Okiespaniel
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2011
- Posts
- 1,645
- Reaction score
- 897
- Location
- Work, Shop, Computer
- Ram Year
- 2000
- Engine
- magnum, 5.9
This isn't an end all be all definitive thread on the subject, BUT...
This thread will be about My impressions of having a the 3.55 gears in a 4x4 Ram replaced with 4:10's and the useless worn out LSD replaced with a Detroit tru trac.
The truck itself is your basic QCSB Ram. 5.9 gas engine, Auto 46RE (rebuilt) Trailer prep/HD cooling package, air, cruise etc. Built for commercial (import) use it lacks carpet and certain power luxuries. Theres about 160k on the odometer
Mods include a 5 inch suspension made from a mix of parts. The engine has a polished TB, catback exhaust, MSD coil, and fancy wires. Hemifever provided a custom tune based off his 87 octane tune.
Tires are Goodyear AT's 305/7016. This size tire is no longer made, so I may be going up to a 315 once these are done
Transmission has a shift kit, deep pan and aftermarket cooler. The check valve is gone.
Until this week, the corporate 9.25 rear diff and D-44 front had 3:55 gears. But when I did a long overdue fluid change this fall, the rear diff was full of particles and pieces.
.
True to form, the factory trac loc LSD was about to self destruct. The metallic pieces are bits of clutch plate material and the metal fragments are retaining clips. The fluid looked like metallic paint.
While cleaning out the case and replacing the diff oil may have slowed the process, the outcome was inevitable.
Sooner or later the metallic particles would wear out the bearings. The nearly too small pinion bearing would be the first to yield to the punishment. There would be the warning death howl, and then the instant and motion stopping carnage.
Thusly I began to make plans to pay for a gear swap and a non clutch pack differential. That lead me the Tru trac.
Big D's 4wd in Tulsa were chosen to do the work.
Motive gears provided the rear set, and Dana supplied the front gears. Bearings were hand picked US made, in addition a transfer case saver was installed. I'd already had a 4:10 and lower front carrier which was worn but serviceable.
Dallas and Justin did a great job on the install and ran the 3 critical initial heat cycles to assure a proper break in.
Lastly, no more chrome! I'm a powder coat man. Chrome covers will be for sale soon.
Then the truck was turned over to me...with explicit instructions on how to run the next 500 miles through the rest of break in.
Still there are initial impressions even with a light and careful foot on how things are going to go.
First ... I must get the speedometer /BCM flashed. I may need to adjust shifting.
Hardly any throttle is needed to leave a stop light. A slight increase in throttle now feels like a rocket compared to the 3.55's
Highway on ramps are easier, and while rpms are slightly higher at cruise, mileage seems to have improved...it certainly hasn't gone down!
My theory on this is simple, the engine now resides within it's power band, and requires less gas to get moving and more importantly, maintain a given speed. I will attempt to do a gas mileage check once the break in period is past.
Will it burn rubber? I've got 434 miles to go before I find out.
This thread will be about My impressions of having a the 3.55 gears in a 4x4 Ram replaced with 4:10's and the useless worn out LSD replaced with a Detroit tru trac.
The truck itself is your basic QCSB Ram. 5.9 gas engine, Auto 46RE (rebuilt) Trailer prep/HD cooling package, air, cruise etc. Built for commercial (import) use it lacks carpet and certain power luxuries. Theres about 160k on the odometer
Mods include a 5 inch suspension made from a mix of parts. The engine has a polished TB, catback exhaust, MSD coil, and fancy wires. Hemifever provided a custom tune based off his 87 octane tune.
Tires are Goodyear AT's 305/7016. This size tire is no longer made, so I may be going up to a 315 once these are done
Transmission has a shift kit, deep pan and aftermarket cooler. The check valve is gone.
Until this week, the corporate 9.25 rear diff and D-44 front had 3:55 gears. But when I did a long overdue fluid change this fall, the rear diff was full of particles and pieces.
.True to form, the factory trac loc LSD was about to self destruct. The metallic pieces are bits of clutch plate material and the metal fragments are retaining clips. The fluid looked like metallic paint.
While cleaning out the case and replacing the diff oil may have slowed the process, the outcome was inevitable.
Sooner or later the metallic particles would wear out the bearings. The nearly too small pinion bearing would be the first to yield to the punishment. There would be the warning death howl, and then the instant and motion stopping carnage.
Thusly I began to make plans to pay for a gear swap and a non clutch pack differential. That lead me the Tru trac.
Big D's 4wd in Tulsa were chosen to do the work.
Motive gears provided the rear set, and Dana supplied the front gears. Bearings were hand picked US made, in addition a transfer case saver was installed. I'd already had a 4:10 and lower front carrier which was worn but serviceable.
Dallas and Justin did a great job on the install and ran the 3 critical initial heat cycles to assure a proper break in.
Lastly, no more chrome! I'm a powder coat man. Chrome covers will be for sale soon.
Then the truck was turned over to me...with explicit instructions on how to run the next 500 miles through the rest of break in.
Still there are initial impressions even with a light and careful foot on how things are going to go.
First ... I must get the speedometer /BCM flashed. I may need to adjust shifting.
Hardly any throttle is needed to leave a stop light. A slight increase in throttle now feels like a rocket compared to the 3.55's
Highway on ramps are easier, and while rpms are slightly higher at cruise, mileage seems to have improved...it certainly hasn't gone down!
My theory on this is simple, the engine now resides within it's power band, and requires less gas to get moving and more importantly, maintain a given speed. I will attempt to do a gas mileage check once the break in period is past.
Will it burn rubber? I've got 434 miles to go before I find out.
Last edited:
