I've got a 98 ram 1500 3.9 and am planning on using tax return to do some performance upgrades to my little V6 engine, everyone I talk to has a different oppinion on shorty headers, I'm planning on running jba cat 4ward shorty headers, will I see any gains over the stock manifolds? Or should I get the fastman performance throttle body instead? I don't need a V8 , my little V6 does what I need it to and I still average 18 mpg, just adding a few ponies would help it do it a little easier, right now I've got a volant cai, magnaflow high flow converter and am running a magnaflow 14 inch dual exhaust.

 

Just shorties won't get you anything noticeable. Long tubes, and a free flowing exhaust system would help some. If the 6 has the same throttle body as the 8's, not sure going larger would help, or hurt you..... if it doesn't, punching it out to the size the bore is where the throttle blades are would give you a little. Cleaning up all the stuff sticking out on top of it is always helpful as well. Still, you won't see much in the way of power gains, but, throttle will be a bit snappier.

 

I wish someone made long tubes for the 3.9, fastman website says their upgraded throttle body is 46mm I'll have to research what the stock tb is. My butt dyno thinks I gained some power after installing the high flow converter, dual exhaust and air intake but who knows if I really gained anything.

 

Shorties will give better low end torque gains but other than that , not much better than a stock manifold . On the Grand Cherokee , they make more difference as the pass down pipe is crimped restricting flow . Rams don't have a space issue

Long tubes will give the best mid-top end range performance increases . Best choice , also more money .

Given you have a new cat/muffler that flows better already , not sure what gain #'s would be like on the V6 .

 

Any gain is better than none, I've been researching headers for about 3 months and can't find anyone that makes a long tube so I think I'm stuck with the shorty, I knew I'd never make good amounts of power without getting into the internals, looks like it's time to start looking for a good rv cam. Will the shorties change the exhaust note any? I'm pretty happy with how she sounds now

 

Shorty headers should help your system out, but so would the throttle body. Both would be good mods to do in my opinion, heck if you can do both even better. Whats your exhaust system, 2.5" cat back and 2.25 tails or something like that?

I remember my 3.9L, great little motor and sure moved my Dakota no issue! Not complaint about it!

 

2.5 inch tails should have gone 2.25 but ordered the wrong muffler and just went with it, the 3.9 replaced the ram I had with the 3.7 and the 3.9 beats it in towing and fuel economy.

 

It should change the exhaust note , should be a little more snappy . I did sound clips of some mods for reference . Stock/add headers/add MSD . All made a different note .