Hello everyone. I am new to the forum and was hoping to get some advice. I have had my Charger SRT8 for a couple of months and would like to "beef it up." Not that it needs it, however I have always wanted a "muscle car" to have fun with and to make that much faster. I truly do not know much about performance parts and what they do and I am literally lost when someone speaks of putting a chip in, K&N filters, intakes & exhausts, and supercharging. Nonetheless, part of the fun is learning about what the performance parts do and seeing the difference they make once installed. Any recommendations on brands superchips, superchargers, intake & exhaust, filters and how they will increase the performance is appreciated.

Thanks,
The Rookie

 

Hello Guy,

Welcome to the forum ! We're fortunate to be able to exchange all sorts of technical and non technical observations from around the country & internationally. You've got alot to catch up on, so I'll suggest you settle in and start browsing through the threads from past dates. Alot of great information and views back there.

To answer your question, I'll start by stating the obvious:

Your engine is just an air pump. Better the flow out, the better the flow in, add to this options such as forced air, enriched fuels and more efficient programming and you have a better operating pump.

Exhaust out.. well alot has been said about the manufacture engineering of your unit. I will advise you to save your money on an after-market exhaust. The SRT has a flow through system to begin with. Your unlikely to make substantial improvements by purchasing a Cat back system. ( I did btw.. I purchased the Borla performance system. No huge difference to mention.) I will however recommend you *Immediately* go to your exhaust service professional, and have him cut out the resonator, (the suitcase muffler directly under the back seat floorboard, and have him make you a set of true dual exhaust. For sound and moderate performance improvements it is well worth the appox. 50 bucks to have it done. (If you want loud.. look for the post "Open headers at a flip of the switch". I love the units I have on mine, as I have the choice of ground pounding loud.. or the tuned sound of my Borla exhaust.)

Cold Air intake. An exceptional investment. I suggest you get a good fabricator to bring your cold air up from the bottom of your front spoiler. Some will argue about potential water during a storm, but with an effective installation you can bring maximum cool pressured air into your system. Add to this your throttle body extentions and you should get the best possible air that is not otherwise forced air.

Flash Paq Programming. We've had some mixed success with this product. I say Mixed success because some versions of the programming have been slightly less effective than others. it appears that SuperChips is moving forward with updates to focus the options to better perform in our 5.7 & 6.1. I myself have had exceptional good luck with the unit and updates. Shifting harder, much better midrange performance, and the options of rev, speed & tire size adaptation is very nice. For the price I believe its well worth it.

If your going to use your unit for competitive performance, there is a whole other list of options to choose from. For the everyday driver, I'll suggest you stick with the Cold Air Intake, Throttle Body extention, Chopped Resonator, Flash Paq from SuperChips and the Syntex from castrol oil.

Good luck Guy !! Enjoy your beast and be safe out there.

Brian, AKA Daytona Beast

 

"Open headers at the flip of a switch"

I saw this mod on a web site.

Can a muffler shop install them?
Did you isntall headers or just this off the stock manifolds?
Does it increase preformance?
Does cutting out the resonators do anything for preformance?

Also great information you supplied!!

 

Welcome to the forum.

I have the Daytona Charger with the humble 5.7 engine. The 6.1 is only 25 cubic inches more, but the SRT people pumped up the compression ratio and other internals to make it 75 HP more, put on wider tires and wheels, more braking power, and tweaked the engine computer to get the RPM's up.

If I were you, I'd take it SLOW. I made a $700 mistake by jumping into a Magnaflow exhaust system that wasn't needed -- it is especially annoying when the MDS kicks in (the engine runs on 4 cylinders), and I have had to modify my purchase. You don't have the MDS system in your 6.1. But here again, go slow -- the system I put on isn't much better than the stock system. So to me the purchase was not wise. You also have factory shorty headers and a bigger exhaust system already.

The cold air intake (CAI), seems to be popular and will give you more air, but get some cool air to the intake to take. Be careful not to get direct air to it if it is wet (rain). Most guys are getting 1-3 MPG improvements.

I have a Jet Stage 2 chip, but for twice the price you can get a programmer -- but some computers are not keeping the programming, so they are having to reprogram once in awhile. The jury is out as to which is better for the money.

You don't really have much to do for most driving applications. Again, please heed my advise and spend your money wisely my boy!

Enjoy that SRT -- you've got a very well engineered car already...

 

Thanks for the input and am excitred to make some changes. I appreciate the advice and the information, as it has help simplify my questions. Once the chages are made I will let you know how it goes...thanks again.

Guyver

 

Thanks for th info in regards to the exhaust, cool air intake, and Jet Stage 2 chip. So other than the Magnaflow exhaust it seems that you are happy with the other upgrades?

Guyver

 

Yes, the K&N and the Jet chip seem fine. I wanted to lower the car SLIGHTLY but the Daytona has the self-leveling system and seems it can't be messed with unless you replace it. Actually I like the Magnaflow rear tips, but I was shocked when a M/F rep didn't really give a s--- about my situation: "Yeah, we know it humms...". Hmm. Live and learn. I just wanted to WARN people about the Daytona having a discounted exhuast system on it and that the STOCK system is quite formatible.

My boys want me to put 22s on it, but I like the 18s and the 20s to me wouldn't make much difference for the $2,400 I'd have to spend. My wife refuses to ride around in a pimp car... and that's not the look I want.

Until the engine issue (putting 6.1 heads on the 5.7 for more power) is settled and headers (would use the bigger headers for the 6.1 heads) I might put on a stock SRT hood and paint it GoMango and redecal it. Or a GOOD aftermarket hood.

Anyway, that's just my thoughts.