Is 4.7 just a dog?

SD4019 · Nov 22, 2019

I have purchased recently a cash truck. 04 1500 4x4 w/ 4.7. I cleaned the throttle body, replaced tps, ips, o2 sensors, and plugs. Truck has 209k on it. It ran rough when I got it but with the sensors replaced it idles and runs smooth. It still feels like it doesn’t have much get up and go. I do have 285/75’s on it now but don’t think the tires are that big. Is the 4.7 just that weak or should I look at other possible issues?

dhay13 · Nov 22, 2019

Yep. They are a pig. I had a 2007 I bought brand new. Step-father had a 2008 5.7 at that time. Both trucks had 3.92s. We went to a store in my truck and I floored it. He was amazed at how weak it was compared to his. Mine was only 235 HP. The 2004 very well could be less than that.

WY-Dave · Nov 22, 2019

I had an '03 IIRC and it was an 4.7. And yes it was a dog. On the slightest hill it would drop out of OD. I never tried to haul with it. One thing I did do was put on a FM Super 50 Delta flow muffler and it was a different truck. I was actually able to stay in OD and it felt a lil bit more responsive.

dhay13 · Nov 22, 2019

Just to add, I towed my 14x7 tandem axle enclosed trailer to Indy (about 4-5 hours on flat highway). The truck stayed in 3rd gear almost the whole way (turning over 3000 RPM the whole way) and got about 7 MPG. The trailer probably weighed about 3500-4000lbs. The trailer was a brand new 2007 Haulmark and had about 1000lbs of stuff in it so whatever that adds up to. I think the bigger issue was the wind resistance, not the weight. I could pull it through town with ease. Pull out from a light with ease so probably more aerodynamics. Even unloaded 5th gear was rarely used. I did buy a Superchips Flashpaq and I could feel a difference but with almost every flash I had to run 93 octane so didn't save anything on fuel costs even though I got a little better MPG on some of them. The tow flash was harder on fuel than stock. If you are ok with running 93 octane then a Superchips might be an option. I think you only gain about 20HP because the 4.7 was already pretty much maxed out on power. This truck was harder on fuel than my 2013 Hemi and my step-fathers 2008 Hemi.

McBroom · Nov 22, 2019

4.7 is junk pure junk. I had one and couldn't get rid of it soon enough 2012

Blue Mule

HemiLonestar · Nov 22, 2019

Before 2008 you're only pushing 235hp & 295ft/lbs; not exactly the hot ticket for moving 5000+lb trucks around swiftly. Mechanical leverage (gearing) is probably the best friend of the 4.7. The 4.7 can be hopped up, but it isn't cheap and short of boosting it you'll still only get to about stock 3G hemi power.

TheEnder · Jan 23, 2020

HemiLonestar said:
Before 2008 you're only pushing 235hp & 295ft/lbs; not exactly the hot ticket for moving 5000+lb trucks around swiftly. Mechanical leverage (gearing) is probably the best friend of the 4.7. The 4.7 can be hopped up, but it isn't cheap and short of boosting it you'll still only get to about stock 3G hemi power.

The 4.7 would and should be the engine that Chrysler continued to put into RAMs. The 3.6 as good as it is isn’t really suited for trucks and should just stay in cars, in my opinion, and the 4.7 would ROCK with the 8SP. I have the last generation 4.7 in my truck with the 6sp and she’s decently fast, (not racing fast but she’s relatively quick) and she’d do even better with an 8Sp instead of the incredibly how do i put it, slushbox 65RFE.

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HemiLonestar · Jan 23, 2020

TheEnder said:
The 4.7 would and should be the engine that Chrysler continued to put into RAMs. The 3.6 as good as it is isn’t really suited for trucks and should just stay in cars, in my opinion, and the 4.7 would ROCK with the 8SP. I have the last generation 4.7 in my truck with the 6sp and she’s decently fast, (not racing fast but she’s relatively quick) and she’d do even better with an 8Sp instead of the incredibly how do i put it, slushbox 65RFE.

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You should put one in

TheEnder · Jan 23, 2020

HemiLonestar said:
You should put one in

Wouldn’t be the worst idea. I’ve seen how horrendously bad the 4.7 is with the 5 speed, and god i’m glad i don’t have that combo.

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10 Break · Jan 23, 2020

4.7 with the 3.21 gears, just a reliable as hell daily driver. If I needed to race or tow, I'm sure I'd ***** up a storm, but I don't.

TheEnder · Jan 23, 2020

10 Break said:
4.7 with the 3.21 gears, just a reliable as hell daily driver. If I needed to race or tow, I'm sure I'd ***** up a storm, but I don't.

Yeah they’re extremely reliable engines when they’re taken care of right. I haven’t had a issue with mine and it has 422K on it.

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HemiLonestar · Jan 23, 2020

TheEnder said:
Wouldn’t be the worst idea. I’ve seen how horrendously bad the 4.7 is with the 5 speed, and god i’m glad i don’t have that combo.

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It would be a tad pricey, but if dont intend to get rid of the truck it might be worth it and definitely doable. You'd need:
- adapter harness ($1000 and an absolute necessity)
- trans itself
- custom driveshaft for 2wd, 4wd is easier to do
- either switch to rotary shifter or convert to floor shift using car shifter
- trans tune to properly work with that particular engine

hotkarl · Jan 23, 2020

I have a 4.7 in my '02.
Put a brand new motor in it shortly after I got and I was more than satisfied with the performance.
The only mod was a flowmaster cat back system. I didn't race or pull a trailer up hill both ways in the snow but I was never in a situation where I felt like damn I wish I had more power. I gave it gas and it went.

Then it **** the bed and I bought a 6.4 2500 which is an absolute beast.
Still wish I could get the '02 running good again because I would put it back on the road in a heartbeat and sell the 2500. A year and 3 mechanics later and still can't figure out why it runs like garbage.

10 Break · Jan 23, 2020

TheEnder said:
Yeah they’re extremely reliable engines when they’re taken care of right. I haven’t had a issue with mine and it has 422K on it.

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Let's play 4th Gen Forum,

I run M1 EP and a fram ultra and like to keep OCI around 5000. What 's kept your alive for so long?

Nickx86 · Jan 23, 2020

Father in law had the 2002 quad cab w the 4.7 w 3.92 gears had the 46re or 47re, single overdrive and it decent for the time. Pulled hills without any issues since the revs were about 2200 on the highway at 70, towing I can’t contest but he said for what he pulled it did a decent job. He upgraded to a ram 2500 w the 5.7 so night and day difference of course

HemiLonestar · Jan 23, 2020

Nickx86 said:
Father in law had the 2002 quad cab w the 4.7 w 3.92 gears had the 46re or 47re, single overdrive and it decent for the time. Pulled hills without any issues since the revs were about 2200 on the highway at 70, towing I can’t contest but he said for what he pulled it did a decent job. He upgraded to a ram 2500 w the 5.7 so night and day difference of course

Neither, 02 4.7 had the 45RFE.

Nickx86 · Jan 23, 2020

HemiLonestar said:
Neither, 02 4.7 had the 45RFE.

I did a quick google on it, i wasn’t looking all that hard tbh. I couldn’t remember if it was the 5 speed or the 4 speed for 2002 lol

HemiLonestar · Jan 23, 2020

Nickx86 said:
I did a quick google on it, i wasn’t looking all that hard tbh. I couldn’t remember if it was the 5 speed or the 4 speed for 2002 lol

360 had the RE....technically the 45RFE is both lol

Fishstickz · Jan 23, 2020

There's always bigger fish (or smaller fish?)

If someone was to fill their lungs and blow on the front of my 3.7 truck it would knock me out of OD

At least your exhaust note doesn't sound like a constipated mosquito

TheEnder · Jan 24, 2020

10 Break said:
Let's play 4th Gen Forum,

I run M1 EP and a fram ultra and like to keep OCI around 5000. What 's kept your alive for so long?

Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage oil changes every 3K miles, using a factory Mopar oil filter. Everyone’s vehicles would last a hell of a lot longer if they just took care of them and didn’t get lured into the “annual” oil change bs!

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Is 4.7 just a dog?

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