92 w250 4x4 high RPM
 

I have just came into a nice 92 w150/250. its a 150 body and running gear but the dealer had it beefed up(suspension) when it was first purchased. and now i'm the 2nd. owner. The question I have is it seems that at 55mph the RPM's are pretty high. Is there any tranny ie. 4 or 5 speed. i can swap with. or something else.

What size tires are on the truck?

A set of large diameter tires may be the quick fix!

31's

Is this a V8 or diesel? Do you know what transmission is in it now? What about axle gear ratio (should be a tag on the diff cover).

They did offer the 3-spd (727) and a 4 spd (A518 - offered with the 5.2 and 5.9 V8s) automatics. Are you sure you don't have the "O/D" button turned off (lock up in 4th gear)? If you post the VIN, someone where can tell you what you have for a transmission or you can bring it to teh dealer and have them tell you. Knowing what Transmission you actuall have will allow us to help you better.

With either transmission, you have a few choices. You can install an aftermarket O/D unit between the transmission and t-case, change out the ring and pinion in both axles to a numerically lower ratio, install a taller tire, etc.. One thing you will need to be careful of is that when you start to change these things, your speedometer may not read proper. You may need to get a different speedo cable gear to accomodate the changes that you have made. They are not that expensive.

is there away to check the OD. it seems to down shift a little and the light comes on when i disengage the OD. Where would i find the info on the tranny to find out which one i have

It sounds like you have an A518 transmission. The gear ratios of this transmission are as follows.

1st – 2.45
2nd – 1.45
3rd – 1.00
4th- 0.69
R – 2.35

At 55 MPH running a 31” tall tire, the transmission in O/D (0.69:1), your t-case being in high gear (1:1) and the following axle ratios, this is what your RPMs should be.
4.10 axle ratio - ~1,700 RPM
3.92 axle ratio - ~1,620 RPM
3.73 axle ratio - ~1550 RPM
3.31 axle ratio - ~1375 RPM

As you can see, the numerically lower axle ratio, at 55MPH your RPMs drop. There are advantages and disadvantages to this though.

t tried out the OD and does switch back and forth but hardly noticeable. and i have to let off the gas for it to reengage the OD?

In those transmissions, I think there was only a 200-300 RPM difference between locked up and non-locked up. Depending on the load you are putting on the motor (goes back to the tranny as well), you may need to let off the gas to get it to engage into OD. If you are on flat ground and just cruising, then you should not have to.

yes, just cruisin i have to let off the gas to get it to shift back into OD. can you please tell me more about the aftermarket OD thats available.

They pretty much work a lot like how an OD unit works. They mount between the tranny and t-case (if there is one) and there is a button that you would push that would tell the unit to go from a 1:1 gear ratio to a 0.70:1 (lets just say). You would also be able to engage the OD unit when the transmission is in any gear (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.).

They are very nice to have if your tranny only goes to a 1:1 ratio. I have heard and seen guys put them behind 727s and TH400 (they both have a 1:1 final drive gear). With the added OD unit on an already OD transmission, your RPM will go down, but will yoor motor still be in the RPM range that it needs to be in to keep the truck moving?

where can i look to 1) find one and 2) read more about it. And by the way thanks for all your help.

If you google Klune or Saturn OD, you should be able to come up with something.

FYI - they are some $$$.

I am still looking for the tags on the axle housing for the ratio. I have 31's and the vin is 1B7HM16Y6NS577492. I believe you asked for before to look up the tranny info. The vin. says its a 150 custom. but there is RAM250 on both sides?????. Also how do you clear the Mants. required light?
THANKS
Bill

Someone could have swapped fender or tags. I would go by what the VIN says though.

As far as clearing that light goes, I'm not sure. It should be in the owner's manual if you have one. I'll have someone run the VIN and see if they can find out what the tranny is.

cool thanks and no manual. someone told me that i need to take it to a dealer. I find it hard to believe that you would have to take it to a dealer every time you changed your oil.

Look on e-bay with this search. You'll find some factory service manuals pretty cheap.

"1992 dodge w150 manual"

will do, thanks

it looks like i have the 46RH tranny? with 31's. If this is the case what would be an easy swap tranny wise. if I need too. Or better tranny if not the 46RH

The 46RH tranny did not come out till 1994. The A518 was used in these trucks in the early 90s and is probably what you have.

How high is the RPM when cruising down the freeway and at what speed? The A518 is a good tranny. Basically a 727 with an overdrive on the tail shaft. If it is hardly noticeably you may have to rebuilt the tranny and the overdrive unit..Also if the torque converter is bad and wont lock up then you will get the same kind of feeling. You should be able to feel 3 shifts when you take off from a stop and smoothly accelerate up to speed. You may feel 4 if you feel the torque conveter lock up.

How many lug wheels does it have. If it has 8 lug wheels then it is most likely a 250 if it has 5 lug wheels then it is most likely a 150. Even if you put a heavy duty suspension on a 150 it is still a 150. It wont have the axle strength or braking performance to stop heavy loads like a 250 would. Good luck