Afternoon, I have a 01 RAM 5.2 and need to ask a few questions. I would like to start adding performance parts to my truck, Mainly for Low end Torque (Off the line I have really low power). I have been reading alot lately about what others have done: CAI, TB, Headeds, you get my point. Right now I'm on the Little budget (TG Christmas is Now OVER) and I am going to be adding the parts slowly. Question one, which would be the first thing to add? Is there an order to follow to get the best performance to start off with. Second question, I have read some users will Actually loss Low in Torque and gain it in top end, since top end isn't my main concern, which one would not benefit me to start with. And last question, maybe dumb but I have to ask, With adding all these parts to your Truck, some parts add +10, Some +15, and some +25, After I get everything added to my Truck would I have have gone from Start HP 230 and then start add adding the numbers up (CAI +15, HyperTech + 15, Intake +15) so I would have a Truck with 275 HP.

Thank for all you help

DMan.

 

advertised HP doesn't mean it will add that much power to your truck. I would check and see if you have a blown plenum gasket at the bottom of the intake manifold. If you have alot of oil build up then you need to change that out.

 

First thing I would add is a K&N or Tru-Flow drop in air filter. About $50. Or you can just put on the K&N FIPK system if you want, but that will run you $220+ I just posted a link to one on e-bay. Second thing I would get is a Fastman Throttle Body. www.thefastman.com $220 if you mention Dodge Forum. A less restrictive exhaust system, Example: a Flowmaster muffler with dual 2.25" out pipes, or a 3" single system with a good aftermarket performance muffler. $300-400. One of the first things to do is change your plugs, distributor cap & rotor, and plug wires if you have over 50k miles on the truck. You don't have to spend $70-90 on MSD wires, but make sure you get a dist cap with brass contacts, (NAPA has them) and good wires. Changing your gear lube to synthetic and running synthetic oil in your engine helps too. I Don't have a Superchip or Hypertech yet, don't know if I ever will chuck up $400 to try one. I'm looking into the FIPK now, but that helps more at top end than bottom, so I've heard. I have the mods listed below in my sig., I did not gain any better gas mileage with them, but the acceleration and throttle response is much better. It won't light the tires up (might be the 400lbs of crap in my toolbox) but it runs decent. Important things to add when you post or create your signature are: is your truck a 4x4, auto or manual, what rearend gear ratio, etc. The more info, the more we can help you out!
P.S. - don't kid yourself with the HP numbers, unless you plan to impress or depress someone on an actual dyno, how it runs to you (the "butt" dyno) is what is important!

 

Thanks for the Help, I will look into the plenum gasket to see if it's blow. I have already added the K&N Drop, it did help alittle and will also take your advice.
DMan

 

If low end power is what you want I would personaly start with 4.10 gears and go from there. Be warned though modding is very addictive once you start it is hard to stop kinda like heroin.

 

For low end your gonna wanna watch your your exhaust. I have duel 2.5's on my truck and I really lost low end torque. I gained ALOT of high end though, I can really wiz by somebody at freeway speeds passing with no problem at all. But like Racefan said, your probably going to want 2.25" pipes. Those help keep some backpresure, which helps your low end. Making her breath better is probably going to be your main concern. So I'd go exhaust first. I got mine for $240 for consum bent pipes and my muffler at a shop where I live. Since you already have a drop in K&N you probably wouldn't want to spend money on a FIPK. Bu tlik eRacefan also said they mainly help high end. If you get headers make sure they're the right kind. If I'm not mistaken theres headers that imainly ncrease HP, and headers that mainly increase TQ. Theres also some that improve both.

I programmmer would probably help you out alot though so you could tune your engine for low end

 

No one has mentioned getting the computer tweaked so that more low-end torque is called for/allowed by the computer. That alone will do more than installing new gears or other bolt-ons. Gotta think like a tuner in some instances.

 

I couldn't agree more. I just replaced a very leaky muffler on mine and I reclaimed a bunch of low end torque.

Personally if I was looking for more performance out of my truck I'd get a used 5.9L, rebuild it and do a swap. It could be even cheaper than buying a bunch of seperate (and expensive) aftermarket parts.

 

I checked in to that at a local dyno tuning shop. He has the software to reprogrm Chevys and Fords, but told me had had been unable to locate any software to do the same with Dodges. He would like to, cause there is a market for it, (me first) but was not able to find it to work with his dyno. If anyone knows where to get commercial software for this, please post it and I'll relay it to him. then maybe I can get mine done cheaper.....

 

Wanted to say thanks for all the reply's, MAGICDSSMAN, quick question and I know this sounds a little dumb but how do you change to Gears to 4.10? Would I see benefits by doing this?

Thanks,

DMan