It doesn't seem like people are using this forum very much, so rather than bore the masses over in Forum II, I'll just bore the dues paying members here with an update of my Platinum 2001 5.9L 4x4 SLT D, with 3.92 LSD & tow package, which I have nicknamed "Quicksilver."
By way of background, I bought my D from the dealer 3yrs agowhich already came with a colormatched Westin brush guard & taillight guards, torsion/shackle lift, Flowmaster exhaust and a set of 32x11.5x15 BFG All Terrain T/A KO tires on a set of 15x8" PCW aluminum alloy wheels. I just added a pair of PIAA 520 fog lamps and a full set of floor/cargo mats after I bought it and haven't done anything else since the start of the makeover project.
Phase I of the makeover is 99% complete and the following is the work that has been done:
1) Depo clear headlights and Sylvania Silverstar bulbs installed.
2) PIAA 520 diving lights wired to the highbeams installed. This is in addition to a pair of PIAA 520 fog lamps that were previously installed.
3) Front and rear Hotchkiss sway bars installed.
4) Airlift airbags installed.
5) Edlebrock IAS Performer shocks installed.
6) Drilled & slotted rotors and Raybestos metallic pads installed.
7) DOC group-buy brushed aluminum fuel door installed.
8] Shorty polished aluminium radio antenna installed.
9) PCW aluminum alloy wheels powdercoated.
10) Intense Performance Stage II air intake with 9" Big Mouth Filter installed.
11) Superchips Dodge Tuner - Performance program installed.
The only thing remaining to do in Phase I is to install a chrome Mopar differential cover that's on order.
The D handles better with the new shocks and sways bars, but I'm not sure it handles better enough to justify cost that I paid to purchase and install them. Between the 2, the sway bars made the greater difference.
The drilled & slotted rotors and metallic pads made a BIG difference in stopping power. No squealing and no fading. Much better than stock.
IMHO, the FOUR best mods (in no particular order) were:
1) Powdercoating the wheels. This eliminated any need to polish the D*MN things and the wheels look GREAT! The color closely matches my D (metallic silver) and all that's required to clean them is a little soap and water. Well worth the cost.
2) Adding the airbags restored the RAKE to my D, which I like. Even with the torsion shackle lift, for some reason, the front of my D was 1" higher than the rear and it always felt like I was leaning back and sitting in a bucket when I was driving the D. Now the rear end is higher than the front and sits WAY UP, which greatly improves my field of vision. The measurement from the ground to the bottom of the edge of the fender is 38" in front and 39" in back, which sets off the wheels and tires very well. The airbag also lifts the back high enough to see the differential, which is the reason I'm getting the differential cover, and seems to have eliminated the chronic rear end hop associated with the fixed axle leaf springs on the D and similiarly equipment SUVs.
3) Wiring the PIAA driving lights together with the high beams is slick!! It may not be legal, but when the road is really dark, just hitting the highs lights EVERYTHING up. Use to use the fogs for that, which are separately switched, but now all I have to do is hit the highbeams. Also, now when a stupid driver gets in my way or is about to pull in front of me because he doesn't see me coming, just hitting my highbeams STOPS him cold! Way cool!!
4) Finally the Superchips (or Hypertech) programmer is the best bang for the buck to get more performance out of your D. It only cost me $365 but makes my D much faster than it ever was before without any muss or fuss. Yeah, I have to use premium gas and there's a timing/detonation problem in wide-open throttle, but under normal driving and acceleration conditions, the D is really QUICK!! If you haven't done this, I recommend it highly. if you don't want to pay for "better" engine mods.
So, now, I'm getting ready for Phase II of the makeover which is focused entirely on the engine and exhaust. I have already ordered a Federal PCM which I'm going to send to B&G for their M1 flash, a 52mm TB and a Mopar M1 intake manifold. They're due to arrive late next week. After I get them, I'm planning to drive down to LA to have G&S Motorsports them install the stuff along with their headers and "true" dual exhaust system. Other than that, I'm still thinking about adding "rolling rocker" valve lifters, but haven't decided about that yet. Any opinions on rolling rockers? Do they really increase performance/HP or is it just talk?
Phase III just involves the installation of a Suncoast Creations functional ram air hood with heat extractors and maybe a custom paint job. Not sure I'm going to use Suncoast's "cold air" system (which is basically a Dakota box, K&N filer and a special adapter which is fitted to the air inlet in the underside of the hood. I'm going to buy it (it only costs $100 more) and compare its performance with the IP Stage II filter I"m using now to see if it' makes any difference or not. If not, I'll probalby stick with the IP intake which looks much cooler than a Dakota air box.
Anyway, that's it. Will leave another update when the engine work is done and will post a pic of "Quicksilver" as soon as I install the hood.
Later,
Marty
By way of background, I bought my D from the dealer 3yrs agowhich already came with a colormatched Westin brush guard & taillight guards, torsion/shackle lift, Flowmaster exhaust and a set of 32x11.5x15 BFG All Terrain T/A KO tires on a set of 15x8" PCW aluminum alloy wheels. I just added a pair of PIAA 520 fog lamps and a full set of floor/cargo mats after I bought it and haven't done anything else since the start of the makeover project.
Phase I of the makeover is 99% complete and the following is the work that has been done:
1) Depo clear headlights and Sylvania Silverstar bulbs installed.
2) PIAA 520 diving lights wired to the highbeams installed. This is in addition to a pair of PIAA 520 fog lamps that were previously installed.
3) Front and rear Hotchkiss sway bars installed.
4) Airlift airbags installed.
5) Edlebrock IAS Performer shocks installed.
6) Drilled & slotted rotors and Raybestos metallic pads installed.
7) DOC group-buy brushed aluminum fuel door installed.
8] Shorty polished aluminium radio antenna installed.
9) PCW aluminum alloy wheels powdercoated.
10) Intense Performance Stage II air intake with 9" Big Mouth Filter installed.
11) Superchips Dodge Tuner - Performance program installed.
The only thing remaining to do in Phase I is to install a chrome Mopar differential cover that's on order.
The D handles better with the new shocks and sways bars, but I'm not sure it handles better enough to justify cost that I paid to purchase and install them. Between the 2, the sway bars made the greater difference.
The drilled & slotted rotors and metallic pads made a BIG difference in stopping power. No squealing and no fading. Much better than stock.
IMHO, the FOUR best mods (in no particular order) were:
1) Powdercoating the wheels. This eliminated any need to polish the D*MN things and the wheels look GREAT! The color closely matches my D (metallic silver) and all that's required to clean them is a little soap and water. Well worth the cost.
2) Adding the airbags restored the RAKE to my D, which I like. Even with the torsion shackle lift, for some reason, the front of my D was 1" higher than the rear and it always felt like I was leaning back and sitting in a bucket when I was driving the D. Now the rear end is higher than the front and sits WAY UP, which greatly improves my field of vision. The measurement from the ground to the bottom of the edge of the fender is 38" in front and 39" in back, which sets off the wheels and tires very well. The airbag also lifts the back high enough to see the differential, which is the reason I'm getting the differential cover, and seems to have eliminated the chronic rear end hop associated with the fixed axle leaf springs on the D and similiarly equipment SUVs.
3) Wiring the PIAA driving lights together with the high beams is slick!! It may not be legal, but when the road is really dark, just hitting the highs lights EVERYTHING up. Use to use the fogs for that, which are separately switched, but now all I have to do is hit the highbeams. Also, now when a stupid driver gets in my way or is about to pull in front of me because he doesn't see me coming, just hitting my highbeams STOPS him cold! Way cool!!
4) Finally the Superchips (or Hypertech) programmer is the best bang for the buck to get more performance out of your D. It only cost me $365 but makes my D much faster than it ever was before without any muss or fuss. Yeah, I have to use premium gas and there's a timing/detonation problem in wide-open throttle, but under normal driving and acceleration conditions, the D is really QUICK!! If you haven't done this, I recommend it highly. if you don't want to pay for "better" engine mods.
So, now, I'm getting ready for Phase II of the makeover which is focused entirely on the engine and exhaust. I have already ordered a Federal PCM which I'm going to send to B&G for their M1 flash, a 52mm TB and a Mopar M1 intake manifold. They're due to arrive late next week. After I get them, I'm planning to drive down to LA to have G&S Motorsports them install the stuff along with their headers and "true" dual exhaust system. Other than that, I'm still thinking about adding "rolling rocker" valve lifters, but haven't decided about that yet. Any opinions on rolling rockers? Do they really increase performance/HP or is it just talk?
Phase III just involves the installation of a Suncoast Creations functional ram air hood with heat extractors and maybe a custom paint job. Not sure I'm going to use Suncoast's "cold air" system (which is basically a Dakota box, K&N filer and a special adapter which is fitted to the air inlet in the underside of the hood. I'm going to buy it (it only costs $100 more) and compare its performance with the IP Stage II filter I"m using now to see if it' makes any difference or not. If not, I'll probalby stick with the IP intake which looks much cooler than a Dakota air box.
Anyway, that's it. Will leave another update when the engine work is done and will post a pic of "Quicksilver" as soon as I install the hood.
Later,
Marty
