Looking to finally fix my plenum leak and figured while I'm at it why not build up the top end a little. I will be using the hughes plate and also need to replace the header gaskets and new bolts so that leaves me with around $400 for upgrades. What would you guys recommend as the next best options? This is as a gift so I will not be funding any of this but I would be willing to throw in a little extra $$ if needed. I know most people will say new cam, hs 1.7rr, and tuner but unsure of which order is the best.

 

Cam is a lotta work. Rockers are dead easy, and require no additional measures. Tuner? Definitely worth the money, if you go with one of the good ones. (hemifever, flyin' ryan.... may be others I am not aware of.) Changing the cam would require a custom tune, and also quite likely some additional peripherals. (springs/locks/retainers/possibly pushrods/etc.)

So, my choice would be either the rockers, or the tuner. Either one gives a nice performance bump.

 

The tuner seemed to give mine a little more than the 1.7 rocker arms plus it changed my shift points so I can do 40mph and not be jumping in and out of overdrive on every little hill. Overdrive kicks in between 48 and 50mph now.

 

Is the SCT tuner any good?

 

Yes..

 

I've considered using one of those plug in tuners too, some claimed they can add a bit of power and/or MPG efficiency... are there any well known go to ones for the OBD1 2nd gen rams? Or maybe one of those 52mm throttle bodies I heard good things about. I can only imagine the power gain.....mine feels like a new truck with a million times more power just after cleaning the gunked up IAC and throttle body lol.

 

OBDI is not flash programmable, so, no tuner for you. Could look for a mopar performance PCM though.......

 

My vote is tune. Most gain per dollar making double gain the 1.7 rockers will for roughly the same price. Totally changes the feel of the truck. Cam is the last thing I would do. Heads and intake are more of a restriction and cam is going to require at minimum a timing chain and new springs. Better to do a full new valvetrain though. My $0.02

 

Better heads would benefit more than a cam.

 

If the heads aren't original (and cracked), then a good polish and port job will do wonders. If they are, new heads with the aforementioned polish and port job will do wonders. And, a Fastman modified throttle body will complement the P&P heads.