going to buy a durango with the 5.9
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
I've owned a 2000 SLT plus with the 5.9 for several years.
One of the first things I noticed was that 3rd / direct in town seemed to lug the engine, the rpm being pretty low. Pretty sluggish.
As I wanted to do some towing, occasionally up to 5,000 lbs or so, I had the RT 3.91 ratio put in the rear and found a complete relatively low miles front 3.91 differential fairly reasonable after quite a bit of looking that I swapped in myself. Made a significant difference in throttle response at any speed, but in 30 mph limits it is lots peppier. Did hurt my MPG about 1 to 2.
Took off the mechanical fan and swapped in a 94 Lincoln Mark VIII fan with a soft start variable speed adjustable temp fan controller. REALLY like that setup! Got my 1-1/2 mpg back from the gear swap.
Being I spent my first 40 in central MN winters with a full time AWD full size 440 Ramcharger "back in the day", I'm a big fan of AWD. So scouted around and found
a full time 4 wheel drive transfer case which was a straight bolt in. Incomparable improvement on slippery roads.
I have a write-up with photos on that setup and how I put the fan in if you're interested. email me if you want it macx351@yahoo.com
A couple years ago I bought the 1.7 non-adjustable rockers, just haven't had time to put them in yet. I work away from home all over the country on long term temp jobs and just am not at home enuf to tear into it. But retiring in January so will finally get to that.
Rig has about 140k on it, so looked into getting the injectors cleaned and flow balanced. About $25 ea +. Looked around and found a set of hydrosonically cleaned and closely flow balanced rebuiklt injectors on ebay for just a little over $100, from a 99.xx feedback injector shop. Those are also going in after I retire.
I'd bought a set of shorty headers, but also still not on. Not sure if I will or not - shorties hurt lower end and help upper rpms. Being I'm more interested in low and mid range torque, and not going to spend the $ for a bigger cam or intake, probly will just leave the exhaust manifolds on there.
Did buy a used kegger intake, might fiddle with it a little after I retire (reduce the plenum volume and work the runners a little, and possibly a little bigger "worked" TB, but that's it unless someone comes up with a reasonably priced flash that works with 87 octane and that isn't a "generic fit all" flash but actually dials it in where it should be.
I did put a 3" cat back walker exhaust on it, with a nice SS tip, along with a 3" straight thru Hooker Maxflow muffler which was also pretty reasonable. Sounds just perfect. Pretty quiet cruise but "sounds off" with a deep resonant growl when I get on it. And tested a few years ago as the 2nd best horsepower hi po muffler and 2nd quietest cruise hi po muffler on a Hot Rod test of most of the major brands on a street muscle car. Also not being SS and all that is one of the less expensive ones. Totally happy with it.
One thing I wish I could find is a full ABS setup for it, I just have the standard rear ABS and it sucks on slippery surfaces. Back end comes around awfully quick. But haven't been able to find the control and valve etc. used.
Then there's the trans. Not the toughest trans ever made. Mine went bad not much
after 100k, so, having a fair amount of experience with hi po auto's and Mopar's in particular, I got a bunch of hi torque capacity internals (clutch pack, band, servo, apply lever, accumulator, etc, and custom valve body) from B&D trans, now it's sturdier than a stock diesel trans. I also put in the diesel overdrive parts cuz it failed, too. That along with a slightly higher stall B&D converter with heavy duty lockup clutch and I couldn't be happier or more impressed with the B&D parts and valve body program. REALLY woke that stock 5.9 up off the line and for towing. To avoid overheating in some of the really hot weather where I'm at I put on a thermostatically controlled large plate type cooler, a deeper pan, a trans temp gauge, and a remote filter with a fine micron STP filter in the cooler return line. Now it NEVER goes over 180F no matter the towed load or outside temp.
But, yes, 13 mpg driving normally on the freeway. 14 is a rare thing, 13.5 is a pleasant surprise.
But a VERY comfortable family rig, lots of room without feeling like I'm driving an 18 wheeler (which I used to do for awhile), no way I'd replace it with anything I've seen yet when I need to haul something and keep it secure and out of the weather, or do some towing.
Also put a good sized set of just superb Michelin agressive all weather tires on it that are just amazing on all kinds of roads and surfaces.
Enjoy it and good luck!
One of the first things I noticed was that 3rd / direct in town seemed to lug the engine, the rpm being pretty low. Pretty sluggish.
As I wanted to do some towing, occasionally up to 5,000 lbs or so, I had the RT 3.91 ratio put in the rear and found a complete relatively low miles front 3.91 differential fairly reasonable after quite a bit of looking that I swapped in myself. Made a significant difference in throttle response at any speed, but in 30 mph limits it is lots peppier. Did hurt my MPG about 1 to 2.
Took off the mechanical fan and swapped in a 94 Lincoln Mark VIII fan with a soft start variable speed adjustable temp fan controller. REALLY like that setup! Got my 1-1/2 mpg back from the gear swap.
Being I spent my first 40 in central MN winters with a full time AWD full size 440 Ramcharger "back in the day", I'm a big fan of AWD. So scouted around and found
a full time 4 wheel drive transfer case which was a straight bolt in. Incomparable improvement on slippery roads.
I have a write-up with photos on that setup and how I put the fan in if you're interested. email me if you want it macx351@yahoo.com
A couple years ago I bought the 1.7 non-adjustable rockers, just haven't had time to put them in yet. I work away from home all over the country on long term temp jobs and just am not at home enuf to tear into it. But retiring in January so will finally get to that.
Rig has about 140k on it, so looked into getting the injectors cleaned and flow balanced. About $25 ea +. Looked around and found a set of hydrosonically cleaned and closely flow balanced rebuiklt injectors on ebay for just a little over $100, from a 99.xx feedback injector shop. Those are also going in after I retire.
I'd bought a set of shorty headers, but also still not on. Not sure if I will or not - shorties hurt lower end and help upper rpms. Being I'm more interested in low and mid range torque, and not going to spend the $ for a bigger cam or intake, probly will just leave the exhaust manifolds on there.
Did buy a used kegger intake, might fiddle with it a little after I retire (reduce the plenum volume and work the runners a little, and possibly a little bigger "worked" TB, but that's it unless someone comes up with a reasonably priced flash that works with 87 octane and that isn't a "generic fit all" flash but actually dials it in where it should be.
I did put a 3" cat back walker exhaust on it, with a nice SS tip, along with a 3" straight thru Hooker Maxflow muffler which was also pretty reasonable. Sounds just perfect. Pretty quiet cruise but "sounds off" with a deep resonant growl when I get on it. And tested a few years ago as the 2nd best horsepower hi po muffler and 2nd quietest cruise hi po muffler on a Hot Rod test of most of the major brands on a street muscle car. Also not being SS and all that is one of the less expensive ones. Totally happy with it.
One thing I wish I could find is a full ABS setup for it, I just have the standard rear ABS and it sucks on slippery surfaces. Back end comes around awfully quick. But haven't been able to find the control and valve etc. used.
Then there's the trans. Not the toughest trans ever made. Mine went bad not much
after 100k, so, having a fair amount of experience with hi po auto's and Mopar's in particular, I got a bunch of hi torque capacity internals (clutch pack, band, servo, apply lever, accumulator, etc, and custom valve body) from B&D trans, now it's sturdier than a stock diesel trans. I also put in the diesel overdrive parts cuz it failed, too. That along with a slightly higher stall B&D converter with heavy duty lockup clutch and I couldn't be happier or more impressed with the B&D parts and valve body program. REALLY woke that stock 5.9 up off the line and for towing. To avoid overheating in some of the really hot weather where I'm at I put on a thermostatically controlled large plate type cooler, a deeper pan, a trans temp gauge, and a remote filter with a fine micron STP filter in the cooler return line. Now it NEVER goes over 180F no matter the towed load or outside temp.
But, yes, 13 mpg driving normally on the freeway. 14 is a rare thing, 13.5 is a pleasant surprise.
But a VERY comfortable family rig, lots of room without feeling like I'm driving an 18 wheeler (which I used to do for awhile), no way I'd replace it with anything I've seen yet when I need to haul something and keep it secure and out of the weather, or do some towing.
Also put a good sized set of just superb Michelin agressive all weather tires on it that are just amazing on all kinds of roads and surfaces.
Enjoy it and good luck!
the airgap,14x3 and 52 mm fastman throttle body for breathing 1.7 hs to get it up and going and magnaflow cat and flowmaster 10 and sct to tie it all together, she doesn't sound as good as my ram but she def has a lot more pep lol all I wanna do is shorty headers and ill be done . its pretty quick for a daily driver family vehical
think that was pretty low. you have been a pretty active ram forum member for some time. a normal person would think itd be ok to hang around there. i know of several people that own other vehicles and still stick around, and post in the 2nd gen ram section. total low blow if you ask me!
rangos comin out nice bud!
rangos comin out nice bud!
Record Breaker
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 41
From: Bismarck, ND
+2, not that we don't want you but that sucks they moved it on you. It's obvious you were really active with the rams. Btw I want a ram to be a nice compliment to my rango, random thought of the day.