i got an 00 with a 5.2 2wheel drive. basically completely stock. i am wanting to do a major overhual this summer on it since it has 218k all original and never been rebuilt. my idea is to basically beef it up to handle anything a 1500 truck can do. i am going to rebuild the engine from the block up and do a bit of performance on it. i am torn between going with rear airbag suspension or custom fitting the springs outta 1500 or 2500.

my question is this as far as trans and rear end goes what should i do. just rebuild everything or is there a better setup that i can bolt right up?

 

keep in mind if you are planning to tow with it, the engine and driveline can already handle the same as a 1500, most of the parts are the same ones used in the 1500, the big lacking thing on these trucks (especially for towing) is the brakes, they are VERY small for the size of the truck, adequate for the truck itself, but if you are going to tow beyond the recommended limit they will need to be upgraded. These trucks also lack the weight needed to control much more than their recommended tow weight, pulling will be ok, but stopping it (again) will be difficult and in an emergency controlling the trailer will be VERY VERY difficult if not impossible, i wish hydra were around to share his experiences with towing w/ his D over the limit

 

my main thing for towing is i want to be ably to pull a flatbed trailer wih a car on it. my d has handled that so far with little cars like camrys and escorts but had to tow once with a thunderbird on the trailer and an engine in the back of my vehicle and my *** was damn near bottomed out and she had hell of a time getting up to speed on the highway without o/d.

mine has 219k on it and its time to rebuild her, she is starting to fall apart. so i figured why not just go all out so that way i can do that kind of thing reliably.

 

the suspension will need work for that kind of load, and the brakes too, the engine anything you do to improve it will help, but remembe when you change the hp/tq curve you want to keep the tq peak lower if you are planning to tow with it

 

man o man i about forgot yes its a cut & past sorry. __________________
after you clean the trans. add this to your*chrysler*trans. an external fluid filter
1. go to auto-zone. get 2210, its called a power steering filter, but it is for transs to. it is for 3/8 tubing. by (magna-fine) be sure to use high pressure hose. Reff:http://www.magnafilter.com.au/magna-fine.html*
2. for other sizes wix 58964 5/16 tube size reff:http://www.wixfilters.com/filterlook...sionfilter.asp
3. i think most chrysler trans are 3/8 tubing. i have a 2210 in my dak its great.