I agree with the majority of the above, but will float this out of experience.
You'll be driving this truck while you're performing/saving for these mods. If you are my age/build/arthitic you might want to consider the nerf bars as your first "mod"...
If you're planning on having them on the 'final' truck, might as well get them off the bat... I'm 5'10, but was born with some major defects to the feet/knees, so I know what the 50-60some crowd feels like... Nerf bars are a God-send. Might as well be comfortable while you're working on the rest of the truck.

Now, as for exhaust, I'd skip buying a muffler... Buy a good high-flow y-pipe and yank your factory muffler.. Just run the resonator as the muffler... you'll get the bad-A sound and still keep enough back pressure to keep your torque where it needs to be.
Get some gears, chip it up, and have fun.

 

I wouldnt know where to begin with the leveling kit i like the way my truck sits so I cant help you there, but as far as the exhaust goes they do make the cat-back system for the Ram using the super 40's wich Ill admitt does sound sick but the 50 HD sounds good too they're just alot mellower and less crisp as the super 40's. The only problem is that Ive heard about the super 40's is that more and more people end up taking them off after a while cause they are just get too loud after bit and trust me when you go on a long trip and thats all you can hear it can start to annoy you so get something that you know sounds good that you can live with. As for me Im getting my exhaust installed on Saturday Its a Borla Cat-Back System which is gonna cost me roughly $749+ installed. I love the way it sounds it has that real throaty sound mixed with the high performance growl, its sweet! Plus its made from a Higher Quality steel than the others and the specs Ive seen from it are un arguable but to each his own

 

Arrowman summed it up pretty well. My first mod was the nerf bars too. Not sure what kind of lift you're looking for, but if you're only looking to make it level, crank your trosion bar adjusters. The re-indexed keys will get you more lift, but will put strain on your CV's beyond 2.5"s of lift and you can almost get that from your stock components, at the very least you will be able to level it out stock. Adding longer shocks is gonna be necessary, especially if you intend to go offroad. Most people seem to like the Bilstein shocks. There are several threads about them here, and on the other dodge truck forums. I've seen them on E-bay for pretty reasonable prices too.

I've got a CAI and no exhaust mods yet, seems all it does is make more noise IMO.
I have a Superchips programmer, and you're right, to get better performance you're gonna have to run 91 and up octane. It does allow the use of 87 octane without damaging your motor, but you can pretty much run 87 without it anyway. If you're towing, put 89 or 91 in it to keep the knock down. Run 89 in the summer regardless, unless you have the tuner installed.

 

get ur exhaust first yes.....I went with a gibson super truck catback and really like it. Its sounds good and gets good power. I was going to go with the flowmaster but u know everyones got em and I just wanted something different. I bought the hypertech programmer, KN cold air intake, PaceSetter longtubes. If you really want some noticable power, ZEX make a good nitrous setup for the Hemi for about 600. I have it on 75shot but can be set up to 150. These are just some ideas for you.

 

thx for the feedback -

RAMAGAIN,

What did you mean by "The re-indexed keys will get you more lift, but will put strain on your CV's beyond 2.5"s of lift "

I really want to do this the right way and not damage anything - is buying a leveling kit and new shocks not the right way to go?

Lots of folks say crank the torsion bars and add shocks, but im not sure how difficult this is? Should i pay for someone to do this or really should just do it myself cuz its that easy?

I really want the look of a level ride - for some reason i hate how much the front end dips in the front. Once it is level and the tires are worn ill probably replace them with a bigger set -

deep down i'd love a large lift kit, but the impact on gas with the larger tires and lift (and the fact that I never will go offroading is pushing me to a leveling kit)


also - stupid question, but why use 89 in the summer?

 

for those of you who do the light mods...CAI, CatBack... also should have a very cheap, but very effective mod that works with those two....that is a Y-pipe...the stock one is way too restrictive, I know this because I had a custom fabbed Y-pipe (40.00 parts n labor) installed and it really makes the truck perform sssoooo much better.... trust me...best $40.00 I've ever spent...

 

Just ordered my super 40, their suppose to install in first thing tommorow morning - ill let you guys know how i like it -


thanks for all the feedback!


Boyd

 

cheffred - i didnt see your last post - im getting a dual exhaust put it with that super 40, where does the y-pipe sit that your referring to?


Boyd

 

Does superchips make a tuner for 05 ram 4.7L?

 

I think the Superchips tuner only goes up to the 03' 1500 for the 4.7L