I have a 1998 Dodge Ram and I'm looking to do some "minor" modifications such as hypertech programmer and exhuast. What brands or products should I use? Can I just go with a 40 series flowmaster muffler and be alright? What about JET versus hypertech? any other ideas for some power mods for a low price? Money is really a big issue here

thanks

Donald


:beer: :usa:

Last I heard Hypertech does not make anything for the Ram. The Jet chips have been used with mixed results, most folks see the performance gains, but the chip itself has issues with sealing against the factory PCM. Most folks prefer the Mopar Performance PCM, but that requires premium fuel.

AS for exhasut, the Performance UNlimited headers (made by Mike Leach and identical to the Mopar Perforamcne headers) are one of the more popular, along with the Edlebrock TES setup. JBA and Gibson headers are nice also.

Car-Sounds and Random Technology make high flow cats (car-sounds being the least $$) and the Flowmaster 40 series is nice and loud. My short Magnaflow is nice as well. Very mellow until the cat blows out (I have timing issues right now) and then it is nice and loud.

can I get away with putting just the 40 series muffler on and not replacing any pipe or anything else? Does the Dodge come stock with 2.5 inch pipe? I think I'm going to go with the mopar pcm. what kind of HP gains could I expect if I put on the Mopar PCM, throttle body spacer, and exhaust? I already have my K&N filter

Donald

You can go with the Flowmaster by itself. Won't give you much in the of power, more sound than anything. The cat is still the most restrictive part. Yes, the pipe is 2.5".

Do NOT buy a throttle body spacer. They do not do anything for a MPI engine like the Ram has, especially with such long factory intake runners. Any "gains" from a spacer are long gone before the air hits the intake valves.

Not sure what kind of numbers the Mopar PCM gives, but most do feel the difference and swear by the upgrade.

I just read that the Mopar PCM is not good if you are going to pull a trailer. It didn't go into any detail about why, but I will be pulling a small horse trailer. Is this because it changes the shift points?

thanks for all of the info


:beer:

Has to do with shift points, timing settings and the peak of the power band. If you keep the factory PCM, it is only 2 bolts and 3 connectors that you mess with and you can easily swap them back and forth.

Light towing on occasion should be okay though.

If you want the low down on all the engine mods, look over at DTO (http://www.dodgetrucks.org) they are mostly into the sport trucks, but they have a good sense of what does what and how to get what you are looking for.

I noticed a good difference when i swaped to a magnaflow muffler, but then i did get the cat replaced with a cat-sound at the same time (great cat for ya money, i think.. have one in my ram and volvo). But still, i orignally had pulled the stock muffler, and threw on a glass pack, and it gave me a nice litttle boost.. but the cat helped the most so far.. next up for me is headers and gears.. kinda scarry, i hit the grapevine unloaded, and he pedal is to the floor and i am stuck at 75... does the same thing goin over 152 also

I think I'm going to start with flowmaster exhaust and the stage one JET chip. I finally got the landcruiser running good enough to be able to play with the Dodge for awhile.