Hey guys I ordered the plenum kit from hughes and got the new intake mani bolts and the 180 deg thermostat what else would you guys recommend I replace while im in there.

 

Aside from sounding like a dick, and saying do a search(as this topic is rather popular) . Bypass hose, water pump, and timing chain comes to mind.

 

I have some advice:

1. Use zip ties to anchor wires and hoses up and out of the way. before you dive in. Like the fuel rail, and DO NOT disconnect the fuel line from the fuel rail. No need.

2. Get a towel to put into the intake area once you lift that big kegger out of there and are scraping off the gaskets.

3. MOST IMPORTANT: Make sure you clean out the RTV that is stuck into the two pin sized holes in the top and bottom of the block. THat is where your upper and lower gaskets lay. They have tabs that need to go into the block. You will need a very small drill bit or allen key to dig out that RTV in there so the tabs can go in. If the tabs can't go in snug, then you will leak oil. the gaskets I am talking about are the two short and skinny metal gaskets with the rubber on the underside. Use RTV on those gaskets.

4. Get a cooling system flush. Napa descaler worked great for me. Just put it in and fill with water, run for 30 mins, and drain the radiator AND BLOCK and add 50/50 coolant/water mix. Or 60/40 coolant/water if you live in a colder area. 40/60 water/coolant if you live in the deep south (i did when I lived in arkansas. now I need to winterize since I live in Indiana now).

You could do a water pump and timing chain. I have heard great things about the Hughes timing chain. Getting a timing chain tensioner would be good as well. But if you have less than 80K miles, I would not change it. Chances are that your truck is far above the 80K mark. Not many are under that (Except mine at 57K).

DO NOT RUN THE 180* THERMOSTAT WITHOUT GETTING A SCT TUNER!!! You will run very rich and you will lose power.

Be prepared to get a coolant temperature sensor because chances are you will break yours during install/reinstall like many have done. Only 15 bucks from autozone, but I would get the part from the dealership.

 

sorry im new around here and thank you! Would you also suggest a new cap and rotor?

 

Ok so with the 180 degree thermostatis it imperative to get a tune for it and like I said im new around here how would I go about getting a tune for my truck? the truck also has 167k on the clock and I thank you guys for all your help!

 

Yes that too, much easier to do while intake is off.

 

I just wanted to drive the point home with the bold caps. I wasn't shouting.

If I were you, I would wait until you get a SCT before installing everything. That way you can run a 180* thermostat.

It will feel like a completely different truck. PM Hemifever (Sean) on this site and you can get a SCT and 3 tunes (87, 91, 93 octane).

I would wait until you get the SCT, because the SCT is pretty much a necessity on these trucks. AND it is the best Power to Cost ratio of any mod you will do.

 

ok how much would the tune appprox cost because im on a little bit of a budget right now I didnt want to fix the plenum just yet because I didnt have the cash.

 

http://www.hemifevertuning.com/

 

sweet! Thank you zman!