket exhaust made his RPMs very clear.

The 46RE in 02 should not be too bad - they started using synthetic ATF in 01.

Mine shifts beautifully - had the tranny service done at 45,000 miles. No adjustments needed - fluld was pretty clean.

I can tell you that my father in laws' 04 Hemi w/17's and 3:55 gears is not good on fuel. He as been +/- 10% from my averge on the highway. I have a 02 5.9 w/20's and 3:92 gears - he should clearly be getting better fuel economy.

He can't tow his 5th since the tow/haul locks it out of 5th - and into 4th. The 4-speed 46RE locks from 4th to 3rd. I checked into this - and the 4th gear ratios are almost the same - so Dodge thinks it is cool to tow 7,000 lbs in overdrive. As soon as he hits a headwind - downshifts to 3rd constantly. He has had the tranny flash done.

I tow the same weight 5th - never downshifts on straight aways - so my tranny should not puke like his will...

All I need to do to take a stock QC Hemi 4x4 is add a Superchip. I have done a few minor things - and it feels pretty quick - and that's with the deathflash.

Dave