Hey all, new member here(Rudy), just joined the dodge family with my switch from a honda.... just wanted to see if u guys would like to help mold my stock dakota into something faster, more power maybe, smooth running truck like "the black beauty" doing drifts lol, ur truck sounds sick dude, just thought Id give u props. Kinda like a project for everyone to participate in, its gonna be a work in progress, but Id like some of ur ideas and experiences to see what u guys think will work best, performance and handling wise(and maybe some existing probs)....my budget is gonna be about 250-350 bi-weekly, I know its just a 2wd, but I like trail driving, hauling campers and from time to time its a long trip vehicle up to mammoth! lol. I think this will be fun and hope to hear from everyone......so whats the best thing to start off with??

 

2nd gen Dakota brakes are pretty poor. If you want to go faster, you have to be able to slow down. I would suggest upgrading the brakes. You can find better performing pads and shoes all over (one cheap place in the internet is Rock Auto) and replace the rotors and drums (and hardware!) if they are worn and out of spec. I don't think that the expensive drilled and slotted rotors are worth it, and don't be fooled by the cheap Chinese knockoff's that claim to be lightweight to save gas mileage. Get a good heavy duty replacement rotor. You might want to bleed the brakes and replace the brake fluid if you have a lot of miles on the truck and the fluid is looking pretty dark. Good luck with your project!

This thread has some great suggestions. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...ion-ideas.html

Exhaust is an easy 1st mod. Borla and Magnaflow make some good stuff. I would stay away from FLowmaster unless you just simply love the sound, as the Flowmaster muffs' typically do not increase, or they can even reduce, horsepower. I love the way the Aeroturbine sounds on my Hemi Ram, but I would assume it also sounds good on the Dak's as well. If you have a lot om moles, it might also be time for a cat converter change, and I would recommend the Magnaflow replacement cat. It flows much better than the stock cat, and it added some loudness and a deeper tone to my Dak.

 

agree, work on brakes first, then you have the 4.7 so you could do the TMR mod and play with a superchips, cold air intake, exhaust, from there, the price tags start getting bigger.

 

flow master creating loss of power??? i guess i have never seen the numbers either way but i know that flow master has one of or the highest flow rating out of any muffler or straight pipe so why doesnt that = more horse power?

 

start with the basics. intake, exhaust, and larger TB. and clutch fan delete. If you have a 3plug pcm do the TMR mod.

 

Horsepower and torque are not directly proportional to how well an exhaust system flows. If that was the case then cutting off the mufflers would produce the best power numbers, but that typically is not the case. Another thing to consider is power output will change just based on differences in exhaust system, intake, engine, etc... A muffler that increases hp on one vehicle may not see the same increase on another vehicle. Swapping out parts such as intakes, headers, cams, cold air kits, etc.. will also change the potential of a muffler.

In the end, the power loss or gain with most mufflers is minimal anyway. A couple of HP. If you like the sound of a particular muffler, the power output may not really matter then.

I go mostly off of reading multiple threads on different forums about different vehicles, and I see lots of comments about how poorly Flowmaster flows.

Thniking about it more, I usually don't recomment Flowmaster because of the low flow numbers, but also that most of themufflers are aluminized steel, and end up rusting out after a handful of years. Particularaly if you live out east and they salt the roads. Stainless will last many times longer than aluminized steel.

He is some testing info I found.

This was posted on www.fullsizechevy.com which is a truck forum. Supposedly this review was performed by Martel Brothers...

*******************
All tests via an independent lab
All tests @ 15” wc

2 “ Straight Pipe 283 CFM
2 ¼ “ Straight Pipe 365 CFM
2 ½ “ Straight Pipe 521 CFM

2 ¼” Typical Bent tailpipe 268 CFM
2 ½” Typical Bent Tailpipe 417 CFM

2 ¼” Inlet/Outlet_ Glass Pack Tips- No Louvers- Smooth 274 CFM
2 ¼” Inlet/Outlet- Glass Pack Tips-Louvered 133 CFM
Same as above set for reverse flow 141 CFM
2 ¼” Cherry Bomb 239 CFM
2 ½” Cherry Bomb 294 CFM

2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Dynomax Super Turbo 278 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Ultraflow Bullet 512 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Gibson Superflow 267 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Flowmaster ( 2 Chamber) 249 CFM
2 ½” Inlet Outlet Flowmaster ( 3 Chamber) 229 CFM
2 ¼” Inlet/Outlet Thrush CVX 260 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Maremount Cherry Bomb 298 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Hooker Aero Chamber 324 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Hooker Max Flow 521 CFM
2 ½” Inlet/Outlet Borla Turbo 373 CFM
2 1/2" Inlet/Outlet Magnaflow 284 CFM


Standard OEM 2 ¼” Inlet/Outlet 138-152 CFM
Standard OEM 2 ½” Inlet/Outlet 161-197 CFM


NOISE does not mean power, some think it does is why Flowmasters are sold in the numbers they are!!!


The results in HP order:
1.Flowtech Warlock (open) 374.2 hp/ 333.1 tq
2.Bassani Real Street 373.7 hp/ 333.8 tq
3.Hooker Maxflow 373.5 hp/ 333 tq
4.Borla XS 373.3 hp/ 332.6 tq
5.Magnaflow 372.8 / 332.5 tq
6.MAC 372.3 hp / 331.5 tq
7.Flowtech Afterburner 372.3 hp/ 330.1 tq
8.Hooker Aerochamber 372.1 hp/ 330.4 tq
9.Bassani 372 hp/ 333.5 tq
10.Spintech 371.6 hp/ 332.2 tq
11.Edelbrock Performer RPM 370.9 hp / 331.3 tq
12.Borla XR1 370 hp/ 334 tq
13.Flowtech Terminator 369.5 hp / 331.3 tq
14.Dynomax Ultra Flo 369.4 / 333.2 tq
15.Flowmaster 369.4 hp / 331.8 tq
16.Flowtech Warlock 366.3 hp / 325.3 tq
17.No muffs 365.2 hp / 330.1 tq

Sound Off in Quietest to Loudest (Decibels):

1.Borla XS, 80db at idle, 90db at 2,000 rpm, 110db at WOT.
2.Hooker Maxflow, 80db at idle, 90db at 2,000 rpm, 120db at WOT.
3.Magnaflow, 82db at idle, 91 at 2,000 rpm, 114db at WOT.
4.Flowmaster, 82db at idle, 93 at 2,000 rpm, 115db at WOT.
5.Flowtech Warlock, 83db at idle, 92 at 2,000 rpm, 112db at WOT.
6.Dynomax UltraFlo, 83db at idle, 94 at 2,000 rpm, 113db at WOT.
7.Borla XR1, 83db at idle, 96db at 2,000 rpm, 118db at WOT.
8.Bassani Street, 83db at idle, 96db at 2,000 rpm, 120db at WOT.
9.Edelbrock RPM, 84db at idle, 93db at 2,000 rpm, 118db at WOT.
10.Bassani Real Street, 84db at idle, 96db at 2,000 rpm, MAX. (120+db).
11.Flowtech Afterburner, 86db at idle, 94db at 2,000 rpm, 115db at WOT.
12.Flowtech Terminator, 86db at idle, 94db at 2,000 rpm, 119db at WOT.
13.Hooker Aerochamber, 87db at idle, 94db at 2,000 rpm, 114db at WOT.
14.SpinTech, 87db at idle, 97db at 2,000 rpm, 116db at WOT.
15.MAC, 87db at idle, 98db at 2,000 rpm, 119db at WOT.
16.No Muffler, 91db at idle, 103db at 2,000 rpm, MAX. (120+db).

http://forums.stangnet.com/archive/index.php/t-392314
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They aren't kidding about the brakes. I found that out the hard way last night, no joke.

 

both my calipers seized on me on a 1200 mile roadtrip. bad news written all over that. melted the paint on my rims they got so hot.

 

Awesome....thanx for all the input, so Im definetly starting off with a total brake assembly upgrade, seized calipers doesnt sound fun :/ , and u guys will have to excuse my noob status, Im not privy to all the acronyms(TB, pcm, TMR??) lol sorry
and I forgot to mention its automatic tranny, quad cab if any of that pertains...thanx again to all gonna jump on the brakes this weekend.

 

tb= throttle body
pcm= power control module aka computer
tmr= torque mgmt