4/6 inch lift and 35's or 37's with 3.21 gearing help.

Cardhu · Oct 12, 2018

ram1500rsm said:
Ah crap, we can't run 4.56's in the RAM 1500's ?
I bought my truck with 3.92's after the fiasco that i went through with my Jeep and 3.21's, ended up regraring to 4.56's, and wouldn't have had any issues running 4.88's

In any case, i bought the truck with 3.92's because i wanted 35's right from the get go, and thought 3.92's were a lot better start for that than 3.21's, Hemi or not, also looked for one with factory LSD, but with the thought i was going to to have it replaced with ARB or Eaton locker later down the road. boy i didn't do my research properly, because i came to find out after owning the truck, there are no lockers for the 4th gen RAM 1500, and now given you post, does that mean we're limited to 3.92's as well ?

The issue is the front diff and no gears past 3.92 for the ZF 215 mm ring gear. The old Chrysler 8 inch from 2011 and before ram are required for more than 3.92. Some years were welded on. I think this stoped after 2014 based on searches.

Rear options are good not great with issues when they change the carrier in 2012 so all new gear sets are for ZF 9.25 vs C9.25. This has implications for carrier and axle choices.

you can convert a ZF to a C but requires new carrier / locker/DTT etc and then old axle shafts from my research. ZF axles are not symetrical and ring gear bolts on ZF axle gears are larger.

So even if you want to go to a locker / DTT . You will require a C9.25 gear set or have your ring machined to accept the old bolts. There was a guy on here that did it. You will also need axles out of 09 or 10.

Carriers for ZF9.25 last i check are the Duragrip or some stock equivalent replacement with clutches like stock. Reviews are mixed at best on the duragrip. and the key detail on the auburn unit is non rebuildable.

If my LSD quits i'm hoping DTT has a ZF 9.25 by then.

MarshRam · Oct 12, 2018

OP, doesn't sound like you're building a truck for the dragstrip, so go for it. I can't speak for the v6, I have the hemi with 6" lift on 35's with 3.21 gears for the last 50k miles. I would agree on staying away from 37's.

If it gets too slow for you, start working on performance mods next. My truck will blow away my wife's little stock Honda Accord no problem and I'm very sure it is faster now than it was compared to when the truck was 100 percent stock. I can't imagine you would have any issues adding some pep to that v6 if you needed to.

If you have saved that much to spend on lift, wheels and tires, some performance additions can be easily achieved for far less cash!

6.7CumminsDrvr · Oct 12, 2018

I should have clarified in my post: you can swap gears, there are none abailable specifically for the ZF front diff and FOR ME, JUST ME.......i cant see going thru the effort of swapping in a weaker front diff to run 37’s.

The old front is smaller (8” vs 8.5”, and yes a 1/2” in ring gear is significant), low pinion (meaning driving on the weaker side of the gears) and again, since it low pionion, the angle on the front driveshat would be worse than it is now.

I know a few have done it, but the reasons stated above are why i wont.

6.7CumminsDrvr · Oct 12, 2018

69GWC said:
I would say it has a clear advantage all the way to 5th gear.
One thing nice about the 8sp is it does a great job keeping the motor in its power band and this really help DD the truck.
I would say going to 37s or bigger sure the 4:56s might be the way to go but for me I think it would be a bit much just with 35s.
As of right now I just have 3:21s and my truck has zeri problems pulling my 28', 6000lb camper

The 8 spd does have an advantage thru 5th, ill give you that, however, even when driving around town my truck spends most its time in 6th thru 8th. Sure, you’ll be good from a stop but c’mon, when doing anything 35 and up you’re past 5th gear.........and she shifts there quickly. Once that happens you’re on a more level playing field between the 2 tranmissions and at that point, the axle ratio’s make a BIG difference.

Dont know about you folks but i spend most my time above 40 even with our ridiculous Atlanta traffic.

2010 Infantry Vet · Oct 12, 2018

6.7CumminsDrvr said:
I’ve got the 8 spd and I’d drop the coin for 4.56 gears right now if they were avaialble and run 37’s!

Once you’re up and moving, the 8spd no longer has a significant mechanical advantage over the 6 spd........

View attachment 143383

Correct. That’s why I posted that chart. Only main advantage with the 8-speed is take off. The overdrive is the same as the 6 speed.

2010 Infantry Vet · Oct 12, 2018

Since I have a 2010 I can install 4:56 gears in mine, which will offset not having a low first gear like the 8-speed has. Even with 3:92 gears and 37’s my truck is a dog at highway cruising g speed. Gotta remember I live in PA and there are lots of steep hills. Others live in mainly flat states.

RedSRT4Me · Oct 12, 2018

69GWC said:
Not sure I would want 4:56s and the 8sp I would for sure haft to drive that combo first.
4:10s are maybe a 4:30 gear for sure.

I have 5000 miles on 4:56 gears with 35's lifted 6". My calcs vs the stock setup says I have 4:40's currently. It will drop closer to 4:10's when I replace the 35's to 37's.

With a custom tune the truck is a beast with basic bolt-on's and the 8sp.

I have a 3.92 gear to sell now. Just need to figure out the going price

69GWC · Oct 12, 2018

RedSRT4Me said:
I have 5000 miles on 4:56 gears with 35's lifted 6". My calcs vs the stock setup says I have 4:40's currently. It will drop closer to 4:10's when I replace the 35's to 37's.

With a custom tune the truck is a beast with basic bolt-on's and the 8sp.

I have a 3.92 gear to sell now. Just need to figure out the going price

Which transmission do you have ? Never mine I see it now.

69GWC · Oct 12, 2018

6.7CumminsDrvr said:
The 8 spd does have an advantage thru 5th, ill give you that, however, even when driving around town my truck spends most its time in 6th thru 8th. Sure, you’ll be good from a stop but c’mon, when doing anything 35 and up you’re past 5th gear.........and she shifts there quickly. Once that happens you’re on a more level playing field between the 2 tranmissions and at that point, the axle ratio’s make a BIG difference.

Dont know about you folks but i spend most my time above 40 even with our ridiculous Atlanta traffic.

I guess I am just happy enough with it, I did not buy it to race its to heavy for that and I dont lack for power .
Chit just today I was getting on the hwy and I floored it once I got off the ramp to pass the people in front of me and it broke the back tires loose at 50 mph on wet pavement

6.7CumminsDrvr · Oct 13, 2018

69GWC said:
I guess I am just happy enough with it, I did not buy it to race its to heavy for that and I dont lack for power .
Chit just today I was getting on the hwy and I floored it once I got off the ramp to pass the people in front of me and it broke the back tires loose at 50 mph on wet pavement

You and I both have the advantage of the ever so wonderful 5.7 Hemi and i agree, it dose not lack for power, absolute joy to drive!

Our young OP has the Penastar and even as much as the 8 spd will help get him moving, once cruising the 3.21’s and the V6 are gonna be hard at work turning those 37’s. As long as he knows what he’s in for i say go for it, its not like he’s gonna be holding folks up on the road, just not moving quite as effortlessly as he might like. I wish this was i descision i had to make st his age........

On another note, love your set up, big fan of delmonico AND the topper!

69GWC · Oct 13, 2018

IMO he should stay with a light weight wheel and tire in the 35" range, if he goes heavy or bigger I dont think he will ever see 8th gear and might not hold 7th very well.

Guess he will have to find the balance of power and looks he can deal with.

CLOUDL1GHT · Oct 13, 2018

4.56 gears is worth the money. 'nuff said.

80+ mph and won't shift out of 6th for anything.

With 3.55's it would never use 6th on the highway

Save the money and save up for a hemi though. V6 will always struggle

RedSRT4Me · Oct 13, 2018

Most of us are in the consensus that he should go with a hemi but let's be honest, most of you are probably searching how to swap v6's into 6.4 fire breathing monsters

He is 17 and wants the truck to look good.
Bilsteins will level his truck to put 35's on.

I think he can take it from there. Add the 6" lift later on or skip it. The lift is only needed for 37's

boblonben · Oct 15, 2018

Wyatt Blakeley said:
Hi everyone. I found this forum site gives the most feedback to the people who are posting so I thought I'd start here. I recently bought a 2015 ram 1500 Express 3.6L with the 3.21 gearing used with 50k miles. Even though a hemi would've been great it was never an option for me due to a financial stand point and also only being 17 years old. I ended getting some birthday money and have been saving some extra money and I want to put 35's or 37's and a 4 or 6 inch lift to give my truck some stance. I see a lot of people give the 3.21 gearing tons of ****. But there is the few odd people out there would have 35's or 37's on their ram with 3.21 gearing. But those people using 3.21 gearing have the hemi with 3.21 gearing. I've realized that ram's newer V6 engines like mine have a pretty substantial amount of horsepower compared to older V8's with big lifts. I'm more concerned about the gearing than anything. Can anyone help with this decision on what to do? Thanks for any feedback.

Yep, don't waste your money or time on any of this with your truck. That applies to Hemi power ones also.

dearchristopher · Oct 15, 2018

boblonben said:
Yep, don't waste your money or time on any of this with your truck. That applies to Hemi power ones also.

wow this is trash advice

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DodgeDude99 · Oct 15, 2018

If you have an older truck or know the gear ratios of the trans & T-case (high is always 1:1), this is the best gear calculator out there.

Www.florida4x4.com/tech/gearcalc.php

You guys are also missing the strain on the trans a high gear (low number) in the axles does. Yes it might be the 8 speed just like the Hemi, but it isn’t the same trans internally.

ultivssl · Oct 15, 2018

I have to say, congrats on the truck. That is way better than the 87 Olds Calais I was cruising around with when I was 17.

If it was my truck, I'd keep it simple and go with 35's and a 4" lift. Forget about re-gearing and have fun with it. Yes, it may be slower off the line, but the 8sp definitely makes up for the gearing. My other truck is an 88 Nissan with a 100hp I4 running 31's and it drives around with no issues. It is very slow. But I've found from reading the ram forums, people forget what it's like to run with that little amount of power and it runs just fine. Only time you truly need the 400hp the hemi's have is when you're hauling heavy loads. Heck, checkup on (I think) Car and Drivers' long term test of the 1500, they went with the v6 and loved it, even with hauling 6klbs trailers.

atom13 · Oct 15, 2018

Not sure about the numbers but the lack of torque is your primary concern. Older v8 produce less hp but more torque as well as v6 vs hemi. Torque helps you get going. I wouldn't waste money on it. I wish I wouldnt have wasted money on a lot of things when I was 17.

dearchristopher · Oct 16, 2018

ram with a pentastar makes 305hp/269tq

the old 5.9 magnum made 245hp/325tq

5.9 makes the bulk of its torque numbers around 3500rpm according to a few dyno sheets, and RAM says the pentastar makes 269 at 4100 rpm.

my point is that the 3.6 is not much different from the “big v8” power everyone raved over with the second gen and some of the third gen. it’s not comparable to a hemi but it will turn 35s. i had 35s on stock 3.55 gearing in a heavy JKU with bumpers, winch, skids, and beadlocks. not to mention the 2011-2018 jku has a transmission that isn’t as efficient as the 8 speed. some of you should be driving some stock rams based on your convos here.

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rmonty89 · Feb 27, 2019

How long have you been running this setup and would you do it again? Im thinking of putting 35s on my 17 ram with 3:21.

69GWC said:
No that was stock but a muffler. I also have a fiberglass campershell on it.

This is the same just a muffler but on 35s, it still will spin the tires from a stop just only to about 3,000 rpms. It took a pretty good hit off the line but it still runs out good.
Yes it would be better with 3:92s there is not question or argument there but it's not a dog either.
If I had a good tune and a cai with a set of LTs it would really pull hard. But i dont

4/6 inch lift and 35's or 37's with 3.21 gearing help.

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