I just bought a 2002 Dodge 1500 quad cab 4wd with a 4.7 in it. The motor has only 5,000 miles on it and I would like to put it out to the community for help. I am looking at boosting the performance of my truck and open to any ideas that can be thrown at me. This includes all of the drive train.

 

Well you can start with the basics. Cat back exhaust and a tuner. If you want to go past that then I suggest you check out Airram.com, he specializes in 4.7 engine power adders and his prices/support is excellent...

 

Honestly, you aren't gaining much with exhaust and CAI... except a lot of noise. Unless you race at full throttle, the engine doesn't make much use of it. Even at that, the best of systems may only get you 20 HP to the road at the extreme best (wide open throttle).
The tuner I found to only help a bit with mileage (when used in tow mode), was better in performance mode but sucked gas. This was on my previous 04 4.7 truck... similar to yours. And similar results with current Hemi truck (with exhaust and CAI)
Overall, you have a 6000lb truck with a small HP engine (235 or so). You lose lots in the auto tranny (if you have that). To make big noticeable gains on this engine you need to turbo it. That's big bucks if you can find one, plus reprogramming the computer and other changes.
you can also do mild cam upgrades, intake manifold and injectors. At that time there was a High Output 4.7L in Jeeps, most the parts bolt on/in. You won't get 100% to HO status, but close. It will require premium fuel though...
If you change your axle gears, you'll get a bigger difference in seat of the pants... provided you go with 4:56's. Your truck has 3.93 or 3.55's stock. 4:10's will not see a big difference for the money spent. Since you are a 4x4, both axles need to be done. More seat of the pants grunt (acceleration), poorer top speed and poorer highway mileage....
It really depends on what you want to get out of it, and what you want to do with the truck.
The site a previous poster mentioned I think sells or can recommend parts to do most of these mods.

 

Gears and a tuner are going to give you the biggest gains without getting into cams and headwork.

 

i would pull the heads and put some new cams in it. Its not hard, just alot of stuff to move. just make sure b4 u pull the timing chain off the v8 marks on the cam gears are at the 12oclock position.

 

Cheap noticeable improvements can be had with a power wire, torque management trick, one free, one 50cents definately exhaust and cai make it sound more powerful.
I stepped up from that same truck 6 months ago, I wish I had kept for my son.

 

Roughly how much hp gained from a power wire and the TM trick? Thinkin im gonna do that soon.

 

Not sure how much really, but the TM trick could be felt in the seat.
I never got around to installing my power wire, but it only works at WOT anyway.

Another performance improvement for these 4.7's would be an E-Fan.