Breaking the Torque Barrier: Ram Goes 1,000 Lbs-Ft!

Let it be known that Cummins was the first to do it: breaking the 1,000lb-ft of torque barrier.

For the 2019 HD Ram lineup, Chrysler went to Cummins and outlined their needs for the new HD trucks. Being completely re-worked, the only thing this 6.7L behemoth shares with its predecessor is its displacement.

Gaining a compacted graphite iron block, Cummins joins the lightweight diesel gang while increasing strength and dropping 60 pounds. New lighter, stronger pistons with low-friction rings, forged connecting rods and crankshaft. A new cast-iron head with new rocker arms, exhaust valves and springs give breath to a unreasonably high 19.0:1 compression ratio in the high-output version, and a new variable geometry turbo and exhaust manifold shoves 33PSI of air on top of that compression. The intercooler has been enlarged to what Cummins claims is the largest intercooler ever fitted into a pickup.

The standard duty version pumps out 370 horse power and 850 lb-ft at 1,700 RPM, while the HO version found in the 3500 equipped with the Aisin HD automatic are putting down a mind numbing 400 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque at 1,800 RPM.

Paired with the HO Cummins Diesel and Aisin HD transmission is a new revised BorgWarner BW 44-48 part time, gear driven transfer case, built specifically to handle the RAM 3500’s new tow rating of 35,100 pounds.