1994-2001 Dodge Ram 12 Valve Questions

Okay so I don't have one, but I have some questions about these trucks as I will need one for an upcoming build... At least I hope I will only need one.





So right now I need a 5.9L 12 valve Cummins. I can find that no problemo. But I would also like a transmission I can use too and I know some of the Dodge transmissions suck. Are the 47re or 47rh good transmissions? I'd like for it to be able to stand up to the 400HP I want the motor to push. It needs to do good on the highway and pull really well but it still needs to do good with crawling through the woods. I don't mind rebuilding one with the right parts, but only if it was a good trans to start with. What would be the best trans for that that would mate up to the Cummins?

I also need front and rear axles. Preferably Dana 60's unless y'all know of something better that's not much wider than 72 inches hub to hub and capable of handling jumps on 4000 lb vehicle. I know some Ram trucks used D60's but I'd prefer one with a 5.9L 12 valve, a useable trans, and two D60's. That way I won't have to tear apart two good trucks.

And if any of y'all know the dimensions of a 5.9 12 valve Cummins, I would greatly appreciate it!

I don't expect anyone here to know the answers to these questions but I thought I'd give it a try. Thanks!

One trans is electronic, the other hydraulic. 47re electronic, 47rh hydraulic... I believe both are basically a 727 Tourqueflite, but with an over drive on the back.

I dont know much about them, but the 727 was near bullet proof. ive read they can handle 500hp without too much trouble or mild modifications. BUT, that doesnt really help you much...

There is a guy down the road with a newer Ram, goin on about how it makes more power than a semi... but he is on something like the 5th transmission. Its pretty easy to get those engine making big HP, but then you have to start putting some serious $$$ into the transmission to hold up to it.

I believe those years trucks still had dana 60 up front, and 70 or 80 rear for a dually.


So then... uhh, whatcha buildin?

Lol, well I'm not building it yet but I've planned to build a 3rd gen Firebird for 4-6 years now. The whole time I've had the vision, all I knew is that it would be a lifted 3rd gen Firebird with some type of cummins and a classic firebird white and blue paint job with red accents. Now I'm starting to plan it out a little more thoroughly. I built a model of it a few years ago...




Don't ask why, I don't know either. I don't even know where I got the vision, but I like the vision and that's that.

Anyway, I can get a firebird pretty cheap. The trick is finding a rust free car without t-tops for cheap. All I want is the shell, so if the interior is shot and it's missing a motor and trans, awesome.

The interior needs to feel like it's a completely different car (it'll be an interior out of some luxury vehicle minus headliner and maybe dash and carpet). I don't want the Cummins to be obnoxiously loud inside the the car. So it'll need some intense sound deafening. Needs a roll cage too but not one that's in your face. Just one simply for the sake of safety.

That's the gist of the build. When I start the build I'll start a thread on it.

I don't want anything newer for the trans. Most of the parts are going to be pre-2000 aside from the interior.

And I really don't think I'm gonna push it very far past 400HP so that should be fine too.

Now with the 47RH being hydraulic, does that mean that it could run independently from the car's ECU?

And is the 48RH any better or is it basically the same? (if it is better, were they an option in the 94-01 12V Rams?)


And as far as axles, a 2500 would have 2 D60's, correct?

Sorry for all the questions... I just really want this build outlined.