Hemi to a 6.2/ 5.3?

gilly6993 · August 25, 2015

I kinda know the answer to my own question here....If I'm coming from a 2012 Ram 1500 with a Hemi is it safe to say I should go with the 6.2?

newdude · August 25, 2015

If you want balls out power and a fast truck, yes. There are owners on here that have the 6.2 that are averaging MPG's either the same or higher than 5.3 owners. When it cuts the 4 cylinders out, you end up with a big V4 at 3.1L.

IOMike · August 25, 2015

If you're looking for a significant power upgrade, yes, 6.2. If you were happy with the performance of the Hemi, the 5.3 gives up nothing to it. Now if you're comparing a Hemi truck with 3.92 gears to a GM with 3.08 gears, big difference. The 5.3 with the flex fuel option, running e85 is a faster truck (same cab/4wd/gearing).

The 16' GM trucks will be faster yet with the 8 speed / 5.3.

edit -- I see you have a 2012 with the 5 speed. They will be a bit slower than the 8 speed Ram, so the 14+ GM trucks in the same config/gearing should be a tad quicker. GM did tune a slow throttle response in for better gas mileage, but that can be fixed with a tune or if you're worried about warranty, a throttle booster if you don't like it.

LongrangeLauber · August 25, 2015

If you're looking for a significant power upgrade, yes, 6.2. If you were happy with the performance of the Hemi, the 5.3 gives up nothing to it. Now if you're comparing a Hemi truck with 3.92 gears to a GM with 3.08 gears, big difference. The 5.3 with the flex fuel option, running e85 is a faster truck (same cab/4wd/gearing).

The 16' GM trucks will be faster yet with the 8 speed / 5.3.

edit -- I see you have a 2012 with the 5 speed. They will be a bit slower than the 8 speed Ram, so the 14+ GM trucks in the same config/gearing should be a tad quicker. GM did tune a slow throttle response in for better gas mileage, but that can be fixed with a tune or if you're worried about warranty, a throttle booster if you don't like it.

Throttle booster??

gilly6993 · August 25, 2015

Well I don't need balls out power and I am quite happy with the Hemi....this is by no means a work truck.....just enjoy having a pick-up as a second vehicle....I'm looking for a 2015 Denali in Blue....the 6.2's are tough to come by but there are 5.3's out there....it's reassuring it's comparable to the Hemi....

galliher_nc · August 25, 2015

Throttle booster??

I googled it and came up with this.

https://www.sprintboostersales.com/

crushNchowda · August 25, 2015

The 5.3 truck w/ 6 speed & 3.42 or especially 3.73 gears will feel and IS quicker than the Dodge 1/2 ton w/ the "390" hp hemi. Put E85 in the 5.3 and it really will wake it up.

The dodge felt "soft" to me - it feels heavy, it IS heavy - I think its 300-400 lbs heavier than the Ford or GM rigs.

Add the 6.2 into the mix and there's no conversation.

Now, if Dodge started offering the 6.4 in the 1/2 tons that would be interesting, but WEIGHT - again is Dodge's Achilles heel, that 6.4 is a heavy ass cast iron block motor and would only increase curb weight on the ram.

I recently went truck shopping again after totaling my 5.3 '14 GMC and ended up buying a 6.2 '15....ironically I was torn between that and a Ram 2500 Powerwagon Laramie....now THAT is a "TRUCK"

IOMike · August 25, 2015

Throttle booster??

Some have complained the trucks feel slow due to needing to put your foot into the pedal more to get it to go. No effect on acceleration, but perception. A throttle booster would go inlilne and "fix" that, but since it's just an inline piece you just remove it for warranty work and no one is the wiser.

If the OP is content with his Hemi truck, I'd say just go for a truck with the 5.3 and make sure it doesn't have 3.08 gears. Flex fuel is nice for a power boost, not all 15's have it.

Newell33 · August 25, 2015

Be sure you drive the GMC in varying conditions prior to buying, whether you get a 5.3 or a 6.2. The throttle response and trans tuning is going to feel considerably different than your Ram.

LongrangeLauber · August 25, 2015

Some have complained the trucks feel slow due to needing to put your foot into the pedal more to get it to go. No effect on acceleration, but perception. A throttle booster would go inlilne and "fix" that, but since it's just an inline piece you just remove it for warranty work and no one is the wiser.

If the OP is content with his Hemi truck, I'd say just go for a truck with the 5.3 and make sure it doesn't have 3.08 gears. Flex fuel is nice for a power boost, not all 15's have it.

I figured it was to take out the pedal lag. If I end up keeping this truck I'm going to look into one of those. Thanks!

fondupot · August 25, 2015

My dads 2014 Ram 5.7 hemi w/ 8 speed, 3.21 gears, feels way quicker than my 5.3 w/ 3.42 and 6 speed. His pulls a lot better when passing too.

crushNchowda · August 25, 2015

My dads 2014 Ram 5.7 hemi w/ 8 speed, 3.21 gears, feels way quicker than my 5.3 w/ 3.42 and 6 speed. His pulls a lot better when passing too.

What something "feels" like and how it actually performs are not always one and the same. As mentioned earlier in this thread the throttle response/tip-in/behavior - whatever you wanna call it - is much softer and less aggressive than other makes, but the bottom line is when you mash the pedal the GM trucks are faster. nearly 1/2 a second to 60 and 3/10 and 4mph faster through the 1/4 is fairly significant.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/final-scoring-performance-data-and-complete-specs-page-5-1

Exact setups tested by C&D - as noted, talk about the 6.2 and there is no conversation. Fill the 5.3 w/ E85 and there is no conversation. Add the 8 speed to the 5.3 AND fill it w/ E85, now you're cooking w/ gas....I mean alcohol!

The ram is fat, slow, and soft. Its like a retired bodybuilder w/ 2" of blubber covering his whole body...yeah you got muscle under there, but its dragged down by the rest of ya!

nadrojcote · August 25, 2015

The 5.3 truck w/ 6 speed & 3.42 or especially 3.73 gears will feel and IS quicker than the Dodge 1/2 ton w/ the "390" hp hemi. Put E85 in the 5.3 and it really will wake it up.

The dodge felt "soft" to me - it feels heavy, it IS heavy - I think its 300-400 lbs heavier than the Ford or GM rigs.

Add the 6.2 into the mix and there's no conversation.

Now, if Dodge started offering the 6.4 in the 1/2 tons that would be interesting, but WEIGHT - again is Dodge's Achilles heel, that 6.4 is a heavy ass cast iron block motor and would only increase curb weight on the ram.

I recently went truck shopping again after totaling my 5.3 '14 GMC and ended up buying a 6.2 '15....ironically I was torn between that and a Ram 2500 Powerwagon Laramie....now THAT is a "TRUCK"

My friends 12 ram sport beats my 5.3 and mine is tuned his is stock. His is a double cab though, but I don't think the weight is off by much.

crushNchowda · August 25, 2015

My friends 12 ram sport beats my 5.3 and mine is tuned his is stock. His is a double cab though, but I don't think the weight is off by much.

There is no documented test anywhere (including Dodge's own marketing stuff) that puts a Ram 1/2 ton ahead of a GM in terms of acceleration, anywhere.

Your friend's Ram may have different gearing? Do you have 3.08's yourself? If yes that's a big difference.

Click C&D link above.

Jernik · August 25, 2015

I traded a 2010 RCSB Hemi 4x4 with the 5spd auto and 3.55 gears for a Double Cab Sierra 4x4 with the 5.3, 6spd auto and 3.42 gears. Here's what I feel:

Sierra actually feels better off the line. Even though numbers show lower torque on the 5.3, the GM tranny seems to use it better and I don't really notice any loss off the line (I always felt the Hemi/3.55's were a dog from a dead stop). That said, the Hemi flat out screamed when you mashed the throttle around 45-50mph - that seemed to be it's sweet spot - it would hit 2P, plant and GO. The Sierra seems to be a bit lazier in the mid range to me. Granted, I'm pretty sure this truck is heavier than my RCSB Ram. It's also quieter - the Ram let in a lot more engine noise, so I'm sure psychologically that plays some part in thinking the Sierra isn't as quick, because it doesn't sound like it is.

Also, I didn't like the traction control in the Ram. It was too sensitive, and cut too much power when it activated. Almost got me killed once... pulling out into heavy traffic, there was a hole. I gunned it to hit the gap, and the damn thing just fell on its face due some minor wheel spin. It cut all power and I"m sitting there in the middle of the road with a truck that had cut ALL power! I'm sure it was only a second or two, but it felt like forever before it came back and I was able to get going. Luckily it didn't cause an accident, but it easily could have. I've heard of others in the Ram experiencing the same. So far I haven't experienced this with the Sierra.

Anyway, I'd suggest driving them both. I don't have any regrets in trading for the Sierra - it's very driveable and a tenth here or there (+ or -) doesn't really make that much difference anywhere other than a racetrack. I actually like the 6spd much better than the Ram 5spd. The biggest difference between the trucks though? I hated the Ram seats. That was the main factor in getting rid of it. After 5 years, I just couldn't justify keeping it and being uncomfortable any longer. I like the GM seats MUCH better.