What type of ram air hood are to looking at getting, and are you gonna make it functional (I'd suppose so if you're worried about water getting into it)? I'll be getting the Suncoast creations dual ram air set up with heat extractors and air box kit for extra engine cooling and fully functional ram air. I'm not looking to do a whole lot of performance mods to my engine since I'll be doing a 5.7L Hemi swap sometime in the next year, so the ram air hood kills two birds with one stone for me (styling and added performance without spending money on a CAI kit).

180 T-stat is always a plus, gotta remember to add that to my list as well.

I'm doing the T/S and body lifts within the next week or so, I've done a ton of research on both lifts. Both are quite worth it as a cheap yet reliable lift combo to get a maximum of 5", if you want any higher you're looking to spend some big bucks, whereas the T/S and body lifts together, if you do all the work yourself (which is entirely feasible as I'll be installing my own), will only set you back about $350. As far as the T/S lift goes, the ride does become noticeably stiffer I hear, but that added stiffness isn't overwhelming or uncomfortable, and most guys seem to welcome it as they feel the stock torsion bar setting leaves the front end of the D feeling too soft. As far as the body lift goes, as long as your not throwing the D through tight corners at unreasonable speeds, body roll shouldn't be an issue at all.

Can't say much for turbochargers or superchargers except I hear they're a PITA to tune properly?and be prepared to be able to see the fuel gage needle move from F to E as fast as you move from 0-60. :lol:

 

There are no turbo "kits". All custom. A supercharger will be 4-5k without installation and you'll want additional parts. A 99 with high miles may be looking at a rebuild. More if the tranny goes.

 

Skip the SC, not a wise move.

What hood are you going with? My Ram Air has ZERO issue with water/snow.

IndyD

 

Dodge Dakota Durango Dino3 Hood

 

Be sure to check the sellers information. He doesn't have a good reputation. Very few sales, and a 92% positive rating. I would be very cautious. Also I have never heard of the manufacture. Read his feedback and see for yourself the problems others have had receiving their hoods.

Ron

 

Agreed he's copying someone else's hood. Fitment may also be a problem, these type of hood are very difficult to work with anyway. If a mold is off it'll only make matters worse
Steve
DOC Pres

 

I don't know that I'd trust a hood for $300

 

My thoughts exactly. The hood I'm looking at costs more than twice that and I've also never heard of that name or seen that particular hood style before. Personally, this isn't something I'd take such a risk on. I'd find their official website and try to find customer reviews or any more info on them that supports their legitimacy before purchasing a ridiculously under-priced custom hood off eBay. :|

 

For $200 more, shipped, you can get the real deal at Moore with full ram air and the heat exchangers. Tell him you want the Dakota Durango website special. Mention the "same thing" I got from him.

www.fiberglass-hoods.com/dodge-dakota-durango-SRT-style-hood.shtml

Tell him to make sure the rear corners fit flat/correctly and to make sure there isn't a low spot on the drivers side about a 3rd of the way up (on the fender to hood seam area.) I'll live with it, but I'd have preferred to have it perfect and it's not quite there. See photo.

IndyDurango

 

Here's a good hood too, although no guarantees on the seller or condition since this isn't coming from the manufacturer but from a resale new/used.

www.dakota-durango.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91858

 

I think I may save up and get the same hood Indy has. Does that include the entire ram air kit?

 

As far as being functional for Ram Air? Yes.

The hood has it setup to move the air directly over your CAI via a closed cavity built into the fiberglass. Additionally, the heat exchangers let the hot air out the back end of the hood at the glass area.

Moore will sell you the hood, shipped, at a discount with a total lower than what's on their website. Just make sure to ask them. You can also ask them to match my order item for item and dollar for dollar.

IndyDurango

 

FYI "functional" and "ram air" implies that there's a sealed air box to the intake.

 

Definitely loving the look of Indy's hood, how much does it come out to after shipping and the Dakota Durango special?

 

FYI "functional" and "ram air" implies that there's a sealed air box to the intake.

Functional and ram air means that the air is entering the hood scoop and is directed to the air box. Otherwise you have Zero function and it's just for looks. If you seal it (aka old school hotrods) its better however never is that considered the litmus test for what's considered "functional/ram air."

Many modern Pontiacs have ram air, the Charger and other Chrysler/Dodge hoods are available as ram air and my hood is ram air? none particularly "seal" at the point of air infiltration.

IndyDurango

 

COUGH PRICE TAG COUGH COUGH

 

It's getting into symatics and also advertising. Most production vehicles with "ram air hoods" aren't truly what they state. Ram air means there's a sealed intake tract to the hood openings. If you have a correctly aerodynamically designed ram air opening, you'll gain some HP as additional air is packed into the cylinders. You do have to be going very fast for any benefit. A true ram effect is dependent on actual air flow over the hood and the intalke shape. Most hood openings aren't going to get any ram effect even going 100+. The Keystone shaker and the two other ram air hoods do have sealed air boxes but can't be commented how much ram effect they provide. The old Elite Customs GTS hood was supposed to have been correctly designed and tested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ram-air_intake

 

guuuugh? lol

 

Symantics.

I believe most understand what's generally accepted as ram air in terms of a 'functional' ram air hood in today's automotive society.

Perhaps not.

IndyD

 

Indy, buddy. What did your total come out to

And about that MSD 6A ignition system. What do you guys think?

 

True "Ram Air" is where the intake is positioned to give a positive pressure to the TB opening, whether by tubes going to a highpresure area or by hood scoop forcing air into the TB. Just adding air to the engine compartment doesn't accomplish anything. In that case it's a style of hood rather than function being referenced. Yes, it may force air under the hood to a given area. If that area isn't sealed to block off any leakage and get a positive boost pressurewise from the hood, it won't make a difference, other than supplying cooler air to be available for the intake to draw from, adding an hp improvement due to the temperature difference, not to pressure.

 

:wall: :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall:

 

And about that MSD 6A ignition system. What do you guys think?

Waste of money.

 

How about this one?

 

That's from www.carhoods.com and I've seen posts with people who have it and, off hand, don't recall any complaints. Do a search on Dak forums for it and see what they have to say (personally I don't like the hood, but that's just my opinion.)