Hi! I just bought a 99 Ram 1500 4X4 sport and it is extremely stock.....I have tons I want to do to the truck but what should I do first? Hmmm :-|

 

For sound: Cat Back exhaust
For throttle response: Fastman TB www.thefastman.com
To make it "feel" a little peppier change out the gears to 4.10's or so
for looks: lift it, lower it, paint it, put pretty lights on it, etc.

 

First get skid plates, and differential covers. Then figure out what size tires you want to run, and we'll figure out how much you need to lift it to compensate. After that it wouldn't hurt to run a bigger air cleaner and performance exhuast. After that you're read for an engine overhaul. Big beefy cams, rockers, lightweight pistons, etc. Supercharge it.

The sky's the limit really. But ya gotta start somewhere. Hope that helps.

and Congradulations on your new truck. Hope ya like it

 

Sorry, just got in... Tried to change spark plugs, first one probably worn to a .080 gap, second was frozen and took two hours to get off....other six must wait till tomorrow...... Saturday put in a custom fabricated, self built front reciever, complete with tow hooks....Will post pics after giving the truck a bath. What I'm wondering is should I get a ecm flash tool or just ship it off? What about other tweaks?

 

I'm wanting a 5" lift kit, and running 285/75's now....I want something about 12.5" thick;anyone know how big a tire that will get me?

 

You'd be good for at least a 35X12.5 with 5 inches. Proably 36 would be okay. I'm sure you could stuff 37s but the'd probably rub.

 

Johnny,
If you're gonna do a lot of engine type mods, hold off on the custom flash. The flashes are designed to work with your mods and if you flash it now and then make changes you'll just be forking out another $400 or so.

I'd say your best thing is to work different sections of your truck.\

Intake side:
Either 14 inch round air cleaner with K&N filter or CAI kit
Fastman 52 mm throttle body

Exhaust side:
Catback exhaust system
Performance high-flow catalytic converter
Good quality headers (long tube or short, just not cheap)

Ignition side:
MSD 6 (one of the versions) ignition system
MSD Blaster Coil (one of the versions)
Autolite 3923 spark plugs (They are one heat range cooler than stock)
8 or 8.5 mm spark plug wires
coppper terminal cap and rotor

Engine:
Harland Sharp roller rockers
ported and polished heads (I won't mention a manufacturer here - plenty of opinions and advice on the forum)
computer friendly camshaft (Again many options and opinions)
double roller timing chain and gears
Melling high-volume oil pump
Rebuiding? go with a 408 stroker kit if you can, otherwise there are some good performance rebuild kits/engines available
Electric fans - removes the horsepower loss of the stock fan.
Mopar M1 intake manifold

ECU:
If you're gonna trick out the motor go with a custom ECU flash, otherwise a superchip or Hypertech computer will help.

Suspension:
Lift
drop
Good quality shock package
double shock steering stabilizer kit
Do what you like here


Interior:
Some guys love a major sound system
if it's not gonna be a daily driver, performance style racing seats to reduce truck weight.

I know that I'm just touching the tip of the iceberg, but you did ask for opinions.

 

Thanks TurkeyHunter; that helps. I have another thread going about exhaust work; also does anyone know where to get a used tuner?

 

If you can wait about a week I'll sell you a Superchips. Way back when,I screwed up and didn't use the Superchips toreturn my box to stock before I sent it off to B&G. Doing so afterward would have erased thier programming. Consequently, I have forgotten to do it every other time I have sent a box up there. I now have a SCT flashtuner on the way that will allow me to upload the programming and save it. I plan to do so, set the box back to stock with he Superchips, then download the programming back on there. Afterwards, the Superchips will be good to go. If you want it let me know. Should have it ready by the end of next week.