96 Ram man

You started hopping the engine up?
I've done the 3k gsk kit, timing set to 16.5, and a 100 fuel plate along with gauges. I think it's got more power, but the gov springs allowed it to rev higher which is the nicest thing. No more getting run over on the freeway.
Since adding the fuel plate, if I mash down on the peddle, boost pegs out at 30 plus and egt's shoot past 1200, probably to 1300 and beyond. Don't remember, just knew I had to let off the pedal.

I have an auto tranny so not sure how much that eats in the way of power.

I have an open stock exhaust and a stock air box.

Thoughts?
John

1stGen545

New TC and valve body and temp gauge. With a 5spd and 4k gsk I can peg a 1600* in just a few seconds at 40psi but with my valet switch I can set it to not go over 25psi and 1000*. It makes it nice towing.

thewished

Whoa Whoa!! Get an intake and your EGT's will drop a lot. It will give it a little more pep especially at the starting line. Have fun

fordkiller43

You should hear 1stGen545's truck at 3800 rpm!!!!

95dodgectd

well with my truck i dynoed it with a 0 plate full forward and no air filter just open turbo, and i gained 100 i went to 256whp and i had a dirty fuel filter and slipping tranny. and now my truck is timed to 15.5* and i have a clean fuel filter and the tranny slips alot more and i have a full 4" exhaust straight all the way back. i gained 4lbs of boost from the bigger exhaust alone so im deff making over 300rwhp i would imagine you can't be too far from that mark. but take care of the tranny now if you can. a vb and tq converter will help you greatly.

95dodgectd

oh the night i changed my fuel filter my boost went from a peak of 25, to 37 and my egt's never got past 1100 this was before it was timed. now with the timing and the fuel filter, i can't even hit 1100 on the pyro. i also can't hit 37psi anymore but thats becuase when i lock my converter my engine blows right thru it cause my converter is almost completely gone now.

96 Ram man

For an intake would an AFE Stage 1 serve or should I be looking at a stage 2 with new intake tube, or something else?
I have the 100 plate set mid-way and the AFC housing also set midway.
Tranny upgrades will have to wait until I can save some money up.
There is a seller on eBay that has alumunized 4 or 5" exhaust for $300 plus 65 shipping; turbo back. I'm cat-less but it's still there in appearance. so the 3 or 3.5" exhaust freeflows though I'm sure it's not moving as much air as a larger system would.
This is a daily driver and I wanted to give it a little pep to make it fun. It doesn't take off sideways but has a lot more giddy up go than it did.
John

crucescrawler

If you are low on cash and are lookin for a cheap way to get some more air, do a search on this site for the BHAF (Big Honkin' Air Filter). Alot of folks run this monster air filter and have a noticeable increase of a little somethin' more happening under the hood...there is also a template for a shroud to catch the cooler air on this site too...

Lil Dog

BHAF is a decent option if you keep it dry. Cost effective for more air no doubt. I ran it for a year or two before I went to another system. The intake tubes on the "advanced stages" of the air systems really aren't all they are cracked up to to be IMHO... The stock air tube does fine.

A cat-less 3" stock system is good for about 250-275 hp without being too much of a hinderance. 4" are worth the money, 5" are not...

Your tranny is going to be the limiting factor more than anything at this point.

96 Ram man

Ok, thanks guys. Looks like an AFE stage 1 is in my immediate future followed by tranny work. I was hoping for that to wait until I ate this one.
I took the filter out of the stock air box (purolator with foam) before leaving work this afternoon. On the drive home, the egt's never got over 900, and the turbo whine was loud and clear. Now to find a filter that can deliver that kind of air delivery.
I'm still having an issue with boost being too high when I mash the pedal. Actually I don't have to mash the pedal. I seem to be able to get half pedal movement before boost pegs out so back out. If I increase speed slowly, it's not a problem.
My thermostat may not be working well as it's never registered 190.
My auto trans temp doesn't even get warm on the drive to or from work. Then again it was only 30 degrees out this morning.
I'm running a 100 plate.
John

kas83

Check out the Torque Tube to go along with the Stage 1. I put it on my 95 with a BHAF, very nice improvement, and the Stage 1 is better than the BHAF. The Stage 2 is a very nice unit, I have one on my 97. I got it way under new cost, still in the box, and couldn't pass it up.

CmminsBeast

You better start that savings for tranny parts, or if ya got the bomb bug and plan to keep adding power, your best bet is to just get the whole tranny now(well when ya can). If you drive hard now, your current tranny is well on it's way to being a core. Mine lasted long enough for me to get a new tranny. That was the best improvement so far for me. Next, turbo and injectors.....

96 Ram man

Ok, Stage 1 or Stage 2?
Pro Dry S, 7. or 5? the dry S is an in between supposedly without the need to oil.
The stock intake turbo hose seems large enough on these. Maybe on later years, they're not, but on my 96 I don't see how a larger or baffleless tube is going to make much of a difference.
I'd like to get the same air flow as the stock box without a filter. Seems the box isn't the hindrance but the filter is. I understand that replacing the paper filter with an AFE one, still won't flow that much air due to limited filter size, hence the upgrade to their Stage 1.
At what point do you move to a Stage 2?
John
ps on the way into work this morning it sounded like I sucked a leaf up a vacuum. I was only at half throttle just starting to play with the toy cars in my way. Made it into work but no fun factor and no boost. My meter pegs out at 30 so not sure how much I was hitting it with. I blew the lower intake boot off where it comes out of the intercooler. Phooey! Better than blowing a headgasket though.
John

kas83

I like the Pro Dry myself. With the pre-filter. Don't have to worry about over or under-oiling it. I noticed a difference with the Torque Tube over the stock hose with the BHAF, and will be upgrading to a Stage 1 on that truck when funds allow.