Alright, I'm either gonna sell my truck and get somethin with more power or give her a few mods to try and get more out of it. I love my truck and really don't want to get rid of it, but she's a little sluggish and the gas mileage is awful. I got it when I was 15.. I'm 19 now and the truck is my baby. I'd love to make her powerful and nice again. I've done a lot of research over the past few years and I've got a few things in mind that I think would get me some extra power.

I'll start by saying its a 1997 1500 4x4 with the 5.2. It currently has 217k miles. Only things I've done to the engine is the plenum, timing chain, water pump, etc.. The transmission was rebuilt by the guy that had it before me. Has 3:55 gears and I'm currently running 285/70/17 Goodyear Wrangler Dura Tracs on the 17" factory off road edition wheels. It also has a K&N CAI, and a flowmaster super 40 series muffler. Replaced the cat about a year ago.

Here are a list of things I would like to do to gain power. This is where I need some input and advice:
4:10 gears
Fastmann throttle body
1.7 Rockers
True duals with headers. Shorties or long tubes? Which is better?
SCT tuner- I would love to get one of these but I don't have the money to put 89 or 93 gas in her so it would be run on the 87 tune. How much would that really help?

I would think these mods would give me a little better 0-60 (I know it's a truck, but I like to play around a little) and also give me some extra power when I'm pulling the fourwheelers or hauling lawnmowers around. I'm hoping this would also improve the gas mileage a little bit.

Sorry for the long post but I need some good advice as if this would be a good investment. How much would it cost me? or if I should sell her for a newer 1500 or a cummins. Thank you for any input.

 

The big tires probably don't help gas mpg, more rubber on the road is more friction. I have 2 rams. I've always used premium in the higher mileage 99 with the 5.9. Just got a low mileage 5.2 and was using 87( no ethanol) and haven't been impressed with power. Not thinking I put 91 octane in my '01' with 5.2 and it did seem peppier. When pulling trailer are you switching OD off? What is compression, considering mileage?
Many swear the 1.7 HS , Fastman TB are good return on investment. I haven't personally experienced either, yet. Maybe get lower mileage 5.9?

 

Long tubes will be better for power gain but are also harder to install because they will not match up with the factory Y pipe...so you'll end up needing to get another Y pipe to match up to the long tubes. This may be out of your price range, but the Mopar M1 intake manifold is a very nice mod to have along with the proper tune from hemifever...

 

If you have the space and the cash (lol), you could do what redneck is doing: building a junkyard 360 up to swap out his 318.

 

Don't open up the exhaust too much, you will lose bottom end. And you can get 50mm TB's cheaper on ebay.

 

1.7's will be good. stay away from fastman, too expensive. you can get the same thing from a member here for a hundred bucks shipped for a 50mm throttle body. member is 1999blkdakrt.

headers, i got longtubes, with the appropriate y-pipe. but as dodge_dude said, im building a 360, well its already built, just waiting for the mud to dry up a bit.

sct tuner would be good. i noticed a HUGE difference in my truck, compared with running a superchips tuner.

the mopar m1 that was suggested, are a great mod! but...... theyre harder to come by, and are backordered through chrysler. i was able to get mine through summit for 490.

318's are great little motors, but you can get a 360, that gets the same gas mileage as the 318, and build it. i paid 250 for my 360 and it has 140k on it. well, the bottom end on it has 140k. the rest of the motor is brand new!

if you want the info, you can check out my thread... https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...on-thread.html

good luck! i have just over 3k into my build. it all adds up quick.

 

I look at it this way put 3-4k into the old truck motor min, $2000 min for gear and labor, add $3000 for a patc trany, so let's just say $10,000 said and done. Or take that cash plus the old trucks worth and put it towards a new truck. Putting serious coin into these old trucks has to be a "want to" and should not be a "need to" thing, cauz you will never ever get that cash back. So pick your choice.

 

Alright thanks guys. This is helping me out a lot in my decision. Keep it coming.

 

I hope you realize this topic has been gone over 1000's of times. And a search on df would have given you tons more answers than the ones you got here in your thread.

 

and to think i even linked him to my thread, which will give him plenty of ideas, and links to various parts.