ok i know this is a bit repetative, but i would like to group it all in one post.


what are the best mods for a 2nd gen ram 5.2lt 1997. that will not cause undoo ware and shorten the life of the truck. i ocassionaly tow a 2000lb camper. i dont want to loose any low end torque. i would like to lift her about 4 inches and run 35 x12.5 tires(i know will put wear and tear on some parts) . i now have a mack intake, msd 8.5 wires, champion truck series plugs, brass cap and rotor set, i just switched over to synthetic(big difference). i am thinking of doing a gear change to 4.10s , maybe a shift kit and tranny cooler to help the life and performance of the tranny, im thinking of a flowmaster 40 series cat bac system, coil and maybe ignition set up. any ideas will be great. dont want to do the wrong mod and mess my rig up. thanks Dennis

 

This is just what I have gathered from other places. I have heard the TB is a good mod...from Fastman. I ordered one last week, when I put it on I will let you know the pluses. Add an MSD ingnition. It will be awkward to tow with a lift kit but not impossible. I have a 2" lift with air bags and tow just fine. Be careful about the cat-back system. You can lose low end if you go with the 2.5" in and 2.5" out duals. Try 2.5" in and 2.25" out duals...you will not lose much if any low end torque. If you open up your engines breathing too much then you will lose torque but gain HP. You might try underdrive pullies. I had a set on my 97 and gained great torque, but the alt. pulley was too large and drained my battery too much too often. March makes a set for 97 Magnums I think, that has the smaller alt. pulley with the kit. I eventually plan on getting this...it only runs about $50 just for the pulley. I am considering changing the gears as well. But don't know much about the pluses and minuses of them and how difficult it is to change them out.

 

1. Trans cooler
2. 4.10 gears
3. Performance PCM

 

He's running 35's... 4.56 gears are what you need. I have 33's on mine and have 4.10's and it runs great.

My setup:
52mm Fastman
K&N FIPK with a 7x9 filter (awesome btw, helped upper end HP w/o too much low end loss)
50 series flow with dual 2 1/4 out's
Hypertech PPIII
MSD 8.5's
MSD offroad & High Vib coil <- not sure if this is worth it... cant see much of a difference from stock.
Fuel Cooler (improved mpg by 6%)
Insulated fuel rail (to prevent heat soak).
4.10's

this works pretty good, nice and strong for towing and good overall performance. I have a set of 1.7RR's, plenum kit and new timing chain sitting at home waiting to go in.

 

the only thing im worried about with the gear change is loosing mph in the top end. what brand pcm are you running? how much work to change out for i have never messed around with computers before.

 

well i just calculated it out and with 4.56 at 60mph my rpms with be at reomended limits with my current tires 275/55/20 and with 35s ill run a bit under and perfect without the od off


www.jawsgear.net/store/catalog/calc.php

 

with the 4x4, how fast do you want to go in a lifted truck? I've had mine up to 95 before and it purred like a kitten, speed limiter gone with the Hypertech PPIII. Unless you have a ton of low end torque, I'd keep your gearing so your rpm's at 60 are 2000~2200 rpm, mine are around 2k with the 285's and 4.10's.

 

with 4.56 and 35s at 60mph ill run 1839 with od on 2697 with it off. i dont think thats bad . do you? and just for giggles .... at 75 ill run 2298 with od and 3371 without od on.. the numbers sound ok to me

 

no doesnt sound too bad. I know when I upgraded my gearing it was like getting a new truck... sweet!!!

 

i don't think you need to worry about low end loss with a bigger exhaust. i have headers and dual flowmaster 40s 2.25" i didn't notice any loss, but did notice the chirp going into second gear at WOT. with the headers, the truck runs like a beast.