2003 Dodge Ram 2500 / 3500 - Specs

Engine
5.7-Liter Hemi Magnum® V-8
8.0-Liter Magnum®
V-10
Cummins Turbo Diesel
Availability
Std. — All(c)
Optional — All(c)
Opt. — All
Type and Description
Eight cylinders, 90° V-type, liquid-cooled
Ten cylinders, 90° V-type, liquid-cooled, heavy-duty
Six-cylinder, inline, liquid-cooled, turbocharged, intercooled
Displacement
345 cu. in. (5654 cu. cm)
488 cu. in. (7994 cu. cm)
359 cu. in. (5883 cu. cm)
Bore x Stroke
3.92 x 3.58 (99.5 x 90.9)
4.00 x 3.88 (101.6 x 98.6)
4.02 x 4.72 (102.1 x 119.9)
Valve System
Pushrod-operated overhead valves, 16 valves, hydraulic lifters with roller followers
OHV, 20 valves, hydraulic lifters with roller followers
OHV, 24 valves, solid lifters
Fuel Injection
Sequential, multi-port, electronic, returnless
Sequential, multi-port, electronic
Electronic high-pressure common rail
Construction
Deep-skirt cast-iron block with cross-bolted main bearing caps,
aluminum alloy heads with hemispherical combustion chambers
Deep skirt cast-iron block, cast-iron heads
Cast-iron block and head
Compression Ratio
9.6:1
8.6:1
17.2:1
Power (SAE net)
345 bhp (257 kW) @ 5400 rpm, (61.0 bhp/L), 2500 series(a)
305 bhp (228 kW) @ 4000 rpm — (51.7 bhp/L)
250 bhp (186 kW) @ 2900 rpm — standard output (42.4 bhp/L)(d)
235 bhp (175 kW) @ 2700 rpm — standard output (39.8 bhp/L)(e)
305 bhp (227 kW) @ 2900 rpm — high-output (51.7 bhp/L)(d)
Torque (SAE net)
375 lb.-ft. (508 N•m) @ 4200 rpm, 2500 series(a)
440 lb.-ft. (597 N•m) @ 2800 rpm
460 lb.-ft. (624 N•m) @ 1,400 rpm — standard output(d)
460 lb.-ft. (624 N•m) @ 1,400 rpm — standard output(e)
555 lb.-ft. (752 N•m) @ 1,400 rpm — high output(d)
Max. Engine Speed
5800 rpm
4700 rpm
3500 rpm
Fuel Requirement
Unleaded mid-grade, 89 octane (R+M)/2 — recommended,
Unleaded regular, 87 octane
Diesel
Unleaded regular, 87 octane (R+M)/2 — acceptable
Oil Capacity
7 qt. (6.6L)
7 qt. (6.6L) with filter
12 qt. (11.4L) with filter
Coolant Capacity
18.7 qt. (17.7L)
29.0 qt. (27.4L)
32.7 qt. (30.9L)
Emission Controls
Three-way catalytic converter and internal engine features(b)
Three-way catalytic converter and internal engine features(b)
Oxidation catalytic converter and internal engine features(d)(e)
(a) Preliminary
(b) Meets Tier 1 emission requirements in all 50 states.
(c) Not available on 3500 SRW.
(d) Meets Federal heavy-duty diesel emission control requirements.
(e) Meets California medium-duty vehicle engine certified diesel emission control requirements.

Electrical
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 / 3500
Alternator Availability
Standard — All
Rating
136-amp
Battery
Maintenance-free, 750 CCA
Battery Availability
Standard — 2500
Description
Group 65, low-maintenance, 600 CCA
Availability
Standard — 3500 with gasoline engines
Description
Group 65, low-maintenance, 750 CCA
Availability
Standard — All with diesel engines
Description
Dual, Group 65, low-maintenance, 750 CCA

Transmission
NV4500/ NV4500HD
Manual, 5-Speed Overdrive
 NV5600
Manual, 6-Speed Overdrive
5-45RFE
Automatic
5-Speed
47RE
Automatic,
4-Speed Overdrive
Availability
4500 - std. with 5.7- and 8.0-liter V-8 engines;
Std. with 5.9-liter high-output diesel engine
Optional with 5.7-liter engines
optional with 8.0-liter V-10
4500 HD - std. with 5.9-liter I-6 diesel
standard - output Cummins diesel engine
Description
Synchronized in all gears
Synchronized in all gears
Three planetary gear sets, one overrunning clutch,
full electronic control, electronically controlled converter clutch
Hydraulic control, electronically controlled governor overdrive, overdrive lockout and converter clutch
Gear Ratios
     1st
5.61
5.63
3.00
2.45
     2nd
3.04
3.38
1.67 upshift
1.45
1.50 kick-down
     3rd
1.67
2.04
1.00
1.00
     4th
1.00
1.39
0.75
0.69
     5th
0.75
1.00
0.67
-
     6th
-
0.73
-
-
Reverse
5.04
5.63
Overall Top Gear      

770 ft lbs max torque
2.80 with 3.73 axle ratio
2.72 with 3.73 axle
2.50 with 3.73 axle
2.57 with 3.73 axle ratio
3.07 with 4.10 axle ratio
2.99 with 4.10 axle
2.75 with 4.10 axle
2.82 with 4.10 axle ratio

Transfer Case
NV271/NV273
Availability
NV271 — std. 4WD ST
NV273 — opt. SLT and Laramie
Type
Part-time
Operating Modes
2WD; 4WD High, Locked; Neutral; 4WD Low, Locked
Shift Mechanism
NV271 — manual
NV273 — electric
Max Torque

NV-271/273 = 7890 ft lbs (not confirmed)
Low-Range Ratio
2.72
Center Differential
None

Exterior Dimensions and Capacities
Series
2500
 3500
Box
Short
Long
Short - Single Rear Wheels
Long - Single Rear Wheels
Long - Dual Rear Wheels
Quad Cab™ — 2WD
Wheelbase
140.5
160.5
140.5
160.5
160.5
Track Front
69.4
69.4
69.4
69.4
69.4
Rear
68.2
68.2
68.2
68.2
75.8
Overall Length
227.7
249.7
227.7
249.7
249.7
Overall Width
79.9
79.9
79.9
79.9
96.0
Overall Height
74.4
74.4
75.0
75.0
74.2
Tailgate Load Height
33.0
33.3
33.6
33.9
32.9
Ground Clearance Front axle
8.3
8.3
8.9
8.9
7.4
Rear axle
8.0
8.0
8.6
8.6
7.0
Approach Angle
16.6°
16.6°
17.5°
17.6°
16.7°
Ramp Breakover Angle
20.7°
19.5°
21.8°
20.6°
12.5°
Departure Angle
24.3°
23.6°
25.0°
24.3°
23.2°
Frontal Area
35.1
35.1
35.1
35.1
36.8
Fuel Tank Capacity
34 (128)
35 (132)
34 (128)
35 (132)
35 (132)
Quad Cab™ — 4WD
Wheelbase
140.5
160.5
140.5
160.5
160.5
Track Front
69.7
69.7
69.7
69.7
69.7
Rear
68.2
68.2
68.2
68.2
75.8
Overall Length
227.7
249.7
227.7
249.7
249.7
Overall Width
79.9
79.9
79.9
79.9
96.0
Overall Height
78.5
78.4
79.2
79.1
78.4
Tailgate Load Height
36.1
36.1
37.1
37.1
36.1
Ground Clearance Front axle
9.3
9.3
9.9
9.9
7.7
Rear axle
7.9
7.9
8.5
8.5
7.0
Approach Angle
24.3°
24.4°
25.2°
25.3°
24.3°
Ramp Breakover Angle
21.0°
18.7°
22.2°
19.8°
18.8°
Departure Angle
27.9°
26.7°
29.1°
27.9°
26.7°
Frontal Area
35.4
35.4
35.4
35.4
37.1
Fuel Tank Capacity
34 (128)
35 (132)
34 (128)
35 (132)
35 (132)
Exterior Dimensions (continued)
Regular Cab — 2WD
Regular Cab — 4WD
2500
3500 — Dual Rear Wheels
2500
3500 — Dual Rear Wheels
Wheelbase
140.5
140.5
140.5
140.5
Track Front
69.4
69.4
69.7
69.4
Rear
68.2
75.8
69.7
69.4
Overall Length
229.7
229.7
229.7
229.7
Overall Width
79.9
96.0
79.9
96.0
Overall Height
73.8
74.7
78.0
78.8
Tailgate Load Height
33.0
34.4
36.1
37.3
Ground Clearance Front axle
8.2
8.3
9.3
8.3
Rear axle
8.0
7.3
7.9
7.5
Approach Angle
16.6
17.3
24.3
25.1
Ramp Breakover Angle
20.7
15.6
21.0
22.3
Departure Angle
23.3
24.8
26.8
28.1
Frontal Area
35.1
36.8
35.4
37.1
Fuel Tank Capacity
35 (132)
35 (132)
35 (132)
35 (132)

Cargo Box 6.3' Box 8' Box
SAE Volume, cu. ft.
57.74 (1.635 cu. m)
73.93 (2.093 cu. m)
Length At Floor, Tailgate Closed
75.9 (1928)
97.9 (2486)
Cargo Width
66.4 (1687)
66.4 (1687)
Distance Between Wheelhouses
51.0 (1295)
51.0 (1295)
Depth
20.2 (512)
20.2 (512)
Tailgate Opening Width
63.5 (1612)
63.5 (1612)

Accommodations Regular Cab Quad Cab
Seating Capacity, F/R
3/-
3/3
Head room Front
40.9 (1040)
40.8 (1037)
Rear
-
40.0 (1015)
Leg room Front
41.0 (1041)
41.0 (1041)
Rear
-
36.4 (925)
Shoulder room Front
67.0 (1702)
67.0 (1702)
Rear
-
66.7 (1094)
Hip room Front
65.1 (1653)
65.1 (1653)
Rear
-
64.6 (1640)
Seat Travel Front
9.0 (229)
9.0 (229)
Recliner range Front
45°
45°
Hip room Rear
-
64.6 (1640)
Knee clearance Rear
-
1.1 (28)
Interior Volume Front
65.06 cu. ft.
64.92 cu. ft.
Rear
-
56.18 cu. ft.

Body & Chassis 2WD
4WD
Layout
Longitudinal, front engine; Hotchkiss drive
Longitudinal, front engine;
Hotchkiss drive, transfer case
Construction
Ladder-type frame,steel cab, double-wall steel pickup box
Ladder-type frame,steel cab, double-wall steel pickup box

Suspension
2WD
 4WD
Front
Short and long arm independent, coil springs, gas-charged shock absorbers, stabilizer bar
 Live axle, “Quadra Link” leading arms, track bar, coil springs, stabilizer bar, gas-charged shock absorbers
Rear Live axle, longitudinal leaf springs, gas-charged shock absorbers — 2500, auxiliary springs added — 3500 Live axle, longitudinal leaf springs, gas-charged shock absorbers — 2500, auxiliary springs added — 3500

Steering - 2WD
Model
Quad Cab™, Short Box
Quad Cab, Long Box
 Regular Cab
Overall Ratio
15.4:1
15.4:1
15.4:1
Steering Wheel Turns Lock to Lock
3.0
3.0
3.0
Turning Diameter (Curb to Curb)
44.6 ft. (13.6 m)
50.3 ft. (15.3 m)
44.6 ft. (13.6 m)
Steering - 4WD
Overall Ratio
13.4:1
13.4:1
13.4:1
Steering Wheel Turns Lock to Lock
2.75
2.75
2.75
Overall Ratio
48.9 ft. (14.9 m)
52.0 ft. (15.8 m)
48.9 ft. (14.9 m)