4.56 Gears Are Working Great.

[GRUMPY'S SS/T]

Man, I haven't been able to post here for 23 days. Some computer glitch.
Anyway, I had a Motive 4.56 gear and an Auburn LSD installed. Alans gear shop in Dunedin, Fl. did a super job. The truck needed an axle, it looked bad from the factory. Parts, labor and out the door was $1129.00. Since I haven't been able to post here for so long, it's already broken in and is doing fantastic. The gear is perfectly quiet, no whine or any other strange noises. The extra weight of my hard bed cover helps traction considerably. Plus the fact that I have gotten past the old dry rotted rubber on the surface of the tires. I have burned it away. Something I could never do with 3.55's. :-)
I have driven in the rain with no unexpected difficulty. Since I have gotten to some layers of better rubber on the tires, the traction is amazing. Even a power braked, dead stop burn out is over in about ten feet, a second or so. Then the truck at least resembles the new name I have put on the windshield.
"MOPAR : SUPER STOCK / TRUCK"
I did the tranny cable adjustment (about an eithth of an inch back) and I'm very happy with the way the tranny shifts now. It shifts a little harded than it used to during all useages. This tranny must have been tweeked at the factory, it always felt like it had a mild shift kit already in it. It shifts where and when it should now, driving slow and driving hard. Overdrive is actually of some use. it engages about 40 MPH and will hold down to 30 before downshifting. I can press on the gas and actually pick up speed without the tranny diving into third gear. A little more gas applied and it downshifts into third. Dodge should copy this setup for all their automatic trannys. The rpm at 70 mph is a little over 2500 indicated in O/D. no problem... Average in town mileage, mixture of driving was 11.8 MPG. My normal average before the gear went in was 10 to 12. Still haven't taken a road trip to see what the highway mileage has done. But soon......
Later, Grumpy

[Ramrod]

Glad to hear the good report on those 4.56 gears! I have thought of going to that ratio for some time now since most of my driving is around town and maybe a 10-15 mile jaunt down the freeway. I was worried that it might be uncomfortable at 70-75, but it sounds like it would be ok for trips of reasonable length. I already have the factory 3.92 gear with limited slip, so all I need is a gear swap. I think the kickdown response would be great in the 35-65 mph range.

Jeff

[GRUMPY'S SS/T]

I have no second thoughts that everything will be fine on the highway. You have to remember most of the cars that would have 4.56 gears would also have much shorter tires than our trucks. My Wife has a V-8 in an SUV with 3.73 (limited slip, not that it matters). My RPM is only very slightly higher than hers at any given speed. I am running 30 inch tires. I wouldn't hesitate taking a trip of any distance. The gears aren't spinning all that fast. Also, I plan to do regular fluid changes. As far as mileage? It remains a mystery till I get the time to do a road trip.
good luck, with your future mods.
Grumpy

[cmyindy]

GRUMPY'S SS/T glad to here that the grears worked out great for ya.
thanks cmyindy

[GRUMPY'S SS/T]

You'd be smokin the tires off your truck with a 4.56 and that S/C. It'd be like pulling the trigger on a 12 ga with bird shot. :-)
Still waitin to see your times in the twelves. Man, you sure know how to make a ram go down the track.... :-)
Later, Grumpy

[RAM MAN]

you should be a tire shreddin fool !! LOL

congrats and thanks for the info !

[kirkyg]

I can vouch that LSD works WELL. I have 3.92's in a regular cab 5.2l as my sig states and i can powerbrake to stall @ about 1800 rpms and barely chirp the tires. I have exhaust and intake mods too.

kirkyg