New Truck
 

Hey,

Not my first post about my truck, but I figured I'd put up some pictures and ask a question, though I'll quickly lay out the mods first (Pictures soon to come, the question I have is more important at the moment). I've a '99 1500 Quad Cab Sport with a 5.9L. I've followed a lot of posts, and done a lot of reading before changing anything on the truck. I replaced the t-stat with a 180 degree one, the plugs are now Autolites 3923's, I've put on MSD 8.5mm wires, as well as a brass Napa Premium Dist. Cap and Rotor. I've also tossed in a Mopar Performance circular air cleaner, and I've got Mopar Performance valve covers and a Mopar Performance stand alone breather on order. I literally just replaced the exhaust this weekend with a Flowmaster 40 Series Delta Flow muffler, 2.5" in, and dual 2.5" out with 18" angle cut tips. Oh yeah, and I've got Synth fluids running through pretty much everything.

To the question... Even BEFORE all of these mods, I figured with a 360 I'd have more baseline power. I figured I'd be able to spin the tires out from the stand still, and yet I couldn't. So... thus began the mods to add power. Even with all these mods I STILL can't spin the tires out, and I still feel like I'm missing out on some low end torque. I've heard of the Death Flash, but I haven't seen any sticker that say anything about an Authorized Reprogramming anywhere under my hood. I'll soon be ordering the 52mm TB, but I'd still like to think this engine should be producing a lot more power and yet she isn't. So... any takers? I'm guessing I'm going to have to get a reprogrammer, but I mean... if it DOESN'T have the DF (unless they never put on a sticker), I'm a little disappointed...

Chad.

RE: New Truck
 

Can you power brake it? Mine with 33"s and 4:10s will power brake easily without power braking it will sometimes spin the tires if you just nail the gas but sometimes it will catch and just take off. I have a Edlebrock air hat, MSD wires, and a Flowmaster exhaust. I think thats basically sums up my preformance mods. When I first put these new 33"s on it wouldn't powerbrake anymore but is back to where it will and the tires arn't worn down that much so I don't know why it wouldn't do it before.


Have you checked the plenium gasket? That could be bad causing a loss of power. I don't know what else to tell you. You have to consider how heavy these trucks are also. They arn't light like a Mustang or Civic or something like that.

RE: New Truck
 

I bet its death flashed, I have a pretty good thing to compare them to...

I have 2 frineds both with durangos, both with 360's same gearing, same tires...
One will EASILY light the tires up from a dead stop, with out brakes, the other wont even squak them.

The one that will light them up is NOT death flashed, and the one that will is death flashed... Keep in mind both are stock.

Durangos and rams should be pretty close.

RE: New Truck
 

You got a limited-slip in the tail?

RE: New Truck
 

how mANY miles are on the truck also?

RE: New Truck
 

Actually, I'm not sure about the limited slip... It maybe... but I'm not positive. As for the plenum gasket, I'm not sure. I had the timing chain replaced, and the gasket there, as well as the serp. belt replaced. Not sure about the plenum gasket though. I see no leaks or anything of that sort while examinig the engine. I just find that the take off, heavy truck or not, is just exceptionally poor. The cat isn't clogged, was something that was checked out when the new exhaust went on. I'm guessing the rear diff will have something stamped into it saying whether it's limited slip or not?

Thanks,
Chad.

RE: New Truck
 

Umm... Going off memory here, but it's about 178,000 km's, which is just about 110,000 miles

RE: New Truck
 

so theres no sticker on the pcm located under the hood on the firewall on the passenger side?? i'd still get a hypertech programmer.. that'd really help.. and im pretty sure you just have 3.55 gears so 4.10's would REALLY help..

RE: New Truck
 

I'll look again, but I did take a look when I replaced the intake simply because I was already fearing a DF once I started to notice a lack in power.

I'm eventually planning to lift the truck, and throw on larger tires, so regearing to 4.10 would be worth it then, hrm? Guess I better check into that. Being 4wd, I'm guessing the front and rear have to be done? I'm also going to assume this is a rather expensive thing to do?

Chad.

RE: New Truck
 

yup front and back.. the gears will be only about 400 total for the set.. but labor will kill ya

yeah regearing will really help.. i have 3.55's.. and from just jumping from a 33 to a 35 inch tire i really noticed a loss in power.. but now im just used to it.. i know if i were to get 4.10's i'd think i have the fastest truck around