Ha - Aren't we all looking for more HP...

Seriously though I need some help.

Here is what I have:

5.7L '09 Hemi 1500 SLT Crew Cab 4x4 with Ram Boxes
K&N Cold Air Intake
3.55 rear axle
20" wheels
Total load control air suspension kit with onboard compressor. (In my garage, to be installed soon)
55,000 KMs - Full synthetic oil since day 1.
Stock tires and wheels (I think tires are close to done)
Aftermarket Alpine ceiling mounted DVD for the kids.
Between $10K and $18K to spend.

Here is what I do with my truck:

Daily driver and tow a 32 foot camper (approx 5,500 lbs). I don't race and I don't offroad.


Here is what I want:

More HP.
Better towing power (One way to get this comes from more HP but I believe there are other ways too).

I want it to be an absolute beast under the hood. (I know I may need to spend more than my $10K to $18K to get that, but let's start somewhere.)

Here's what I don't have:

- Any experience upgrading engines / trans / electrical etc.
- Any idea who to go to in Toronto to install performance upgrades.
- Any idea what kind of Supercharger to get. (although I do think I should get one.)
- Any idea of what else I should / must upgrade if I put a SCharger on.

Tell me what you'd do, what brand(s) and why.

Cheers -

KDubya

 

Towing power comes from torque, not HP.

If anything - have gears replaced with 3.92 and then leave it alone. Spending 10-18K is insane and at 5500lbs, you are no where near the tow capacity of the truck even with the 3.55 gears.

 

I should have been more clear - I don't have any problem I am trying to solve. My truck has plenty of HP and tows my trailer just fine.

I just want more.

KDubya

 

Stroker time! Lol

 

4.56 gears, supercharger, beefed up tranny.

Or just buy a 2nd gen CTD for cash.

 

Nah - 6.4 crate motor. No mechanical skills, money falling from ***, no need for any additional power - the perfect solution.


Seriously though - trade the truck in on a diesel. More power that you don't need but at least you'll have a warranty when you are done.

 

Don't need a new truck or a warranty old jeep but thanks for coming out.

Looks like a superC and new rear end are the place to start. Exhaust upgrade too perhaps?

Thanks all!
KDubya

 

I think your gonna be spending more then 10-18 for the power that it sounds like you want. You have a gasser man, your gonna be putting crazy amounts of money in to get anywhere, even then its not going to be that much.

I agree with old jeep, sell that thing and go out and get a CTD. Just by tuning alone your gonna gain close to 200HP, but the big thing is TORQUE. I can tell you right now with spending just under 2 grand to do my exhaust and tuner, I have picked up more power then you can with 10k. Not trying to be a snob, but that is the power of a diesel.

You say you pull a 32ft trailer? I am sorry to say it, but a stock diesel is gonna pull circles around you. It's torque man, that is whats gonna help your case. What your thinking about doing is gonna give you more of a race truck. If you put a supercharger kit on, ya your gonna gain big HP but only 80-100lbs of torque max, only bringing you up to around 500. The new 6.7s will put out 800 stock with the auto tranny. The old 5.7 will put out just about the same stock as your hemi is gonna with the upgrades. Not to mention its MUCH easier to gain #s on a diesel then on a gas. Why do you think travelling on the highway, you see diesels pulling HUGE fifth wheels at 120k an hour? Cause they can.

Sorry there man for the speech, but I think your gonna be unhappy once you drop 20k in, and the diesels will still out pull you stock. JMOH...

 

Thanks Nate - I hear you and old jeep, it's just I don't tow enough to warrant building or buying a tow machine. Most of the time I'm just driving kids around town.

What I'm hoping to do is add some HP to liven up the daily drive and make a few changes to improve the towing a bit. I get that my truck will never out tow a CTD, but it doesn't have to.

I'm just trying to figure out what I can do with what I got to maybe move both the HP and torque up a notch with the reality of how I drive in mind.
Cheers - KDubya

 

I'm with Cmerritt on this one. Although re-gearing to 4.56s don't increase HP or Torque on paper, they get the engine into it's RPM bandwidth "sweet-spot" sooner, giving your butt-dyno the impression that both HP and Torque are increased.

There is NO substitute for a CTD for low end grunt, but the 4.56 gearing in a gasser will pull better than the same engine with 3.55 gearing. I went from 3.92s to 4.56s when I went from stock height & tires to 35" tires on my 3rd Gen and the difference was night/day.

You may also find you'll get a tad better fuel economy in town and while towing, although heavy interstate use will yield slightly worse MPG than your stock gears.

Re-gearing to numerically higher gears isn't for everyone, but if you use your truck for pulling and/or go to larger diameter tires, they are a very beneficial mod...