Project: Ram

[4TraxRider]

I'm starting to work on my 96' ram 1500 4x4 a lot more now, and need a little advice, mostly concerning a lift kit. I can get a good deal on 2 inch or 5 inch suspension lift, and a set of 33 inch tires. I think 5 inch is a little big for now. I don't want to go much bigger due to gearing changes from what I hear, but I've never changed tire sizes on a truck, so I don't know how much it changes the gearing. Second, What is the best sounding muffler on the market now for a big V8. I've got a Thrush bullet muffler on it now, and it sounds alright, but I want a little less noise that sounds better. Thanks.

[stiffy]

I have a 97 1500 ram and we put a 3" pro comp susp. lift on it with 31" trxus the 31" are a bit too small but they still look good. We are going to get a 2" pa body lift cause with the K&N fipk and the Poweraid throttle body spacer they don't fit so we had to take off the spacer then we will be able to fit 35's, I think the spacer made a bigger difference than the fipk. We also put on flowmasters and a Hypertech programmer both made a huge improvement, then even more with the power pulleys. We didn't go with the 5" cause of the $$ and with the bigger tires your gearing changes and you should upgrade your brakes cause there's more turning mass. We had a 1/2 GMC converted to 1 ton axles with a 1/2 ton master cylinder and we were on the freeway here in Vegas is rushour and the brakes locked up and we did a 180 in the middle of the freeway I about crapped my pants.

[derekhonda]

would a 2 inch lift support 33 inch tires good? Im either wanting 33s or 35s under mine, but dont want to spend a bundle. How much should i expect to pay for like a 2 or 3 inch lift and some 33inch micky thompsons on some 15 inch weld (or just any "not to flashy") rims. Thanks.

[NTPracing22]

I have a 95 ram 1500 reg. cab/bed..i want to mod it a bit, (lift it, put 33's under it, and exhuast) the only thing is right now i get about 12 miles to the gallon (average) i'd like to stay at least in the double didgets/..lifting it would drag me to about 8. lol....maybe when gas prices go down..

[stiffy]

Originally posted by NTPracing22
I have a 95 ram 1500 reg. cab/bed..i want to mod it a bit, (lift it, put 33's under it, and exhuast) the only thing is right now i get about 12 miles to the gallon (average) i'd like to stay at least in the double didgets/..lifting it would drag me to about 8. lol....maybe when gas prices go down..

Get the throttle body spacer and the Hypertech programmer and some power pulleys I get between 14 and 15 mpg w/ a 3" lift and 33" worn down to 31" super swamper trxus.

[NTPracing22]

where can i order that stuff? and how much would it cost?thanks

[stiffy]

You can get the Hypertech programmer from Summit for like $350 or you could just get the chip $180. You can get the throttle body spacer $80 made by poweraid from 4 wheel parts on the internet or in there magazine if ya don't have one in town or you could check Ebay. And the power pulleys for like $150 from Summit ( those give ya more torque). With just those mods we gained 30 hp and 45ftlbs of torque.

[derekhonda]

im straight piped, 7 mpg city 9 on the highway :( :( :( :(

[danney f]

I have a 94 ram 1500 4x4 with a 3" lift and run 33" tires. All I have done (performance wise) is add a throttle body spacer and a flowmaster 40 series and I get an average of 15 mpg. If I could ever figure out the new picture set up I'll post some pics. It's not the best looking truck but it's a work horse and a play toy.

[400EXrider#91]

Originally posted by derekhonda
im straight piped, 7 mpg city 9 on the highway :( :( :( :(


cummins?

[Rip_Tear]

Originally posted by 400EXrider#91
cummins?

Deisel??? Who would straight pipe a deisel? Cummins are only deisel I thought... Hemi is gas, and the mags are gas too... I maybe be wrong but...

[NTPracing22]

cummins get good gas mileage from what i understand...like high teens, unless you cowboy it, it drops to 10 or 11

[03GNCC270]

you can run a 33x12.50-15 on a 15x8 wheel with 2 to 3 inches of lift. if you go with 5 inches you can go to a 36x12.50-15. if you need prices go to ntwonline.com

[brif]

You guys that are getting 15mpg with your 360's are doing good. I have had 4 of them, 95,97,00,01. The 95 and 97 were 5 speed 3/4 tons. These both had 33's. The 95 had 3.55 gears and I thought these were alittle too tall for the tires. The 97 had 4.11 gears and these were perfect. The 00 was an automatic with the off-road package. This was very cool. It was the first one in the area. But it only got 8mpg!!!! when new. When I sold it, it was getting 11. It had 4.10 gears. The 01 was also an auto but with 3.55 gears it got about 14mpg. In case anybody is wondering I now have a 03 Hemi and it gets 15.5mpg and yes it has more power than the 360's. By the way I am a DODGE guy!! :)

[ewalker302]

I know you didnt ask about adding power, but I was just reading the earlier posts.
Is that off the subject or what??

U prob already know this but,
Trust me pal Don't wate money on programming chips unless you get into your motor pretty deep.
You can advance your timing a little yourself.
Thats all the chips do anyways.

Don't waste money on a throttle body spacer either that's a scam.

As far as underdrive pulleys go, just remember you will gain a little HP but you may run hot if you underdrive the water pump & you may get a dead battery if you underdrive the alternator & you got a big stereo, lights, winch, etc......

Don't trust HP & Torque gains advertised in Magazines and Catalogs.
They are all BS.

It's the oldest trick in the aftermarket performance book.
Take a highly modified engine then try a chip or spacer or whatever & compare it to the stock unit.
You wont see anywhere near the gains on your stocker.

Save that money, get rid of the cats or get some hi flow ones from Summit.
3 chamber Flowmaster's are what you are looking for as far as mufflers are concerned.
Get a K&N filter & a cold air intake kit.
Thats about all the gains you can get before getting into headers & aftermarket intake manifolds/bigger throttle bodys etc.

Don't run over 33's if you are mainly on the street. You will regret it in the long run.

Find a dodge truck board, I'm sure theres plenty out there.
They'll tell U the same thing.

Just trying to save you some aggrivation & Money. I been there & done that.


:bandit:

[NTPracing22]

thanks for the info guys. I'm not looking to really get power out of it yet...just gas mileage! i'm waisting my money on gas, that i shuld be using on mods.

curious..how would the throttle body spacer give me better gas milage? thanks
wes

[hash1250r]

I got a 98 ram 1500 4x4 with 33 trxs .My lift is 1 ton coils on the front and 1 ton springs on the back. It clears the 33s easy. When i figure out how to post pics now i will post some.

[NTPracing22]

sounds like a nice ram:devil:

[derekhonda]

on that ntwonline i found a 2.5 inch lift i liked for 400 bucks, that sounds like what i need and get some 33" tires on some cheeper 60 buck 15 inch rims and ill be set. I will have my ram sittin taller for only 1400 bucks or so. Not bad. Anyone reccomend a good 33 inch tires for about 80% on road 20% off that wont hum or shake me to death at speeds on the highway. Thanks

[ewalker302]

33x12.5x15" BF Goodrich All terrain KOs'

I run these all day on my 79' Bronco at 80 mph plus on the interstate, Great street and offroad tire.

:bandit:

[derekhonda]

those tires dont look aggressive at all, got a picture so i can see what it looks likemounted?

[ewalker302]

I'll post a pic as soon as we can upload them to the site again.

I don't know of any aggresive looking tires that I would want to run 80% of the time on the street.

If noise/vibration matters you will need some sort of all terrain vs. mud tire.
:bandit:

[derekhonda]

yeah i agree, i dont know i just got a bunch of friends with some tricked out dodges just wanted it to look pretty mean