Looking at 03 and 04 model rams i noticed there are 2 5.9 cummins. One is 250HP and 460torque the other one is 305HP 555Torque. WHat is with this? How can i identify which is which when i am buying?

 

305 hp for the high output...245 (I think) for the standard output. If it's a 6-speed or 48RE, it'a high output. 47Re is standard output.

 

You can tell by the 8th digit of the vin, it will either have a 6 or a 7 for th HO.

 

I think it's a 6 or a C outlaw. C mostly being the H.O. And the Hp were 235hp/460 for MA,ME and CA because of emissions. 250/hp 460lb was sold to the rest of the country. The early 03 S.O came with the 47re tranny. Something you may want to stay clear of. The H.o came with the 48re and 305hp/555lbs. Later in the year all the trucks came with the 48re. In 04 all the trucks went to the H.O motor and 1/04 all the trucks went over to 325hp/600lbs this motor is refered to as the 600 series and H.O. This site is torn between the H.O and the 600 series. The H.o gets better MPG than the 600. But the 600 can build better power with the programers. So IMHO buy a 600 and pull the cat and then you get the same MPG as a H.O

 

Pulling the cat does not make a 600 into a HO...the whole economy issue with the 600's is related to the third injection event etc. The HO's burn cleaner and get better mpg, however the 600's do have slightly more power upgrade options. They are both great engines - I'd just recommend looking for a 48RE if you're going auto and either a HO or 600..leave the SO's and Cali models alone.

 

All pulling the cat is gonna do is make your truck illlegal.

 

From what I've read the 235hp SO model may do better in the most boring performance parameter of all, durability, because it's designed to run at a bit lower max temps.

 

Another way to tell is to look on the front of the motor there is a metal plaque that tells you what hp rating it is

 

2003 S.O. Federal Emissions: 250HP/460lb.ft. Available with NV4500 or 47RE
2003 S.O. Calif. Emissions: 235HP/460lb.ft. Available with NV4500 or 47RE
2003 H.O. Federal Emissions: 305HP/555lb.ft. Only available with NV5600

2003.5 The 47RE was replaced by the 48RE automatic transmission

2004 S.O. Calif. Emissions: 235HP/460lb.ft. Available with NV4500 or 48RE
2004 H.O. Federal Emissions: 305HP/555lb.ft. Available with either NV5600 or 48RE

2004.5 (50 state legal) 325HP/600lb.ft. Available with either the 48RE or NV5600

2005 (50 state legal) 325HP/610lb.ft. Available with either the 48RE or NV5600

2005.5 The NV5600 replaced with the G56 6spd manual gearbox.