Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Lets talk mods

[DBeeman]

My truck is just about out of warranty, and I have been thinking of the things that I want to do. I am starting with the Air Dog system to protect my new VP44, along with a fuel gauge. Next will likely be a new exhaust a 4" aluminized from Summit Racing (less than $300), then I will begin looking into improving the transmission, probably start with a new torque converter, and then decide whether to buy a built transmission, or just upgrade the one I have (I am not planning on going overboard on the power side, want fuel economy). I also need to upgrade the air intake, and of course I will need more gauges. This truck has 70K miles on it, hasn't towed nearly as much as I would have liked to, but I want to be driving it when it has 500K on it. After I get everything in place then I will look at boosting the performance. I know that this can be a pretty slippery slope, and that it definitely can have a snowball effect, but I feel it is a moral imperative.



Dave

 

[KLockliear]

Question 1 is what HP do you want to end up at. Answer that and the rest will come from there.

 

[DBeeman]

I am thinking between 100 and 200 more HP eventually. I have been looking at DTT and Sun Coast, I am going to have to do a lot of saving.

 

[DCreed]

try this guy, I bought 2 systems from him and you will be impressed!eBay Motors: 4" 304 Stainless Exhaust Sys 94-02 Dodge 5. 9L Cummins (item 320260611791 end time Jun-18-08 19:00:00 PDT)

 

[KLockliear]

OK, so rule of thumb (for me) is to take your high number, add 25% and work to that power level. For your truck, that would be to shoot for 210 (stock) + 200 + 50 = 460hp.



Easily obtainable with common mods.



1. Edge Juice/Attitude. For your truck, it has the fuel pressure gauge built in - so save your money on a stand-along gauge. You will need more fuel than the stock fuel lines and pump will supply, so go ahead with that Air Dog. I've never used one, but make sure they say it's good for 500rwhp.



2. 4" (or bigger) exhaust.



3. Good flowing airbox. Something like the AFE Mega Cannon or similar).



4. Injectors. A set of Stage 3 (100hp) Jammers would do the trick nicely.



5. Turbo Upgrade. Personally, I like the Bell WSB. I have one in my garage for my next truck. Right now I have the Edge BB turbo from back in the day. There are plenty of things in the 800CFM range out there... but I haven't tried many others. I'd call Lenny at DynoMite Diesel if I had to find something today.



6. Fix the trans. This probably should have been #4, but any good trans shop will want the truck to have all the power you're going to put to it, so they can set it up to take that power and drive the best with it. That said, I'd do the power first, and drive it easy with the box turned down until I could get it in for the trans work.



That's all it really takes. The rest is gravy. That setup there will make 450+ to the ground in your truck, be driveable as the day is long, and tow like a monster turned down to around 375hp (Juice down on 1 or 2).



Have fun. The bug bites hard.