Hi so I've posted a few posted about a 1995 ram 2500 I'm looking at buying about what to look for blah blah blah but I think in going to get it. It has the 5.9 12 valve with the automatic transmission. I'm looming to build the truck a bit looking at reaching 250-300 hp. I'm aware of the killer dowell pin. But I also hear that the tranny can't handle a whole lot besides stock setting. First off do I need to get a stronger tranny or just torque converter. If just the torque converter which one do you all recommend. I've seen some from 300 bucks all the way up to 2000 bucks. For my goal of 250-300 hp what do you think I could get away with. Thank you

 

the two things that give these autos a horrible name, and its a damn shame.

1. the factory converter doesnt have enough friction material to hold the torque in overdrive. this is where you start to feel a shutter 2 or 3 weeks before the little metal grimlens annihilate your trans.

2. the hydraulics from the factory dont produce enough pressure to keep things from slipping. to solve this you can buy an expensive valve body for $600 or a very economical shift kit from several different manufacturers for about $100 and build your own

for 300 hp a decent single disc will hold that power back till the day the truck wont start anymore. after those two things are remedied these trannys are good for WELL over 400HP before you really need to think about upgrading anything else within. and you will beat a standard truck stop light to stop light every single time (if your wifes let you spend similiar amounts of money on your trucks) LOL

 

My stock convertor is holding my 307hp fine right now but i am planning on getting the convertor and valve body upgraded this year.

 

What brand are you going with

 

i have a precision triple disk in my 95 12v with 525 to the wheels on a dyno and i love it i also put a transgo shift kit into it and it pulls a 30,000 pound goosneck almost every other day and it pulls almost like a straight shift

 

I'll be having a dunright tripple disc and heavy duty valve body put on. Dunright is out of clacamas,oregon.I know another guy on another site that knows them and says they have a good setup.

 

So Im still a little confused should I go with a valve body or shift kit?

 

its the same thing. a VB you buy someone elses experience and a shift kit is a do it your self project. price difference is $5-600. i like doing my own.

 

Speaking from experience it's better to go with a full valve body. Once the tweaks are made they put it on a test bench to be checked. This will make sure all the line pressures and shifts are correct.


Luke