Ok I know there are a lot of threads on mods but these questions that I have are specific to me.

I have a stock 08 hemi and would like to mod it over time and get it up to about 450hp. I read on this site that 450hp is about as high that you would want to go before needing to replace and strengthen certain part of the drivetrain; is this right? I want the most for my dollar and therefore don't really want to spend money on things that I don't have to. I'm in high school now and going to be going to college in just under two years so money is something that I want to spend wisely.
Another key factor that effects my decision on mods is if the mod will void a major or common part of my warranty. By the way I have the lifetime and extended warranty.
If some of you guys have some of the basic bolt on mods about how much hp are you running and how much did it cost? I was planning on a K&N cai, something to open up the exhaust, and a DiabloSport Tuner. What hp would this bump me up to, roughly?
Thanks for reading and helping in advanced.

 

tuner: 11-24 HP
CAI:4-13 HP
Cat back exhaust: 3-12 HP

To get 450 TO THE WHEELS...or even to the crank you are going to have to do mods that void your warranty no way around it. You will either have to open up the motor and do some cam and head work, or buy a supercharger system.

If you want a fast truck buy an older ram not under warranty and drop in a big block.
Or save you precious $$ and buy a SRT-10

Our Hemis are powerful, and are faster than most regular trucks . But they are not built for speed.

 

The 345hp that they quote the hemi is at the crank, correct? Well basing it off of that would slightly more than 400hp be more realistic with bolt-on mods, still trying to maintain the warranty. Thanks.

 

with all good top quality bolt ons and a dyno tune you could see 400 at the crank. no where near to the wheels. some stock hemis are dynoing at a mere 250 rwhp.

 

stock hemi puts down about 270 to the ground....just doing some bolt on mods would get you close to say 350 to the ground...headers, full exhaust, CAI, programmer, e fan etc...

 

would changing the torque converter help get more power to the ground, or is it the internals in the tranny that are inefficient? two things on my to do list are gears and torque converter...just wondering.

 

Yes it would, However it would void your warranty... I don't think gears really increase HP, Just move it.

 

That's a pretty close estimation, I've got all of the above and dyno about 15 RWHP more than it did at the crank when stock. I'm hoping to be in the 400 neighborhood at the wheels after the cam and custom tunes...

 

I think a better torque converter and different gear set would help you get more of that power to the wheels. don't overlook the driveshaft either. A lighter driveshaft, possibly carbon fiber, would help you get more of that power down to the wheels. Less rotating mass = better power transfer.