Looking to get more power out of my stock 2004 3500
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Joined: Mar 2014
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From: NEW YORK/LONG ISLAND
Looking to get more power out of my stock 2004 3500
Ok guys got the green light from the boss/wify to spend some money,Looking get more power out of my stock> 2004 dodge 3500 4x4 cummins diesel turbo<,Only got 39k on this truck,So for you cummins diesel heads i need your help to get this truck to get up and go.I was thinking first cold air intake,Exhaust System and a chip.truck is all paid for.So i need your guys help to get my baby to get up and go.Thanks for your help.Joe
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Northern VA
Yep see above very good advice.
If you want more sound from the intake look up the Whillys Whistler or Home Depot intake mod, again increasing air flow is arguable but it will give you much more turbo sound. Exhaust can flow a lot more than people give it credit for, do you know if you have the 04.5 HO or the 04 SO? Exhaust is mainly for sound and that can be had by a simple muffler swap or straight pipe if you want it loud. (This is assuming you have the 4" exhaust, I haven't been around an 04 in a while but I believe it had 3.5" while the HO 4.5 had 4", look under if its 4" change only the muffler if you want more sound. If its 3.5" going to 4" or even 5" may be worth it.)
Lastly decide how far you want to go that way you only do it once, Smarty Sr for more later on as you mod or Smarty Jr if you just want to lightly mod and you will be happy.
At any rate gauges are a MUST.
Good luck.
If you want more sound from the intake look up the Whillys Whistler or Home Depot intake mod, again increasing air flow is arguable but it will give you much more turbo sound. Exhaust can flow a lot more than people give it credit for, do you know if you have the 04.5 HO or the 04 SO? Exhaust is mainly for sound and that can be had by a simple muffler swap or straight pipe if you want it loud. (This is assuming you have the 4" exhaust, I haven't been around an 04 in a while but I believe it had 3.5" while the HO 4.5 had 4", look under if its 4" change only the muffler if you want more sound. If its 3.5" going to 4" or even 5" may be worth it.)
Lastly decide how far you want to go that way you only do it once, Smarty Sr for more later on as you mod or Smarty Jr if you just want to lightly mod and you will be happy.
At any rate gauges are a MUST.
Good luck.
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From: NEW YORK/LONG ISLAND
Thanks guys been doing alot of research today and here is where i'm out so far .Please let me know if i'm doing good as of now,Looking at the Mads Smarty jr $450,K&N 57-1532 Fipk performance air intake system $250,Edge Products 83830 CTS Insight moniter 5 inch screen $349.Still looking for a stainless steel 5inch from the turbo back exhaust??How i'm i doing so far??
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Applegate, CA
You can do better...
First, stay away from anything K&N. It lets far too much dirt through. You are better off getting an Airraid or S&B drop in filter. Until you get to pushing a lot of air, the stock airbox is really pretty good. Until you upgrade the turbo, you won't be using the potential of what you have now.
The Smarty is a solid choice. I can't really speak to the CTS.
You will not want a 5 inch exhaust. With mostly stock parts otherwise, you'll actually lose performance (down low torque mostly) with a 5in. A 4" exhaust is plenty up to around the 700 hp range. You won't be getting there.
You don't mention what kind of tranny... if auto, you'll want to spend some $$ there.
If you have a 04 (as opposed to 04.5) you'll really want a better turbo. The 04 has a HE341w turbo which is quite small. The 04.5 has a HE351w turbo that is a little bigger, a little better.
First, stay away from anything K&N. It lets far too much dirt through. You are better off getting an Airraid or S&B drop in filter. Until you get to pushing a lot of air, the stock airbox is really pretty good. Until you upgrade the turbo, you won't be using the potential of what you have now.
The Smarty is a solid choice. I can't really speak to the CTS.
You will not want a 5 inch exhaust. With mostly stock parts otherwise, you'll actually lose performance (down low torque mostly) with a 5in. A 4" exhaust is plenty up to around the 700 hp range. You won't be getting there.
You don't mention what kind of tranny... if auto, you'll want to spend some $$ there.
If you have a 04 (as opposed to 04.5) you'll really want a better turbo. The 04 has a HE341w turbo which is quite small. The 04.5 has a HE351w turbo that is a little bigger, a little better.
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From: TEXAS!
Since I have the same basic truck as you, I would do the home depot intake mod (they changed the air opening on the 04.5) also get an air filter from a 07, they fit the stock box. Your exhaust is 3.5 to the muffler, so go to at least a 4 inch. The turbo is small and the exhaust elbow necks down to 3.5 so a later model is a big improvement. Gages are a must. Before you get a programmer (dodges don’t use chips) improve the fuel filtration of your truck, this will save you money in the long run.
Joe
Joe
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Joined: Mar 2014
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From: NEW YORK/LONG ISLAND
You can do better...
First, stay away from anything K&N. It lets far too much dirt through. You are better off getting an Airraid or S&B drop in filter. Until you get to pushing a lot of air, the stock airbox is really pretty good. Until you upgrade the turbo, you won't be using the potential of what you have now.
The Smarty is a solid choice. I can't really speak to the CTS.
You will not want a 5 inch exhaust. With mostly stock parts otherwise, you'll actually lose performance (down low torque mostly) with a 5in. A 4" exhaust is plenty up to around the 700 hp range. You won't be getting there.
You don't mention what kind of tranny... if auto, you'll want to spend some $$ there.
If you have a 04 (as opposed to 04.5) you'll really want a better turbo. The 04 has a HE341w turbo which is quite small. The 04.5 has a HE351w turbo that is a little bigger, a little better.
First, stay away from anything K&N. It lets far too much dirt through. You are better off getting an Airraid or S&B drop in filter. Until you get to pushing a lot of air, the stock airbox is really pretty good. Until you upgrade the turbo, you won't be using the potential of what you have now.
The Smarty is a solid choice. I can't really speak to the CTS.
You will not want a 5 inch exhaust. With mostly stock parts otherwise, you'll actually lose performance (down low torque mostly) with a 5in. A 4" exhaust is plenty up to around the 700 hp range. You won't be getting there.
You don't mention what kind of tranny... if auto, you'll want to spend some $$ there.
If you have a 04 (as opposed to 04.5) you'll really want a better turbo. The 04 has a HE341w turbo which is quite small. The 04.5 has a HE351w turbo that is a little bigger, a little better.
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DTR 1st Sergeant
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Applegate, CA
Ok, so the lucky part is you have low miles. The stock tranny isn't all that bad, but it doesn't handle a whole lot of power over stock. A smarty jr will be all it can take. Just be judicious in your throttle use and you'll be ok. Usually the torque converter is the first thing to go.
A 4" exhaust is ok. You really only need a drop in filter for now on the intake. If you really are determined to do an intake, search "willeys whistler" here. The money is better spent elsewhere... like that canister mounted fuel pump that may last until about 90-100k miles. It will be stressed with the smarty. The turbo is another place where money is better spent too. Expensive, but the two biggest bangs for the buck are the smarty and turbo.
A 4" exhaust is ok. You really only need a drop in filter for now on the intake. If you really are determined to do an intake, search "willeys whistler" here. The money is better spent elsewhere... like that canister mounted fuel pump that may last until about 90-100k miles. It will be stressed with the smarty. The turbo is another place where money is better spent too. Expensive, but the two biggest bangs for the buck are the smarty and turbo.
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Joined: Mar 2014
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From: NEW YORK/LONG ISLAND
Ok, so the lucky part is you have low miles. The stock tranny isn't all that bad, but it doesn't handle a whole lot of power over stock. A smarty jr will be all it can take. Just be judicious in your throttle use and you'll be ok. Usually the torque converter is the first thing to go.
A 4" exhaust is ok. You really only need a drop in filter for now on the intake. If you really are determined to do an intake, search "willeys whistler" here. The money is better spent elsewhere... like that canister mounted fuel pump that may last until about 90-100k miles. It will be stressed with the smarty. The turbo is another place where money is better spent too. Expensive, but the two biggest bangs for the buck are the smarty and turbo.
A 4" exhaust is ok. You really only need a drop in filter for now on the intake. If you really are determined to do an intake, search "willeys whistler" here. The money is better spent elsewhere... like that canister mounted fuel pump that may last until about 90-100k miles. It will be stressed with the smarty. The turbo is another place where money is better spent too. Expensive, but the two biggest bangs for the buck are the smarty and turbo.
DTR 1st Sergeant
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,530
Likes: 6
From: Applegate, CA
That's a personal choice... only you can really make it. Fortunately, you can use the search function here and find a lot of talk and let owners of different turbos describe their experiences. Keep your search here within 3rd gen.
For your power level (stock injectors, fuel system and smarty jr) a Garrett GT3782r is ideal. Or you can look at a Borg Warner 62mm (inducer) with 65mm turbine and 12cm exhaust housing. Or another lower cost option would be to find a used stock turbo from a 04.5 and up Dodge (HE351w).
Educate yourself on turbo nomenclature and how it relates to what commercial shops (like Industrial Injection, High Tech Turbo, ATS, BD and many others) sell and call their turbo.
I emphasize the above very highly... educate yourself. On the internet, you're going to get a lot of opinions. Just like I gave. They are worth what you are paying for them. Calling the shops like I just listed above isn't going to provide you with better advice necessarily. Their recommendations are subject to the guy you are talking to, his relative expertise and their need to push the product du jour. The advice you get from calling around that way will leave your head spinning. And not in a good way. So take it upon yourself to educate yourself on turbos and how they work and etc. For the money they cost, the time is well spent on the research.
For your power level (stock injectors, fuel system and smarty jr) a Garrett GT3782r is ideal. Or you can look at a Borg Warner 62mm (inducer) with 65mm turbine and 12cm exhaust housing. Or another lower cost option would be to find a used stock turbo from a 04.5 and up Dodge (HE351w).
Educate yourself on turbo nomenclature and how it relates to what commercial shops (like Industrial Injection, High Tech Turbo, ATS, BD and many others) sell and call their turbo.
I emphasize the above very highly... educate yourself. On the internet, you're going to get a lot of opinions. Just like I gave. They are worth what you are paying for them. Calling the shops like I just listed above isn't going to provide you with better advice necessarily. Their recommendations are subject to the guy you are talking to, his relative expertise and their need to push the product du jour. The advice you get from calling around that way will leave your head spinning. And not in a good way. So take it upon yourself to educate yourself on turbos and how they work and etc. For the money they cost, the time is well spent on the research.
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From: NEW YORK/LONG ISLAND
Just look on my engine and its the 235hp.here is some info i found on it.
5.9 L (360 cu in) Cummins diesel I6 235 hp (175 kW) 460 lb·ft (620 N·m)
I'm ready to oder the smarty jr and the air filter system, CTS, and i found an exhaust that i like from the turbo back striaght pipe no cat or muffler.I'll post the exhaust when i find it again.
5.9 L (360 cu in) Cummins diesel I6 235 hp (175 kW) 460 lb·ft (620 N·m)
I'm ready to oder the smarty jr and the air filter system, CTS, and i found an exhaust that i like from the turbo back striaght pipe no cat or muffler.I'll post the exhaust when i find it again.
Last edited by Joe Cheperuk Sr; Mar 14, 2014 at 04:15 PM. Reason: add more info