I'm looking for inexpensive things to do to my 99 1500. I'm looking for either performance or just appearance stuff. I've already tinted my windows and painted my rims. I was planning on lifting it and putting 33s or 35s, but now the wife and I find out she's pregnant, so that's put of the question. She said I can spend some money on the truck, but my budget has been significantly decreased. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

Fix the plenum. (about 200 or so.)
Timing chain and gears. (double roller please.)(50 for the timing set, 25 or so for gaskets, plus water pump should you decide to replace that as well.)
SCT tuner from hemifever. (265 for canned tunes. all that a basically stock motor needs.)
Harland Sharp 1.7 ratio Roller Rockers. (around 300 or so.....)
Headers? (anywhere from 100, to over 600, depends on what ya get. )
Replace O2 sensors, make sure cat isn't clogged.

 

And when you're good on all that, we can help you with expensive upgrades!

 

Is there a way to tell if the plenum has been done? When I bought the truck, I asked the dealership if it had any work done, and the sales guy rattled off a whole list of things, and he said he thinks the previous owner did something with the plenum. Then again, he said it had a tune up right b4 last winter, but the plugs were horrible, so there's no way that happened

 

Unless the plenum is still blown and making those plugs all nasty.

 

I should have clarified what I meant by the plugs being horrible, they were all rusted, and the electrodes were all pretty much gone. They looked to be original, or damn close to it

 

He was feeding you a bunch of bull just so you thought it was an awesome truck that was maintained all its life just so you bought it

 

Check the Plenum thread stickied at the top here. Take off TB and look inside with a light. And if plenum gasket was replaced, and bolts not shortened or aluminum plate (check with magnet through TB opening) it may need fixed again. It should be obvious looking inside.

 

Did any of you hear about using a small amount of pressure, less than three psi, to check for a blown plenum? I read it here on the forum and that sounds like a pretty good way to check for a blown gasket.

 

That was in the TSB for checking the plenum. The idea there was to seal up the crankcase/block, (pcv, oil fill, etc.) and put a gauge on it, but, NOT to let the pressure (as that would be expected if the plenum was good.) exceed 3PSI. Otherwise, it has the chance of blowing out seals and such.