PITBULL

Hey everybody, newbie here. I don't own a Cummins Ram yet but I'm working on changing that soon

Anyway, I'm looking at getting a 2004.5-2005 Ram and of course am looking forward to BOMBing the heck out of the motor, but I'm new to diesels and Rams and have a few questions.

1. In setting my goal for the final HP of my truck....how much is too much...not really in terms of money but in terms of being practical and fun to drive every day? is 500 rwhp too much or can I go as high as say, 700-800 rwhp?

2. I'm going for the 6 speed because it seems to be the more durable of the drivetrains, and less expensive to upgrade to handle more power. I haven't decided on whether or not to go 4x4 though. I would like to have it but how durable is the transfer case on the 2004.5+ trucks?

3. Is $10k enough of a budget to get a 3rd gen Ram into the 500-800 HP range?

Hey thanks in advance and hope to be hanging out here more in the future.

Kyle Graham

Depends who you buy your parts from on the money issue. Welcome to the site my daily driver is just under 600 rwhp. That is plenty for daily driving as you could imagine and yes the six speed for durability is the way to go clutches are alot cheaper than built auto's only downside is the if you wan't to run in the quarter auto is the only way to go and 4wd to get traction unless you want to tub the truck and run slicks

Gary C

welcome to the board, I have been thinking of boosting my power, 360 rwhp is plenty to tow 10k for me right now in the flatlands,,, would like twins and more to get to 550 hp safely,,, I am waiting a while longer for other manufactures of power to come out with their products,,, I would really hate for someone to come out with something six months down the road after I have done the mods... I just want a trouble free mini monster... an adjustable box makes for a streetable truck

Just remember, there is always someone with more power...

Gypsyman

One of the nice things about these 3rd gen's is that you can make monster hp with just boxes and turbos. Crank up the power when you want to run hard and turn it down when you tow. I was a little leary of these new trucks when I switched up from my second gen but it sure is nice to not have to live with big injectors, smoke, and hard starting all the time. I tow with my TST set at 3x3 and no additional fuel pressure and when I want to put a hurtin' on someone just turn up the TST, throw the pressure to it and hang on.

Richard

Don M

Get a 03-04 vintage if you plan on high power levels. Its just easier.

The 05 will need an intercooler right off the abt, the ECM programming is harder to work around when compared to the 03-04, and the injectors are less desirable than the 03-04's to start with.

OTOH, you can make 500 with the 04.5 pretty easy with bolt on stuff.

Don~

Gypsyman

Don, what are you doing on here when you should be finishing those 3rd gen TST injectors!

local601

Is there a change in the intercooler and the injectors i didnt think there was any changes in the injectors from 03 to the 05's what other changes are there.

SuperSonic

The end tanks of the intercooler are made out of plastic on the 05's and are only reliable to about 40lbs. Don't know about injectors. Don?

Fred Swanson

I think what Don means is that the 05's are more of a challenge to make HP than the 03/04's,
and yes, the tanks are plastic, so an Intercooler is on your list to upgrade. I'd say you can go either way for tranny choices. Yes, initally the auto is more, but compared to dual disk clutches, it's not that much more. Again, keeping in mind the intended target for the truck.

Realistically, 500 for everyday driving is real fun. But then how much smoke do you want to see pulling away from a light in stop/go traffic. Add summer heat, if you are anywhere where it roasts.

Tom488

$10K is plenty for a 500HP budget, especially if you do the installations yourself. If you have a shop do it, you're still within budget, but close. Raise that by about $5K or so for a 600HP target. Anywhere beyond that just isn't feasible with a 3rd gen truck (for all practical purposes, at least).

I myself run an automatic, but from what I've read, driveability on a 6spd truck starts to take a turn for the worse when going much over 500HP. The clutches required for that power level tend to be very grabby, and can't really be slipped for slow-speed maneuvering (necessary for backing a trailer, for instance).

Fred Swanson

Oh, but you can't say that any longer. Peter's newer design is pure fun to drive, and the one I currently run is rated for 650HP. And backing a 9K trailer is as smooth as can be. With the new flywheel with insert, it allows the slippage necessary to do this.

Pedal effort is not much harder than stock, either. Of course, with the right hydraulics for the 3rd gen.

BigBlue

Everyone's version of streetable is different. I consider about 600 hp streetable. Whether it be in a 4x4 diesel or a big block chevelle. But that's just me and I'm a little on the extreme side.

KERMA

Newer injectors are different. Only 5 holes and ~20 degrees tighter spray angle for starters.

PITBULL

Thanks for all the replies! I most likely will start BOMBing with a filter or intake upgrade, along with a TST box.

After that I may upgrade the exhaust if it's necessary.

I definitely would like twins....sounds like PDR is a good source.

I have read through some of Don M's posts and looked at his website....after I get twins it sounds like some of his injectors would be a good way to top everything off after I upgrade the clutch.

For the type of driving I do most of the time and the fact that I don't often tow things....all in all it sounds like I should be shooting for 500-600 rwhp...at least in the short term.


A few more questions:
So the 2004.5 intercooler is good for about 40psi......at what point (boost wise) should I start looking at getting studs and o-ring work done?

What about a performance cam and cylinder head porting? Does anyone have dyno results for these on the 2004.5 and can comment on how these modifications affect normal driving?

I take it the 4x4 transfer case can handle gobs of power since I haven't read any posts of it failing in some of the higher HP trucks?

Thanks again for entertaining my questions....glad there are a lot of knowledgeable people on here.

N.Johnson

Buddies how about a laptop with software to change the ecm on the fly plus all the stock sensors displayed. No need to fool it/why should you? Just need to drill a pyro....so what do you think? would is sell or what? Remember the mad ecm dude?