subject: Dodge 3500 Engines: both gasoline and diesel [print this page] Dodge 3500 Engines: both gasoline and diesel
Dodge Ram van model/engine designations follow Ram truck suit with the 1500, 2500 and 3500 nameplates. the Dodge Ram 3500 with dual rear wheels on both sides (hence "dually") are the kings of the hill, the go-to vehicles for towing and hauling huge loads up said hill. a Dodge Ram 3500 is a solid option for truck buyers in need of serious towing and hauling capacity.
The original generation of the 1-ton Dodge Ram was actually known as the Ram 350 and was produced from 1981-'93. The pickups and vans/wagons that became known as the Dodge 3500s were introduced as the second generation in1994 and produced up to 2002. The base engine was the Magnum 5.2-liter V8 engine, with optional Magnum 8.0-liter V10 or 5.9-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline 6 engines as other choices. For this generation, the 3500 was only available with a dual rear axle.
For 1994, Dodge pickup engines were the Magnum 5.9 V8, 8.0 V10 and 5.9 turbodiesel. From 1995 to 1999, there were no major changes in options for the Dodge 3500 engines. Van base engines continued to be the 5.2 liter Magnum with an 5.9 Magnum an option for Dodge vans and wagons. The years 1995 and 1996 saw torque increases for the 5.9 turbodiesel to 430 and 440 pounds-feet respectively. The major change for the year 2000 was to the Cummins turbodiesel engine. It had a 102.1 millimeter bore and 119.9 millimeter stroke with a 24-valve head. The later ISBs switched to a common rail injection system. Gasoline variants for Dodge 3500 engines remained the same as from previous years. In 2001a high-output Cummins turbodiesel was made available. This engine lineup remained up to 2002 for the pickups while the vans had the Magnum 5.2 as the base engine and the 5.9 as an option.
The third-generation Ram 3500 was introduced in 2003 and produced til 2009. All 3500 varians had dual-wheel rear axles, except the Quad Cab which was a single rear axle variant. The third-generation Ram 3500 is very similar in performance to current Ram 3500s and it is a good idea to look at the used market for well-maintained units that will be a lot cheaper than getting a new one.
For this generation, Dodge 3500 engines that were available were the 5.7 liter Hemi with 345 horsepower and the Cummins inline-6 turbodiesel. At first the Cummins turbodiesel produced 305 horsepower and 555 lb-ft. of torque. Continuous development through the years finally gave the Cummins 350 horsepower and 650 lb-ft. of torque (available at 1,500 rpm) from its 6.7 liters. In 2008, the Cummins became the first diesel engine in the truck market to meet the more stringent 2010 federal emissions requirements. No major upgrades or new engines were introduced until the end of production in 2009.
The fourth-generation Dodge Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickup appeared in 2010. The 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-6 is the standard Dodge 3500 engine with its 350 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Cummins has an exhaust brake that provides additional stability and braking power when towing. Maximum tow rating for the Dodge Ram 3500 is more than 17,000 pounds.
