Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few eyes.

[77bronco]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

Back to the topic, the new RAM will also have an automatic start/stop feature that will shut off the engine at extended stops and automatically start it when you take-off furthur increasing mpg's. I bet the 8-speed HEMI with MDS and start/stop will earn an EPA rating of around 17 city / 24 highway.

It seems to me that all the starting and stopping of the engine is just going to accelerate the wear on the internal parts.
Doesn't the conventional wisdom state that the more start/stop cycles you have, the longevity goes down?

 

[RobertN]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

The new truck sounds nice, but one thing I like is the ability to manually shift an auto. I don't like that loss of personal control of a vehicle.

I'm not so sure about all the technology controlling a vehicle; some times I have hunted or caped way way way out in the boonies. What if part of the electronics died? Can't fix that with duct tape and baling wire. Not comments specifically on the Dodge; most manufacturers are doing the same.

 

[RobertN]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

My Dad was a Mopar partsman for decades. I remember seeing the Mopar performance catalogs with Slant-6 high performance parts.

The Slant-6 and the LA-318 were really sleper motors, but both could easily be built for very good performance.

As I posted previously, I was surprised to see that Hemi-6, that was suppossed to replace the Slant-6 in trucks. It was designed for the US Dodge trucks. The motor never made it to full production here in the States. But, what the Aussie division of Chrylser did with it is pretty cool! The Aussie Charger's with that Hemi straight-6 in the performance package easily turned in 14 second 1/4 mile times.

You are Right, Actually the toughest DODGE i ever drove was in the Nat. Guard. It was 3/4 ton 4 speed--DODGE SLANTED 6 engine...Indestructable engine and could put out the power...I had a work buddy who bought a Valient slanted six and made a sleeper street rod. He mounted a 4 barrel carb, hemi grind cam and twice or dual exhaust on it. That six ran like a swiss watch and was fast....

 

[jonyyuma]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

It seems to me that all the starting and stopping of the engine is just going to accelerate the wear on the internal parts.
Doesn't the conventional wisdom state that the more start/stop cycles you have, the longevity goes down?

Possiably so, it has been tested for years on small engines? But if it brags of saving fuel, then??? Hemi's also have the savings of cutting out cylinders while at cruising speed..

 

[jejeosborne]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

Big difference between "blasting" and stating facts.
Back to the topic, the new RAM will also have an automatic start/stop feature that will shut off the engine at extended stops and automatically start it when you take-off furthur increasing mpg's. I bet the 8-speed HEMI with MDS and start/stop will earn an EPA rating of around 17 city / 24 highway.

24 mpg on Highway? What are you basing this on? The current transmission has a final overdrive ratio of .67:1. The new transmission has the same final ratio. The current EPA rating I see is 14/20 for 2wd and 13/19 for the 4x4 with the so called 6-speed. Will the weight, lower ride height, and electric power steering add 20% increase on the road? Maybe so but I doubt it. I think it will help city milage possibly but maybe not an optimistic 21%.

I do believe that this transmission will be a great addition and make it a rocket 0-60 and better towing if all works as planned. I am anxious to drive one.

The 45RFE later became the 5-speed 545RFE.

Gear Ratios:
1st 3.00:1
2nd 1.67:1
2nd Prime 1.50:1
3rd 1.00:1
4th 0.75:1
Reverse 3.00:1
545RFE only:
5th 0.67:1

65RFE 6-speed

1st 3.00:1
2nd 1.67:1
3rd 1.50:1
4th 1.00:1
5th 0.75:1
6th 0.67:1
Reverse 3.00:1

The new 8HP45 and 8HP70 transmissions have twice as many gears, and the bandwidth is impressive: 4.71:1, 3.14:1, 2.10:1, 1.67:1, 1.29:1, 1.00:1 0.84:1 and 0.67:1. Reverse is 3.30:1.

 

[dodge man]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

I had a 2007 Dodge 1500 4x4 quad cab with a 3.91 rear end. It would pull down 20 mpg on the highway if you drove no faster than 60 and were not using the AC. I can see with a little better gears, two wheel drive and a regular cab, getting 24 mpg pretty easy with the hemi.

I have owned or do own 4 hemi cars or trucks with the MDS, and it works well. The 2007 truck I owned and the 2005 300 C both had MDS but not a indicator for when it was running on 4 cylinders. You couldn't tell if it was running in 4 or 8 cylinders unless you were really paying attention. The newer ones all have an ECO light that comes on to tell you when its working in 4 cylinders. To be honest, all this stuff, including the vehicle shutting off at a stop light, is just an effort to get that last little bit of fuel economy.

Just think of how far we have come with vehicles and fuel economy. My first car was a 77 Ford Granda with a 302 two barrel carb. That car wasn't slow for its day, but compared to newer cars, it was a boat anchor. With a tail wind, down hill, it would get 20 mpg, but more like 17 mpg on the highwasy.

We currently own a 2011 300C with 5.7 liter engine. It would lay that 77 Ford Granda in the dust in a drag race, plus it gets 25 mpg on the highway, uphill into a head wind. We have come a long way in terms of comfort, saftey, fuel economy, and emmisions, both in cars and trucks.

Yeah, you can't fix them with bailing wire, but I know they are so much better.

 

[WilliamBos]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

That 8 speed will set them apart. I still cant believe none of the manufactures other than Dodge have not went this route or a electronically controlled split rear diff.

Now if they would just do something with them ugly front head lights.

I am still not sold on the coil spring rear end in a pickup. Time will tell but I remember a old 60's or 70's GM tuck with coil spring rear end and it was not up to the task. There is a reason they ended up going back to leaf springs. Simple and strong. Who know, maybe Dodge did it right but I will take 10 years to know for sure.

Chris

THat was the 1967-1972, but was it half ton only?

 

[jejeosborne]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

I can see with a little better gears, two wheel drive and a regular cab, getting 24 mpg pretty easy with the hemi.

To be honest, all this stuff, including the vehicle shutting off at a stop light, is just an effort to get that last little bit of fuel economy.

We have come a long way in terms of comfort, saftey, fuel economy, and emmisions, both in cars and trucks.

I agree with some of what you say. Engineers are making every effort to get the last little bit of fuel economy they can in recent years. I believe they have almost capped out what can be physically done with a 5800 lb internal combustion engine truck and that everything now is considered "little bit". What doesn't make sense is you thinking 24 mpg, hemi, and the word easy belong in the same sentence when talking about the 1500 truck. 20mpg to 24 mpg is quite drastic. If it was easy Staples would have already done it.

I also agree that comfort, safety, fuel economy, and emmissons have all improved greatly. Unfortunately, safety and emmissions counter fuel economy but are necessary.

 

[dodge man]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

Well think about it, if I got 20 mpg with my 2007 Ram, take off the 4 wheel drive, which reduces weight and the height of the vehicle, make it a regular cab, which further reduces weight, and throw in some new technology, such as the 8 speed, which might be a more efficent tranny, take off the heavy 20" wheels and tires my truck had and put on a set of 17's, and you get 24 mpg. Something Dodge did in 2009 was do a major redesign of the hemi. They redid a lot of the parts in the hemi, increasing the economy and the power. I don't doubt the 24 mpg is very possible. Will the average truck buyer get the mpg, probably not, but I can see 20 mpg all day long being possible.

 

[RobertN]

Re: Say what you want about Dodge...errrr "Ram" trucks, but they are catching a few e

My brother has a '71 I think, Chevy 4x2 3/4 ton. It has coils in the rear.
My Grandfather had a '69 GMC 3/4 ton Camper special with everything heavy duty offerings at the time; it had big ole leaf springs in the back...

THat was the 1967-1972, but was it half ton only?