Ok, first off, Hi. Im a retired combat vet with a degree in automotive tech, and a few ASE's, but I am not to arrogant to say I know everything. Ive been working on trucks and jeeps for some time now, but Im tackling my first ever plenum leak repair. Ive done alot of research and have a few questions. I also know there are alot of threads about this, so please dont get frustrated Im starting another one. Im doing the repair with factory parts ( I get a little discount at the dodge dealer) and wanted to know if I should shorten the bolts myself just to be on the safe side. Im also going to mod my "kegger" ( sorry, that cracks me up) and wanted to know how to cut the runners. The DIY says at an angle, then a guy on the forum who I assume everyone respects (silver?), says to cut them straight. I have a 99 ram 1500 with the 360(5.9). Also going to save up for the "air gapper", but found one on this website that looks eerily similar, but is about $150 cheaper ( i dont have egr).
http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/ram.html

Ok, again thanks in advance for all the good advice and such a great forum. If your just going to get on here and bash me about starting another thread, then dont bother and go play with your little dollies. If your an adult and have good advice for me, I would love to here from you. Thanks so much

 

welcome to df. no bashing allowed here.
if you reuse the steel belly pan and bolts, then yes, you should probe the depth of the threads in the plenum and shorten them up a little as needed. be careful on the torque its something like 6-8 foot pounds which seem a little light.

when looking at the airgap, there's some discussion going on about single plane vs dual plane and how the airgap is supposedly better. i don't know, all of them are too expensive for me.

 

Yeah, that intake is the M-1 intake. It is a mopar part (Mopar performance). That is said to be more of a racing intake and that you lose low end.

The kegger is all you need unless you are really going into the engine with cam/heads.

 

Great to have you here! I'm a combat vet as well, and love my MOPAR. I did research on the intake mods available to increase flow, and found that aside from a a slight polish, modifying the runners is labor intensive, risky and minimal payout (slightly better throttle response). I know others will argue, but you'll get better results from the airgap. Hope all gose well with your build!

 

Forgot to mention, Combat vet here as well. I am still active. Got 13 years before retirement is an option.

 

Mine was a medical retirement, got injured in Iraq. It does afford me the ability to spend time with my family and my truck.

 

Thank You to all of you that served. (peace time vet myself....)

Instead of trying to shorten the bolts... which tends to make the threads kinda buggered, just go to the hardware store, and pick up some shorter ones. MUCH easier.

I angle cut the runners on my 'spare' kegger. I have not yet installed it, and the plenum was blown when I got the truck, so, if it makes any difference at all, I am not really going to know if it was due to the mod, or, simply having the intake working the way it is supposed to again. (and yes, I like run-on sentences.)

 

see i can be the judge on this one...


i did my plenum the first time with the hughes kit, and put it back in....

well i didnt get the kegger cleaned, nor did i cut the runners...so my old boss gave me his kegger. i took it to the machine shop, and they cleaned it for $40 inside and out. looks brand new....

then i cut te runners wit a jigsaw at an angle, not straight...installed a new hughes kit....sold my old intake with hughes for $100 to my buddy

and it made a hell of a difference IMO....nice smooth flow shes got now.

 

Well thanks to all for the good advice. Three days later (and about $300) I finally have the truck done. I ended up not modifying the plenum, but maybe a later project. I did however do a full tune up and cleaning,coolant flush, modified cold air intake out of a Durango 5.9 (I love the junkyard) and a superchip flash. I dont know about mpg yet, but holy ****, she goes. And FYI, looks like Dodge got the picture, because the gasket I got from the dealership was a metal one. So again thanks for all the help and advice. I LOVE this forum.

 

congrats on the repair.
when you get a chance, at the top of the screen click on User CP and fill out your signature with your truck info. its saves time and typing down the road.