I have a 2004 Dakota with the 4.7L v8 and 5 speed tranny. 4wd. It has just passed 113k miles when i got ahold of it. The only thing that i have done is i have changed the spark plugs,engine oil, oil filter, air filter. just basic tune up really. the only performance that i have added is the superchips tuner which i kept when i sold my ram 1500 4wd with the 5.9L. Where should i start with the mods? o i forgot that i have 265/75/r16 pro comp mud terrains on it. i like the off road look, but don't want to sacrifice too much to performance because honestly, i like being able to outrun most of the mustangs around here. Real quick, there is a ticking sound that sounds like an exhaust leak on the drivers side rear of the engine. it only happens when it is cold or if you let the truck sit for a couple minutes...any ideas? any suggestions and/or help greatly appreciated as i don't know anything about the 4.7's!

 

i got the same exact truck as u only in the 4 door and i love doing mods to it. if your a fan of a loud sounding truck you should put a cherry bomb muffler on it. just put mine on over the summer and it sounds mean. if you like halo headlights the kota looks pretty sweet with those too. i did a diy cai and it cost maybe 50 bucks. and ive done a lot of cosmetic stuff to the whole truck. if ya want any pics lemme no and ill post em

 

the noise you hear is normal,. its just the lifters chattering on warmup. we all have it. if you get it when its warmed up or constant they you got a problem.

 

i took it to a mechanic though and he said that i don't have lifters...that i have lash adjusters? and it happens after i have been driving it for like 2 or three hours if i stop for more than two minutes.

 

I would say this to mods:

Do your diffs, xfer case and trans fluids if that isnt your 'tuneup ' items...You can remove the fan clutch on the engine. I did this a few miles in, and have had no problems in hot or cold...Once I find cams, I will get a look inside my heads, but on an '83 Audi I worked on, Mobil1 proved incredible. I use Amsoil in my bike, so, either one is a good thing for your motor. (but oil arguments are like religious wars...). Some say that a stock motor 'un-learns' or compensates for the Superchips tune. No idea, just have read it.

I would also look at shocks/suspension bushings. The CAI is also a good idea. I just bolted a Flowmaster Deltaflow in the truck. Not too loud, but, it is more restrictive than some of the bombs or a reg. 40 series. Depends what you really want to accomplish.

But long and short, I have the same truck, and just check my sig. Thats what Ive done; cams and a tune are next...I have a short throw shifter en-route from Mich. Then maybe a exhaust setup. I have some parts available like spare K&Ns(NIB) and some bushings i got 2 of, Moog NIB as well...depending on the size of your front sway bar..

 

i think thats only those "power" chips you find on ebay for $20.

 

how did you make a cai for 50 bucks? and let me know how that short throw works. i have been wanting one too. i had one in my 87 mustang 5.0 it was awesome. but that was with a racing tranny too.... i deffidently agree about the lubricants...and the only oils that i have changed are the engine oil and coolant. what is the benefit of taking off the fan clutch? does anyone know of a place online besides ebay that i can get driveline fluids cheap? i want to put new heads and valve covers and a cam in mine. i had a ram 1500 before this truck......it had the 5.9 in it....i put headers on it and they just turned into a nightmare with the bolts loosening and the studs were so close to the bolts that you couldn't fit the retainers on the grade 8 header bolts that i bought...is the 4.7 like that or is it something that i should look into?

 

I think my post got lost in the other thread but do they make short shifter's for the 04's now? Im really just curious because I know when I got mine they didn't..

 

Idk if they do. Im sure that B&M makes one... Idk I just assumed lol

 

Ill find out soon. It was for the NV3500 trans someone had in thier Ram. I do see one listed for 04s aroudn 300.

I found someone with the Royal Purple for a decent price on ebay a while back. I'll see if I can track down his card. I can also prob hook you up with Amsoil as I know a local rep. He might be able to have it drop shipped to a local warehouse or something.

Honestly, exhaust-wise I dont know that you gain much with actual headers, unless you go for a full higher displ. motor, or forced induction. Im sure you can, but prob not worth the cash.

removing the fan is just less effort to move accessories. Like why they put elec water pumps and such on certain cars...gain that few HP. Its easy to do, and well, Free!