Hey everyone! Just found this site and read some really good ideas/suggestions/facts. I'm currently driving a 2004 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L and would like some ideas on upgrading the perfomance (HP) and possibly the gas mileage. Read a couple of the suggestions but couldn't scan through all the messages...so I thought I would just ask again!!!! I see upgrading the exhaust (cat-back system) and K&N cold air induction system would work. What are some of the better (stainless steel) exhuast systems? Also, I only have 9,000 miles and the engine compartment is filthy. Will the K&N system with the open cone filter last??? I don't think I'll upgrade the chip yet. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Also...very interesting how easy it is to steal one of these things. What's a good aftermarket alarm?

 

a good aftermarket alarm? A switch on the fuel pump will do fine..but theres several car alarm companies out there.

A K&N fiter PERIOD (no intake box) will net you some power. But now that it can breathe better, it has to have better exhaust..i think most people have stainless flowmaster cat backs.

 

I agree with magnethead on the K&N. But, I don't think flowmaster makes any stainless steel mufflers or cat-back systems. I could be wrong though.

If you want stainless steel I would go with one of these three: Borla, Magnaflow, JBA.

I ordered the JBA single exit cat-back. Once it gets here I will put it on. All three of those manufacturers offer a stainless steel single exit cat-back for around the same price if you look hard enough on the net. JBA doesn't offer the dual exits, I believe. So if you want duals, Borla and Magnaflow should offer them.

John

 

There's really not a single magic bullet for performance out there for the Hemi. Spending some time going thru all of these threads, it seems tough to get anyone to agree on the benefits of any one thing. A lot of guys have done CAI's of different types, some say they helped, some say it was a waste of $300...basically sounds better and a little performance boost, but not much. Same with exhaust. If you do exhaust, make sure it something that is specifically for the Hemi. Guys have oversized their system and actually lost bottom end torque (but rationalized that hey, it sounds better). While my exhaust is still stock, I've probably seen the most positive comments on the Flowmaster system (most on the 40)

Bottom line is to not expect the same big gains on the aftermarket stuff on this engine that you'd get on others. When you're starting with 1HP/CI stock, they've already done their homework pretty well at the factory. I completely agree that a good alarm is the place to start. You definately don't need to put all that new stuff into it for someone else, and from what I read, the non-Sentinel key systems are pretty easy to steal. If you've got the chip in the key (fatter gray vs. thinner black) those are pretty tough to get going.

As far as vendors, check out TruckXpressions. They are a sponsor, and I've bought a number of things from them. They always seem to have the best price and I've never had a problem yet with them. Good luck.

 

Mill500/Magnum V8/Magnethead,

Thanks for your input. I will definitely use the advice!

Cheers

 

....thats true...i read somewhere that somone had called tech guys at both Flowmaster and Magnaflow to discuss performance with Cat-Backs: They said that the worst way to run them is dual straight out the rear end, it looks sexy and sounds mean but it also loses low end power/torque. The most efficient way is to go 3" SI/SO with a side exit (not sure if it makes a difference before or after the wheel)...

 

I've been keeping an eye on this thread and another thread about true duals. How can you determine how much back pressure you can lose before you start losing HP and torque? Personally, I like true duals, but I don't think I'm willing to sacrifice performance. I was looking at dropping flowmaster true duals on within two weeks and I'm gettin really nervous reading some of these threads. I could really use some advice. Sounding good is nice and all but I'd prefer performance over the knowledge that I have true duals.
So basically, I'm asking, how do I find out if I can run true duals, and if so, I obviously need to figure out pipe diameter and such.