FYI, there is nothing wrong the automatic transmissions in these trucks. In fact, that design stems from the 727 platform which can handle a lot of power and torque. The issue is people didn’t properly maintain their transmissions. They needed to have the second gear band and reverse band adjusted frequently as well as fluid/filter changes. People just didn’t do that and chalked it up to “a crappy trans”.
my 5.2 magnum has been a champ, saved from the scrap yard at 130k currently at 200k and runs smooth as butter. Trans may have been cooked on this last tow, but that 5.2 just keeps giving and giving.
I've had a Gen 2(98') 1500 Sport 4x4 with the 5.2 Magnum in it for several years, and so far it's a great truck! Thankfully it was my father's before I owned it, and he bought fully packaged. I've even had to sleep in it a few times comfortably...yes, my dash is GONE, lol, those things are potato chips, lol. Engine bay, and interior are perfect, clean, no issues. I've never had a problem with power at all, but gas mileage is around 12-13mpg on average. Given the opportunity, I would probably choose the Cummins I6, but I'm not complaining, I love the sound of the 5.2, and the 4WD system works perfect. SO much has to do with how they're maintained, I've got 280k, and my Dad had a fresh transmission installed 8 years ago. It's fine pulling a boat, or a dbl axle trailer, BUT the 5.2 might struggle on hills with equipment on a long trailer, that's where there's a great reason to look for the big engine, imo. Other than that, the 5.2 has been a perfect truck for me.
Bro that's awesome. The 5.2 and 5.9 magnum basically the same engine not much difference in hp or torque. 13 MPG? Local should do better than that unless you have a lead foot. Also depends on the gear ratio also. My buddy has a 98 ram 5.2 and pulls a big ass landscaping trailer everyday and he gets 12MPG. Dode always had a great sound to them especially if you change the exhaust. My 2001 gets great highway milage until I go over 70 then it gets progressively worse. Shit at 80 I bet it gets about 10MPG lol. As long as you change the oil often and service the Trans it will last forever. Most people say the Trans sucks in gen2. But I have zero issues. But I also service the Trans every 25k. Like I said before my 2001 will pull my boat all day long with no problem. I bet my 2001 will out last my hemi. Which the minute it gets the hemi tick I'm dumping that bitch. Best of luck with your ram my friend
@@Schoolin2.0 152k on my 2001 other than the bs dashboard that should have been recalled it still looks like the day I bought it. Hell still have the original carpet floor mats. It's the sport quad cab. Absolutely love this design. So much cooler looking than my 2013. My 2013 will never last as long as my 2001. The minute it starts to rust or power train issues I will dump it in a heartbeat. This will probably piss many off but after gen 3 I think they just started getting ugly. I like my 2013 but not a fan of the way the front looks. And except for the grill the 2025 looks to much like a GM
My ‘97 4x4 Club Cab SLT Laramie long box had a 5.2 and I thought it was ample power. I actually added rear airbags and carried a light weight 8 foot truck camper on it (Load Range E tires of course) and it handled the weight and wind drag of that camper just fine while driving through mountainous areas.
I had 2001 5.2 1500 4x4 Off Road addition factory lift,4.10 axles,and never had any of those problems not even the so often cracked dash.Never babied that truck maybe that's why,think it had 182000 when I got rid of it.
I recently bought a 96 Dodge 1500 short bed 5.2/5-speed/4x4. Maybe kind of a unicorn. I don’t really know production numbers but I will say that I have grown to really love this old truck! That 5.2 just never quits! I bought it as a project and something to drive in nice weather but I find myself driving it more and more often lately. It’s just a good old truck! Many years ago I worked for a company that had a couple as company trucks; a 91 318 with well over 300,000 miles and a 2000 5.2 Magnum. I actually enjoyed driving the 91 because of how well it ran for as many miles as were on it. But the Magnum was noticeably more powerful
I've had my 99 with the same drivetrain for 4 years. They are really hard to find, and the 5.2 are very hard to kill. Although they aren't the best for power, it will still smoke the 35 inch tires that I have on it.
I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 ST 5.2L 4x4 with the 5 speed manual transmission. I've had it for about 5 years and I enjoy it. got it on a 7inch lift with 35 in tires on 20x10 wheels. truck still burns out when I step on gas. The 5.9 1500 gas engine only came with automatic transmission unfortunately. However my engine is getting old 305k miles. So im going to see if I can put the 5.9 engine and pair it with my manual transmission.
Replacing my old 5.2 with a cammed 5.9l this weekend. Hoping for a huge difference in power. Also if you don't want your truck to rust, you MUST use fluid film in ever nook and cranny. My all time favorite rust inhibitor for many reasons. Great stuff
Had a 97 4x2 5.2 with a comp cam and 3.55 gears. Excellent truck, never found anything the truck wouldn’t pull. 97 was an great year for quality vehicles but nearly all that year were a one off design
@goandy89 I have a 99 with a 318 that was owned by an old man who bought it new off the lot before me. You can see where he had the 5th wheel plate in the bed. I only paid 950 bucks for it plus the 600 for a used tranny and its been a great truck. I can see where you're coming from when you say it will pull anything although I have not pulled anything with it yet.
It has 3.55 gears and other than an aftermarket transmission cooler it's completely stock as far as I know. Edit: I forgot to mention it has roughly 167,000 miles as of today
My 98 5.2 sport a very well respected beater with 171k original miles and no oil change done to it just adding oil and banged on limiter alot still screams like crazy and rips through every gear no problem. (Off-road btw no street with this truck)
I had both many years ago. I had a 96 5.9 short bed. Then, many years later, a 5.2 quad cab short bed. Obviously, the 96 indy pace truck was a beast fast. I modified it with high Flo cats jet chip cold air kit. Did the rear the 5 .2 was stock. Pulled a boat with it 23 foot Boston whaler so it did its job, but the salt ate it alive. Neither one shifted good. But I read the comments about the nobody did the mantance on the trans. I used trans medic every year. Traded in the 5.2 cash for clunkers they had going on, it wasn't worth the $5 grand I got for it, so I was happy.
Have a 95 Grand Cherokee that I tricked out has the 318 Magnum 5.2 pumped it up to 450 Hp. Throughout the years building this thing I reached one conclusion ....Dodge tyranny's suck, that being said I may have solved the issue, I was about to throw in a 5 speed manual conversion and my trans guy suggested lets try this first.....he took the stock automatic 4 speed overdrive trans put in a 2500 rpm stall converter, red line racing clutches a B&M shift kit and an oversized trans cooler....that was 4 years ago and hasn't had a single hiccup, food for thought. Hype the transmission up on your Mopars.
He'll my buddy had a 96 4x4 short box standard cab in black. He swapped in the v10 when he kept blowing up 360s. Then he blew up the low revving v10 with the 4:10 gears trying to run it like it was a small block. Lol 😆 I miss aunt Jemima
@@RealSteelFabrications nope but definitely tested the structural integrity of engineering on vehicles. I've never seen anyone else treat their pickups the way he did. I mean he drove a 360 with a spun bearing for a good 9 months constantly at the Rev limiter of 5800. It held together but it was a quart of oil per tank of fuel when it was still reasonable. Then it started rolling coal and finally decided to swap it after the cops pulled him over for obstruction of view and endangerment to other drivers because of the smoke screen behind the truck
Got 98 darango 512.000 oraginal tranny no problems.97 Dakota 5.2 391 gear oraginal tranny 270.000 no problems run the hell out of em .man the darango and Dakota still has oraginal heater core.crazy man I no other people that baby's there Dakotas and the same shit u said happens does.lucky I guess.like your video's keep trucken
5.9 was a beast. sounds so godly good. Dont get me wrong i love my hemi but i loved the shit out of the 5.9mag, the way it twists the truck when you rev it up, and it sounds like a big block with an open exhaust. My 5.7 has the same muffler but it doesnt sound even nearly as good.
this weekend I'm planning to buy a I think 96 ram 3500 V8 Magnum ,club cab in great shape 147k 2nd trans, I owner $5k from what I've been reading, removing the check valve in the transmission, cooler line and adding a trans cooler makes a huge difference protecting these trans
I have 97 dodge ram 1500 5.9 4x2. I bought it brand new when I was 20yrs old. I'm 46yrs old now and still tows excellent original motor 230k on it 2nd transmission. Good review young man 👍👍
I was just thinking today that I bought my 2000 2500 5 spd 4wd cummins new when I was 21. It now has 300k and in immaculate shape, im always hit up to sell it. I would never sell it, Boy time flys and I’m sure you feel the same
Only reason the 5.2 makes as much power as it does compared to the 5.9 is it has a better cam in it. Change cam and lifters on the 5.9 and it’s a good ways above the 5.2
I had. 1999 Laramie 2wd reg cab and lowered it slightly and put 18in wheels on it and had the 5.2, it had plenty of power for what it was I loved that truck and I sold it to a young fella and he totaled it a month later 🤦🏻♂️
I had a 97 ram 1500 2wd with the mopar 360 and it was an amazing truck all around although i no longer have it due to it being stolen and burned to the ground and currently I’m looking at picking up a 97 ram 2500 4wd with the mopar 360
Just remember the base engine was the 3.9 magnum v6 with only 175 horsepower and 225 torque now in the midsized dakotas this engine was a perfect mix between power and fuel economy (20-24mpg hwy, but in the city 15-18 mpg) and the 5.2 was quick and still efficient on the hwy and the 5.9 rts were ridiculously fast, but in the Rams the v6 is a dog it’s too weak for the full sized trucks. Great engines, literally hard to kill, but they could’ve used another boost in power.
Had a 94 Dakota sport with a 3.9 and your exactly right ,great motors , perfect for a Dakota and pretty quick you could say . and hard to kill but for a full sized truck not so great .
Don't know where you got those fuel mileage numbers from but they are way off. Even with a light foot my 2000 Dakota 2wd 3.9 only got 13.5mpg mixed driving. Best on the highway was 18 at 60mph. I have not met anyone get over 20mpg out of a 3.9
I've got a 97 Dakota 4x4 with the 3.9 and it's almost impressive how slow that thing is. It'll barely get out of its own way. I will say that it's been a reliable little truck. And even though it's nowhere near as nice as my Silverado, or grand Cherokee I tend to drive that Dakota the most. Holy shit it's slow though 😂
3.9 in the Dakota was a fucken Dog. Not sure what you're used to driving. But a 4x4 V6 Quad cab had a 0-60 time of 12.3 second 😂 And got V8 fuel economy 5.2 in the same truck was better but still only around a 9.5 second 0-60 .
These transmissions are good when they are on the lower torque Chevy and Gm motors, but when mated to the longer stroke, higher torque mopar motors, they just don't hold up. Usually an upgraded torque converter or clutch set up helps tremendously in almost every dodge truck, regardless of its age or model or spec.
The 5.2 prob has a 3:21 rearend. The 5.9 4x4 may have a 3:55. Check in glove box. 3:55 is way better for pulling. Let us know.Awsome vid keep em coming.
2 different iterations of the Dodge RAM 2nd gen. you have there: *Block One* = 1994 to 1997 that had the chrome plated metal mirrors & simpler interior. *Block Two* = 1998 to 2002 that had the black heavy duty plastic mirrors & QuadCab availability. Rarest 2nd Gen. RAM would be a 1998 2500/3500 w/ the Cummins 12v diesel+manual trans.
dude their the same. lol. I guess 98 and up have a passenger air bag. Also lol, heavy duty mirrors. is that why literally everyone has replaced those crappy ass plastic mirrors, I also guess yea 99 and up did make what 10 more hp than the earlier ones. but like who gives a fuck, its so minute of a 200hp motor XD
Tbh 5.2 are not bad at all. You probably have the 5.2 paired with the 42re trans which is what makes it even slower. I have a 96 slt laramie 2wd 5.2 with the 46re trans I even found out mine was some what hard to find since my 46re was an hd version. I bought two of the 2nd Gen's. I have 1996 extended cab the one i mentioned and have the 1999 5.2 regular cab both are sport model. But the 1999 5.2 i drove was slower than my 1996 and i was confused at first tbh shouldn't the regular cab be quicker. But now that i know the 99 has the 42re trans that made sense i even noticed the gearing how different it was from each other. So I don't see a reason to shame the 5.2 at all its just the specs on them are different from their years as I come to find out. I have owned a 5.9 2002 quadcab 3rd gen and yes its slightly quicker but its does have tons of torque. But iam swapping out the 5.2 in the 99 for a 5.9 and 46re combo. I blew my trans on it a couple months ago down the road while driving but somehow manage to drive it home on one gear for miles lol till I came home and it stopped there not being able to drive.
Thank you for all the info on the different transmissions. How do you know if you have a 46RE? Also will a 46RE be compatible with any 5.2 engine ...? My truck is the 1998 SLT Laramie 5.2 RWD. Thank you much!
@@Stanging84 yes a 46re is compatible with a 5.2 I have one. Mine is an slt Laramie which is considered a heavy duty somewhat I also have the hd version. A way you can tell if you have the 46re or the 42re is by looking at the pan shape you'll easily identify which is which. Or the plug that connect to the valve body how many pins it has. But if you ever want to swap it for a 46re it'll bolt up and fit perfectly.
My grandfather had a 97 2nd Gen 2wd with the 3.9l V6 and it guzzled gas and got stuck easily but I have a 2000 sport single cab 4wd with the 5.9 but the torque converter went in it.
I have a 98 single cab short bed. 3.9 V6. I’ve restored it back to around 95% stock. It’s a turd on the road but it runs good and fires up every time I turn the key. I put a DashSkin over the existing dash and it looks factory.
New subscriber ✓. I've owned 5-6 second gen Rams. One I bought brand new. That was a 5.9 v-8 Sport model. Too bad I'm late in watching this video..lol, I would have bought your 2 wheel drive Ram.
I just bought a 99’ ram Laramie club cab 8cyl 5.2l. Any advice to maintain? It all looks good for now but anxious the transmission will give in after this vid 😭
im freakin loved my 5.9 when i had it!!!!! whenever it would break down i could get it running again for cheap. unlike my cummins hahah everything is so expensive now adays haha
"Dodge didn't spend money on the transmission". yet at the same time, even a mildly built 46re will out hold and live even a nv4500, which just high friction clutches. Don't confuse your lack of maintenance on dodge cheaping out. lol. At the end of the day, a 46re is a 727 with an extra gear set in the tail-housing.
"transmission will be shot" yes, from poor maintenance. lol. they are rating well over what both the 318 and 360 do from stock. Lol. Again, dont mistake your lake of maintenance for stuff being junk. as someone with 448k miles on his 97 360. its all on you. they are well built engines and trannies, but with your lake of maintenance, they can easily be junk, BUT THATS ON YOU, not dodge. lol. now the interiors yea they are just junk.
I’m about to get a 2001 1500 SLT Laramie from a guy on marketplace. It only has about 97,000 miles & the current owner says it spent alot of time sitting. I love the low mileage but what should I look for as far as issues related to it sitting for so long? What parts should be replaced? What should be checked. Also, it has a digital odometer, is there any way I can fact check him to make sure he didn’t just switch gauge clusters?
As the owner of a 1995 5.2 Dodge i would have to say that you are not entirely correct as my truck has over 300k with the original transmission in it as well as 90% original motor. If you were lucky and smart enough to get a 95, 96 or first half of 97 then you have a TorqueFlite transmission. I've pulled many things with my little 2 wheel drive 5.2. 2nd gen 360's are nowhere near as reliable and as nice as the 1st gen 360's. 2nd gen 318's were just as good as 1st gen. But that is my personal opinion having driven both 1st and 2nd gen's of both platforms, though i do fancy a 225 slant 6.
i know i’m a bit late but i have a 2000 1500 pretty sure it’s a sport model but i’m not sure cus i’ve never seen the original hood. though it doesn’t have the badges on the side, instead stickers. i’ve believed for years that it’s a 5.9 but now i think it might be a 5.2 how can i tell the difference between the two? would it say in the owners manual?
Your truck looks better than mine does but oh well i have a 2000 dodge ram laramie slt quad cab long bed 318 magnum V8 46 RH automatic overdrive transmission manual shift transfer case lever on the floor gloss black with most of the white pinstripe 1500 4x4
Amen to that....my 96 Ram 1500 5.2 also has a 5 speed manual own the truck for 18 years no gear box issues.I love the driving experience...to be one with the truck the engine and the road one needs a clutch I put a Hurst shifter in mine I love that truck. All the HP I ever needed I often pull above the recommended weight spec no issues....cheers
@@justinstillwagon24 Same story…mine is a 1998 shortbed 2wd 5.2 magnum with 5 speed manual. I purchased it a year old as a corporate vehicle with only 7,000 miles on it so technically I’m the only owner it’s had, now has 320,000 miles and never had an issue with the trans, lol. Well, it’s had a couple clutches in it but it’s an easy job!
They should've offered cam upgrades for towing from the factory. The stock cams especially in the 5.9 are just so wimpy, plenty of room for a good towing cam so I don't understand why they never did it. I've got a 5.9 Dakota and with just bolt ons it's making 235 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. That's pretty good for a 20 year old truck with just bolt ons and not rebuilt, but who wouldn't ask for more especially in the ram being close to 5k lbs alone. Yes they tow nice but could be better, even with the 3.92 gearing and the 5.9 my Dakota wasn't too happy towing roughly 1400 lbs. I know it's not built for towing, it's mainly 4th gear that wasn't happy but I could tell how goofy the differences in the transmissions are. The diesels had beefier gears and shifted quicker weighed down and empty. Mine wants to shift early and stay in 4th except when its weighed down then it couldn't make up it's mind which gear to choose.
That don't let me know that y'all left that condenser in that condition when you need some air flow through it to get to do that damn radiator for your trans cooler another reason the heater gets so nice and toasty
The 318 usually ends up being the better engine more reliable than the 360 from what I have seen 318 is one of the best engine Mopar ever made they are not good at v6 engines at all
I'd love to own one of these but even if I was able to find one in pristine condition, it wouldn't last in the rust belt. My neighbor owned one about 10 years ago, he did body work and even his rusted faster than he could fix it
I've been Running a 2001 quad cab 2500 4x4 but with the Cummins for the last 15 years as a daily driver in the heart of the rust belt, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Just undercoat oil spray your truck/car every fall/ new year/ and spring time and most cars will last the salt attack we get.
they dont even need salt to rust out.. my uncle finally bought a real truck n i bought his dodge instead of scappin it to use basically as a work 4 wheeler, n even with driving n taking .."some" kind of care of it, then leavin it sit for just a few months, the Fn rust everywhere is absolutely insane!!! its like dodge went to china n asked them to use the cheapest scrap they had.. its fn ridiculous.. even the rear diffs rusting like its been straight up soaking in salt water, its got 3/4 inch of solid hard rust, not just surface rust, im talkin about the hard shit that looks blue green n USE to b solid metal.. n like u mentioned the dash is Done, the headliners all fallin down the brakes like to lock up when wet, the trans is a pile of shit (like all dodge) wont go into drive or reverse slips outta 4th, along with using cheap metal, the dumbasses layered metal all over the place n didnt give water or debris anywhere to go.. like the frame rails, they have another piece of metal running along the bottom inSIDE the frame rail about 3/4 inch above the bottom that u can see...its like the junks designed TO rust... i dont get it.. the amount of shit my uncle said he had to replace in the time he had is ridiculous, i dont think im goin to have this Fn pile for long lol :p sry for typin so much..this fn truck pisses me off
These are junk. People ONLY buy them for the look, which I admit are nice. My f-150 has 215,000 miles and i have done nothing but brake pads, tires and battery. Runs/drives perfect, interior also perfect.
@@Phillipthefool3.0everyone says each one of them are junk and they all tend to be when idiots don’t take care of them like people talk how the transmissions suck but when you notice they all suck when they don’t get maintained I got a 99 Dakota 5.2 auto club can 4x4 and I love it to death everyone is gonna say something’s junk
I have a '97 Ram 1500 with a 360 V8 auto with 294,000 miles on it so far, I've owned it for 10 years now and I've put 102,000 miles on it myself so far and still going strong. I think with trans in these trucks to help make them last is to put an external trans coolers on them, because the radiator trans cooler isn't enough to keep it cool enough. So when I bought my truck for $1600 10 years ago, the first thing I did was put an external trans cooler on it and I haven't had any trouble with it much since. Plus change all the fluids on time and they will last a long time.
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FYI, there is nothing wrong the automatic transmissions in these trucks. In fact, that design stems from the 727 platform which can handle a lot of power and torque. The issue is people didn’t properly maintain their transmissions. They needed to have the second gear band and reverse band adjusted frequently as well as fluid/filter changes. People just didn’t do that and chalked it up to “a crappy trans”.
A lot of people do not maintain their vehicles, I can agree with that
Exactly, I changed my trans filter , around every 30,40 thousand and it lasted till 318000 miles
And if I’m not mistaken they also didn’t keep the de-tent cable set right
I kept up on maintaining my truck and i had no problem with the trans like people said i would, ‘98 1500 5.9 v8 best truck ive ever had
@@coltonshields8629 Case in point, well done!
I have a 97 Laramie 2wd 5.2. Im 40 years old, ive driven a lot of trucks. The gen 2 ram 1500 is the best production truck ever turned out.
its up there!
my 5.2 magnum has been a champ, saved from the scrap yard at 130k currently at 200k and runs smooth as butter.
Trans may have been cooked on this last tow, but that 5.2 just keeps giving and giving.
200k is not enough imo the transmission is weak
For a full sized truck*
I've had a Gen 2(98') 1500 Sport 4x4 with the 5.2 Magnum in it for several years, and so far it's a great truck! Thankfully it was my father's before I owned it, and he bought fully packaged. I've even had to sleep in it a few times comfortably...yes, my dash is GONE, lol, those things are potato chips, lol. Engine bay, and interior are perfect, clean, no issues. I've never had a problem with power at all, but gas mileage is around 12-13mpg on average. Given the opportunity, I would probably choose the Cummins I6, but I'm not complaining, I love the sound of the 5.2, and the 4WD system works perfect. SO much has to do with how they're maintained, I've got 280k, and my Dad had a fresh transmission installed 8 years ago. It's fine pulling a boat, or a dbl axle trailer, BUT the 5.2 might struggle on hills with equipment on a long trailer, that's where there's a great reason to look for the big engine, imo. Other than that, the 5.2 has been a perfect truck for me.
Bro that's awesome. The 5.2 and 5.9 magnum basically the same engine not much difference in hp or torque. 13 MPG? Local should do better than that unless you have a lead foot. Also depends on the gear ratio also. My buddy has a 98 ram 5.2 and pulls a big ass landscaping trailer everyday and he gets 12MPG. Dode always had a great sound to them especially if you change the exhaust. My 2001 gets great highway milage until I go over 70 then it gets progressively worse. Shit at 80 I bet it gets about 10MPG lol. As long as you change the oil often and service the Trans it will last forever. Most people say the Trans sucks in gen2. But I have zero issues. But I also service the Trans every 25k. Like I said before my 2001 will pull my boat all day long with no problem. I bet my 2001 will out last my hemi. Which the minute it gets the hemi tick I'm dumping that bitch. Best of luck with your ram my friend
@@petewadnlk6756what’s the mileage on urs?
@@Schoolin2.0 152k on my 2001 other than the bs dashboard that should have been recalled it still looks like the day I bought it. Hell still have the original carpet floor mats. It's the sport quad cab. Absolutely love this design. So much cooler looking than my 2013. My 2013 will never last as long as my 2001. The minute it starts to rust or power train issues I will dump it in a heartbeat. This will probably piss many off but after gen 3 I think they just started getting ugly. I like my 2013 but not a fan of the way the front looks. And except for the grill the 2025 looks to much like a GM
@@petewadnlk6756 appreciate it and keep it up🫡
@@Schoolin2.0 thank you!!
My ‘97 4x4 Club Cab SLT Laramie long box had a 5.2 and I thought it was ample power. I actually added rear airbags and carried a light weight 8 foot truck camper on it (Load Range E tires of course) and it handled the weight and wind drag of that camper just fine while driving through mountainous areas.
thanks for sharing!
I had 2001 5.2 1500 4x4 Off Road addition factory lift,4.10 axles,and never had any of those problems not even the so often cracked dash.Never babied that truck maybe that's why,think it had 182000 when I got rid of it.
Awesome! Wish my dash wasn't cracked.
I recently bought a 96 Dodge 1500 short bed 5.2/5-speed/4x4. Maybe kind of a unicorn. I don’t really know production numbers but I will say that I have grown to really love this old truck! That 5.2 just never quits! I bought it as a project and something to drive in nice weather but I find myself driving it more and more often lately. It’s just a good old truck! Many years ago I worked for a company that had a couple as company trucks; a 91 318 with well over 300,000 miles and a 2000 5.2 Magnum. I actually enjoyed driving the 91 because of how well it ran for as many miles as were on it. But the Magnum was noticeably more powerful
I've had my 99 with the same drivetrain for 4 years. They are really hard to find, and the 5.2 are very hard to kill. Although they aren't the best for power, it will still smoke the 35 inch tires that I have on it.
I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 ST 5.2L 4x4 with the 5 speed manual transmission. I've had it for about 5 years and I enjoy it. got it on a 7inch lift with 35 in tires on 20x10 wheels. truck still burns out when I step on gas. The 5.9 1500 gas engine only came with automatic transmission unfortunately. However my engine is getting old 305k miles. So im going to see if I can put the 5.9 engine and pair it with my manual transmission.
Wanna sell it ?
@@mikeobrien6264 Yea sure it will
Replacing my old 5.2 with a cammed 5.9l this weekend. Hoping for a huge difference in power. Also if you don't want your truck to rust, you MUST use fluid film in ever nook and cranny. My all time favorite rust inhibitor for many reasons. Great stuff
Nice! I’ll check it out
Oil or fluid film. Youtr correct.
How'd the swap go? Did it make a huge difference in performance?
That’s a hell of a deal for a truck that isn’t rotted out
Sure was, SOLD
Something about these 2nd gen dodges makes them deer magnets lol
They better stay away from my truck lol
Had a 97 4x2 5.2 with a comp cam and 3.55 gears. Excellent truck, never found anything the truck wouldn’t pull. 97 was an great year for quality vehicles but nearly all that year were a one off design
Thanks for sharing
@goandy89 I have a 99 with a 318 that was owned by an old man who bought it new off the lot before me. You can see where he had the 5th wheel plate in the bed. I only paid 950 bucks for it plus the 600 for a used tranny and its been a great truck. I can see where you're coming from when you say it will pull anything although I have not pulled anything with it yet.
It has 3.55 gears and other than an aftermarket transmission cooler it's completely stock as far as I know.
Edit: I forgot to mention it has roughly 167,000 miles as of today
My 98 5.2 sport a very well respected beater with 171k original miles and no oil change done to it just adding oil and banged on limiter alot still screams like crazy and rips through every gear no problem. (Off-road btw no street with this truck)
I had both many years ago. I had a 96 5.9 short bed. Then, many years later, a 5.2 quad cab short bed. Obviously, the 96 indy pace truck was a beast fast. I modified it with high Flo cats jet chip cold air kit. Did the rear the 5 .2 was stock. Pulled a boat with it 23 foot Boston whaler so it did its job, but the salt ate it alive. Neither one shifted good. But I read the comments about the nobody did the mantance on the trans. I used trans medic every year. Traded in the 5.2 cash for clunkers they had going on, it wasn't worth the $5 grand I got for it, so I was happy.
Have a 95 Grand Cherokee that I tricked out has the 318 Magnum 5.2 pumped it up to 450 Hp. Throughout the years building this thing I reached one conclusion ....Dodge tyranny's suck, that being said I may have solved the issue, I was about to throw in a 5 speed manual conversion and my trans guy suggested lets try this first.....he took the stock automatic 4 speed overdrive trans put in a 2500 rpm stall converter, red line racing clutches a B&M shift kit and an oversized trans cooler....that was 4 years ago and hasn't had a single hiccup, food for thought. Hype the transmission up on your Mopars.
WOW! Power!
Howd you get 450? i got a 01 sport 5.2 and im starting out to modify it slowly? Was wondering any suggestions?
He'll my buddy had a 96 4x4 short box standard cab in black. He swapped in the v10 when he kept blowing up 360s. Then he blew up the low revving v10 with the 4:10 gears trying to run it like it was a small block. Lol 😆 I miss aunt Jemima
lol, he must be a racecar driver
@@RealSteelFabrications nope but definitely tested the structural integrity of engineering on vehicles. I've never seen anyone else treat their pickups the way he did. I mean he drove a 360 with a spun bearing for a good 9 months constantly at the Rev limiter of 5800. It held together but it was a quart of oil per tank of fuel when it was still reasonable. Then it started rolling coal and finally decided to swap it after the cops pulled him over for obstruction of view and endangerment to other drivers because of the smoke screen behind the truck
Lol every bolt on my 96 is rust welded. Always easier said than done removing a bolt 😅🔥
Gotta wash them daily seems like lol
Well living by salt water and the towns use salt on the roads so.
Got 98 darango 512.000 oraginal tranny no problems.97 Dakota 5.2 391 gear oraginal tranny 270.000 no problems run the hell out of em .man the darango and Dakota still has oraginal heater core.crazy man I no other people that baby's there Dakotas and the same shit u said happens does.lucky I guess.like your video's keep trucken
5.9 was a beast. sounds so godly good.
Dont get me wrong i love my hemi but i loved the shit out of the 5.9mag, the way it twists the truck when you rev it up, and it sounds like a big block with an open exhaust.
My 5.7 has the same muffler but it doesnt sound even nearly as good.
I have a 99 5.9 magnum with a 2.5” super 10 and it sounds fucking amazing. I go to car shows and when I start my truck up everyone stares
They sound good for sure
this weekend I'm planning to buy a I think 96 ram 3500 V8 Magnum ,club cab in great shape 147k 2nd trans, I owner $5k
from what I've been reading, removing the check valve in the transmission, cooler line and adding a trans cooler makes a huge difference protecting these trans
I have 97 dodge ram 1500 5.9 4x2. I bought it brand new when I was 20yrs old. I'm 46yrs old now and still tows excellent original motor 230k on it 2nd transmission. Good review young man 👍👍
Very nice!
I was just thinking today that I bought my 2000 2500 5 spd 4wd cummins new when I was 21. It now has 300k and in immaculate shape, im always hit up to sell it. I would never sell it, Boy time flys and I’m sure you feel the same
Only reason the 5.2 makes as much power as it does compared to the 5.9 is it has a better cam in it. Change cam and lifters on the 5.9 and it’s a good ways above the 5.2
good to know
I had. 1999 Laramie 2wd reg cab and lowered it slightly and put 18in wheels on it and had the 5.2, it had plenty of power for what it was I loved that truck and I sold it to a young fella and he totaled it a month later 🤦🏻♂️
Just bought my first ever dodge 2500 1999 Laramie SLT 176k miles no problems for 2k ! I’m in love with
I had a 97 ram 1500 2wd with the mopar 360 and it was an amazing truck all around although i no longer have it due to it being stolen and burned to the ground and currently I’m looking at picking up a 97 ram 2500 4wd with the mopar 360
ohhh no
Just remember the base engine was the 3.9 magnum v6 with only 175 horsepower and 225 torque now in the midsized dakotas this engine was a perfect mix between power and fuel economy (20-24mpg hwy, but in the city 15-18 mpg) and the 5.2 was quick and still efficient on the hwy and the 5.9 rts were ridiculously fast, but in the Rams the v6 is a dog it’s too weak for the full sized trucks. Great engines, literally hard to kill, but they could’ve used another boost in power.
Had a 94 Dakota sport with a 3.9 and your exactly right ,great motors , perfect for a Dakota and pretty quick you could say . and hard to kill but for a full sized truck not so great .
Dont forget the POS 4 cylinder they made for the trucks but dodge Dakota in Brazil had diesel motors
Don't know where you got those fuel mileage numbers from but they are way off. Even with a light foot my 2000 Dakota 2wd 3.9 only got 13.5mpg mixed driving. Best on the highway was 18 at 60mph. I have not met anyone get over 20mpg out of a 3.9
I've got a 97 Dakota 4x4 with the 3.9 and it's almost impressive how slow that thing is. It'll barely get out of its own way. I will say that it's been a reliable little truck. And even though it's nowhere near as nice as my Silverado, or grand Cherokee I tend to drive that Dakota the most. Holy shit it's slow though 😂
3.9 in the Dakota was a fucken Dog. Not sure what you're used to driving. But a 4x4 V6 Quad cab had a 0-60 time of 12.3 second 😂
And got V8 fuel economy
5.2 in the same truck was better but still only around a 9.5 second 0-60 .
These transmissions are good when they are on the lower torque Chevy and Gm motors, but when mated to the longer stroke, higher torque mopar motors, they just don't hold up. Usually an upgraded torque converter or clutch set up helps tremendously in almost every dodge truck, regardless of its age or model or spec.
The 5.2 prob has a 3:21 rearend. The 5.9 4x4 may have a 3:55. Check in glove box. 3:55 is way better for pulling. Let us know.Awsome vid keep em coming.
There’s a sticker under the hood that shows the rear differential gears
My 5.2 has the 3:55 rear end.
That's pretty lucky going through three deer and they all hit in the same place, sparing the lights and the radiator waffle.
For sure!
2 different iterations of the Dodge RAM 2nd gen. you have there:
*Block One* = 1994 to 1997 that had the chrome plated metal mirrors & simpler interior.
*Block Two* = 1998 to 2002 that had the black heavy duty plastic mirrors & QuadCab availability.
Rarest 2nd Gen. RAM would be a 1998 2500/3500 w/ the Cummins 12v diesel+manual trans.
dude their the same. lol. I guess 98 and up have a passenger air bag.
Also lol, heavy duty mirrors. is that why literally everyone has replaced those crappy ass plastic mirrors,
I also guess yea 99 and up did make what 10 more hp than the earlier ones. but like who gives a fuck, its so minute of a 200hp motor XD
Imho the gas burners with a manual trans are harder to find. I have a 5.2,nv3500 4x4 EC with a 3.91 rear. Great running truck, but poor mileage.
I have the same ram what do you mean by "EC" though
I have a 99 ram 1500 5.9L ..had the motor rebuilt but had a engine tuner that helps with gas ..
Tbh 5.2 are not bad at all. You probably have the 5.2 paired with the 42re trans which is what makes it even slower. I have a 96 slt laramie 2wd 5.2 with the 46re trans I even found out mine was some what hard to find since my 46re was an hd version. I bought two of the 2nd Gen's. I have 1996 extended cab the one i mentioned and have the 1999 5.2 regular cab both are sport model. But the 1999 5.2 i drove was slower than my 1996 and i was confused at first tbh shouldn't the regular cab be quicker. But now that i know the 99 has the 42re trans that made sense i even noticed the gearing how different it was from each other. So I don't see a reason to shame the 5.2 at all its just the specs on them are different from their years as I come to find out. I have owned a 5.9 2002 quadcab 3rd gen and yes its slightly quicker but its does have tons of torque. But iam swapping out the 5.2 in the 99 for a 5.9 and 46re combo. I blew my trans on it a couple months ago down the road while driving but somehow manage to drive it home on one gear for miles lol till I came home and it stopped there not being able to drive.
Thank you for all the info on the different transmissions. How do you know if you have a 46RE? Also will a 46RE be compatible with any 5.2 engine ...? My truck is the 1998 SLT Laramie 5.2 RWD. Thank you much!
@@Stanging84 yes a 46re is compatible with a 5.2 I have one. Mine is an slt Laramie which is considered a heavy duty somewhat I also have the hd version. A way you can tell if you have the 46re or the 42re is by looking at the pan shape you'll easily identify which is which. Or the plug that connect to the valve body how many pins it has. But if you ever want to swap it for a 46re it'll bolt up and fit perfectly.
Don't worry about the cup holders the 4x4 hold em good 😊
lol
My grandfather had a 97 2nd Gen 2wd with the 3.9l V6 and it guzzled gas and got stuck easily but I have a 2000 sport single cab 4wd with the 5.9 but the torque converter went in it.
Awesome!
I have a 98 single cab short bed. 3.9 V6. I’ve restored it back to around 95% stock. It’s a turd on the road but it runs good and fires up every time I turn the key. I put a DashSkin over the existing dash and it looks factory.
I have a 98 2500 V10. That would have been good to see in this tussle
maybe will have to review one someday
New subscriber ✓. I've owned 5-6 second gen Rams. One I bought brand new. That was a 5.9 v-8 Sport model. Too bad I'm late in watching this video..lol, I would have bought your 2 wheel drive Ram.
Thanks for the sub!
I’m surprised the paint is all there on both trucks wow
Defiantly in better shape then most!
Got the same thing @@RealSteelFabrications
1). Me personally, the smaller the V8, the more fun it is.
2). Whenever someone says gasser, I can't help but think of the type of drag car.
gasser second gen on the drag strip... next video idea?
As stupid as it may sound, is their a diff lock kit or a Lsd I can throw into a 2wd sport 2nd gen?
I just bought a 99’ ram Laramie club cab 8cyl 5.2l. Any advice to maintain? It all looks good for now but anxious the transmission will give in after this vid 😭
The transmission in my 2000 slips goin up hill but it's not bad for having the 3.9
How can you add the lip looking thing on the roof that extends over the windshield? I like the way that looks, but I don’t know what it is called.
It’s a visor, have to drill the holes
I was wondering what you where getting for mpgs on the 5.9 I have the same truck
13-14 on average I would say
My 01 quad cab 5.2 2wd gets the same 13-14.
I get about 16-17 out of my 2wd 360.
I have a 1994 second gen with a 360 small block, and it’s a Laramie SLT, and it’s supercharged
I'm a mobile mechanic of 24 years. The grill it's called a honey comb style
1-2mpg didn't sound like much until I remembered we are talking about 11city 15 highway mpg.
I had a 1996 and a 2001 ram Laramie I like the 90s interior better they both had transmission problem's and steering wheel problems
sounds about right
@@RealSteelFabrications am a Chevy guy now
im freakin loved my 5.9 when i had it!!!!! whenever it would break down i could get it running again for cheap. unlike my cummins hahah everything is so expensive now adays haha
Can’t beat them
"Dodge didn't spend money on the transmission". yet at the same time, even a mildly built 46re will out hold and live even a nv4500, which just high friction clutches.
Don't confuse your lack of maintenance on dodge cheaping out. lol. At the end of the day, a 46re is a 727 with an extra gear set in the tail-housing.
"transmission will be shot" yes, from poor maintenance. lol. they are rating well over what both the 318 and 360 do from stock. Lol.
Again, dont mistake your lake of maintenance for stuff being junk.
as someone with 448k miles on his 97 360. its all on you. they are well built engines and trannies, but with your lake of maintenance, they can easily be junk, BUT THATS ON YOU, not dodge. lol. now the interiors yea they are just junk.
I’m about to get a 2001 1500 SLT Laramie from a guy on marketplace. It only has about 97,000 miles & the current owner says it spent alot of time sitting. I love the low mileage but what should I look for as far as issues related to it sitting for so long? What parts should be replaced? What should be checked. Also, it has a digital odometer, is there any way I can fact check him to make sure he didn’t just switch gauge clusters?
My 02 5.2 has over 300,000 miles. Still going
As the owner of a 1995 5.2 Dodge i would have to say that you are not entirely correct as my truck has over 300k with the original transmission in it as well as 90% original motor. If you were lucky and smart enough to get a 95, 96 or first half of 97 then you have a TorqueFlite transmission. I've pulled many things with my little 2 wheel drive 5.2. 2nd gen 360's are nowhere near as reliable and as nice as the 1st gen 360's. 2nd gen 318's were just as good as 1st gen. But that is my personal opinion having driven both 1st and 2nd gen's of both platforms, though i do fancy a 225 slant 6.
My dash on my 97 slt with 5.9 ext cab long bed
I only want the 318 engine. I had great experience with it.
Where did you get that double din bezel at? I have a 95 and would like to get a double din
eBay
i know i’m a bit late but i have a 2000 1500 pretty sure it’s a sport model but i’m not sure cus i’ve never seen the original hood. though it doesn’t have the badges on the side, instead stickers. i’ve believed for years that it’s a 5.9 but now i think it might be a 5.2 how can i tell the difference between the two? would it say in the owners manual?
how heavy was the boat trailer 1200 pounds?
not for sure
Its a shame everyone only puts money into the 4x4s, the lower look of the rwd goes better with the body lines of these trucks imo
both have a place
Your truck looks better than mine does but oh well i have a 2000 dodge ram laramie slt quad cab long bed 318 magnum V8 46 RH automatic overdrive transmission manual shift transfer case lever on the floor gloss black with most of the white pinstripe 1500 4x4
My 2001 Ram 1500 is a 5.2 with a 5 speed manual. I have 0 transmission issues.
Amen to that....my 96 Ram 1500 5.2 also has a 5 speed manual own the truck for 18 years no gear box issues.I love the driving experience...to be one with the truck the engine and the road one needs a clutch I put a Hurst shifter in mine I love that truck. All the HP I ever needed I often pull above the recommended weight spec no issues....cheers
mine is good as well, but a lot are not
@@justinstillwagon24 Same story…mine is a 1998 shortbed 2wd 5.2 magnum with 5 speed manual. I purchased it a year old as a corporate vehicle with only 7,000 miles on it so technically I’m the only owner it’s had, now has 320,000 miles and never had an issue with the trans, lol. Well, it’s had a couple clutches in it but it’s an easy job!
But the 5.2 in a short bed short cab 96 Dakota with a 5 speed is fantastic.
I HAVE THE 96 2WHEEL DRIVE 175000 ON IT..ENGINE IS STILL GOOD..
Hey man, where’d you get those seat covers on the 5.9?
can get them off of ebay
Walmart
They should've offered cam upgrades for towing from the factory. The stock cams especially in the 5.9 are just so wimpy, plenty of room for a good towing cam so I don't understand why they never did it. I've got a 5.9 Dakota and with just bolt ons it's making 235 HP and 325 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. That's pretty good for a 20 year old truck with just bolt ons and not rebuilt, but who wouldn't ask for more especially in the ram being close to 5k lbs alone. Yes they tow nice but could be better, even with the 3.92 gearing and the 5.9 my Dakota wasn't too happy towing roughly 1400 lbs. I know it's not built for towing, it's mainly 4th gear that wasn't happy but I could tell how goofy the differences in the transmissions are. The diesels had beefier gears and shifted quicker weighed down and empty. Mine wants to shift early and stay in 4th except when its weighed down then it couldn't make up it's mind which gear to choose.
thanks for sharing!
That 5.9 is underrated
More like 350hp and 400ftlb
Seems like they’re hit or miss
You still have that 5.2?
Hell yeah
It's worth noting on the trans that no one Ever turns the O/D off and they get hot and sloppy 🤷
true
That don't let me know that y'all left that condenser in that condition when you need some air flow through it to get to do that damn radiator for your trans cooler another reason the heater gets so nice and toasty
The 318 usually ends up being the better engine more reliable than the 360 from what I have seen 318 is one of the best engine Mopar ever made they are not good at v6 engines at all
That's because they built the 318 as the mule. Something that makes decent power and just works. The 360 was the "performance" block.
V6's have all been terrible
Right on 👍
I got a 4 wheel drive 95 2nd gen 5.2 and it’s the Laramie slt
nice!
My 5.2 magnum 4x4 has tops 10 horsepower it’s hella slow and eats gas anyone got any tips to help it so it’s not eating as much gas?
Or a transmission that would bolt up to the 5.2, I can tell mine isn't going to last much longer.
Rip to that 4th gen ram bumper lol
Is there a way you can do a video on if a rwd 5.9 pulls a trailer as good as the 4x4?
i could do one on the 4x4, but no longer have the 2wd
Get a 4x4 5.2 single cab ram to make it better comparison hahaha
We just bought this truck cause the price was right
I'd love to own one of these but even if I was able to find one in pristine condition, it wouldn't last in the rust belt. My neighbor owned one about 10 years ago, he did body work and even his rusted faster than he could fix it
best to keep them off of salted roads
I've been Running a 2001 quad cab 2500 4x4 but with the Cummins for the last 15 years as a daily driver in the heart of the rust belt, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Just undercoat oil spray your truck/car every fall/ new year/ and spring time and most cars will last the salt attack we get.
just a comment for your 97 cupholders, take the bottom plates out, then any size foam cup will fit
bought one that goes in the console
Genius
The red two tone has a 318 cid the other one has a 360 cid. Are you from Canada or Europe?
United States
@@RealSteelFabrications Nice trucks, seem to be in great shape
Bro the 5.9 single cab is rare
I feel like I see them everywhere
I have a 97 single cab short bed with the 5.9 and 4x4 haven't seen any others in eastern Iowa
I have the 97 2500 5.9 single cab long bed rear wheel drive. 300,000 miles and still going. Ugliest truck around bit still going.
Jus make sure it's a manual, and the 5.2 will do wonders
I'd like to buy that 5.2 if you still have it
sold
they dont even need salt to rust out.. my uncle finally bought a real truck n i bought his dodge instead of scappin it to use basically as a work 4 wheeler, n even with driving n taking .."some" kind of care of it, then leavin it sit for just a few months, the Fn rust everywhere is absolutely insane!!! its like dodge went to china n asked them to use the cheapest scrap they had.. its fn ridiculous.. even the rear diffs rusting like its been straight up soaking in salt water, its got 3/4 inch of solid hard rust, not just surface rust, im talkin about the hard shit that looks blue green n USE to b solid metal.. n like u mentioned the dash is Done, the headliners all fallin down the brakes like to lock up when wet, the trans is a pile of shit (like all dodge) wont go into drive or reverse slips outta 4th, along with using cheap metal, the dumbasses layered metal all over the place n didnt give water or debris anywhere to go.. like the frame rails, they have another piece of metal running along the bottom inSIDE the frame rail about 3/4 inch above the bottom that u can see...its like the junks designed TO rust... i dont get it.. the amount of shit my uncle said he had to replace in the time he had is ridiculous, i dont think im goin to have this Fn pile for long lol :p sry for typin so much..this fn truck pisses me off
cheap metal
Haven’t had any problems with mine just rushed to shit lol 181k 5.9 sport and I beat the shit out of it
they rust badddd
Mine has a 5.2 it has 260,000 Mi on the Transmissions just fine
High oil pressure , low tempture gauge on the dash
Me: crying in 3.9 v6
Lol
Hell id pay 1700 for that
360 feels way more powerful
The 99dodge1500v8 5.9 gasfuelsystem
Flip it my way !!
$1700 and it’s yours
I'm looking for a 93 360
they are out there
No need to yell into your mic homie lol
I just wanna point out that "change" compartment is an ash tray
mitcheilin defender tires work best
might have to check them out
4:38 ohhh... I DOES sound good with better exhaust
thanks!
2:46 yeah, mine won't even open.
terrible design
These are junk. People ONLY buy them for the look, which I admit are nice. My f-150 has 215,000 miles and i have done nothing but brake pads, tires and battery. Runs/drives perfect, interior also perfect.
I disagree
my 2000 sport 5.2 v8 has 257,360 miles and runs fine transmission also fine so I don't know what talking about saying these are junk trucks
@@Phillipthefool3.0everyone says each one of them are junk and they all tend to be when idiots don’t take care of them like people talk how the transmissions suck but when you notice they all suck when they don’t get maintained I got a 99 Dakota 5.2 auto club can 4x4 and I love it to death everyone is gonna say something’s junk
@@jacobstallcup8648 very true it goes to show if you take care of something it will last a long time
I have a '97 Ram 1500 with a 360 V8 auto with 294,000 miles on it so far, I've owned it for 10 years now and I've put 102,000 miles on it myself so far and still going strong. I think with trans in these trucks to help make them last is to put an external trans coolers on them, because the radiator trans cooler isn't enough to keep it cool enough. So when I bought my truck for $1600 10 years ago, the first thing I did was put an external trans cooler on it and I haven't had any trouble with it much since. Plus change all the fluids on time and they will last a long time.