2003 ram 1500 ecu swap

[Jgress77]

Im about to order a walker induction turbo kit for my truck all the stuff to do forged bottom end frp cam and maybe a few other goodies... looking to make pretty good hp out of it when its done... I talked to a few guys last year pretty much saying it's hard and not a good idea and a bad platform.... I know i know. But its my first truck I had and id rather dump the money into swapping it and building it than I would to get a different truck to build. So back to the ecu swap thats good for boosted. Im looking for a good ecu to swap to that handle boost good. I was thinking maybe the holly ecu. But I would like to retain my factory guage cluster and all that as well as the ac and everything. Anyone ever done this? I plan to do an 8hp70 swap rated for 1000hp. Ive heard its not too terrible and the tranny will also have its own stand alone ecu.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

Im about to order a walker induction turbo kit for my truck all the stuff to do forged bottom end frp cam and maybe a few other goodies... looking to make pretty good hp out of it when its done... I talked to a few guys last year pretty much saying it's hard and not a good idea and a bad platform.... I know i know. But its my first truck I had and id rather dump the money into swapping it and building it than I would to get a different truck to build. So back to the ecu swap thats good for boosted. Im looking for a good ecu to swap to that handle boost good. I was thinking maybe the holly ecu. But I would like to retain my factory guage cluster and all that as well as the ac and everything. Anyone ever done this? I plan to do an 8hp70 swap rated for 1000hp. Ive heard its not too terrible and the tranny will also have its own stand alone ecu.

If you use any of the Holley ECU's you will not have any working gauges in the instrument cluster. If you are serious about this and want to make real power I suggest spending the extra money on a digital dash like the Holley or Powertune Digital Dash. Powertune will save you some cash over the Holley especially for the 12.3" version and they are compatible with each other and they use the Holley CAN connection for communication.

If you wanted to attempt to make big power on a stock PCM then your only option would be to switch to the 2005 PCM.

 

[Jgress77]

If you use any of the Holley ECU's you will not have any working gauges in the instrument cluster. If you are serious about this and want to make real power I suggest spending the extra money on a digital dash like the Holley or Powertune Digital Dash. Powertune will save you some cash over the Holley especially for the 12.3" version and they are compatible with each other and they use the Holley CAN connection for communication.

If you wanted to attempt to make big power on a stock PCM then your only option would be to switch to the 2005 PCM.

I was hoping to be able to wire the holly ecu into the oem guage cluster.... pretty much keep the oem ecu to read oil pressure and temp speed stuff like that then use the holley ecu to control the engine... maybe split the wires from the sensors that the holley ecu requires? Ive heard the 05 pcm is terrible for boost applications. Also if I did go with the holley ecu would I be able to keep all of my oem accessories? Lights a/c radio all that?

 

[Fast69Mopar]

I was hoping to be able to wire the holly ecu into the oem guage cluster.... pretty much keep the oem ecu to read oil pressure and temp speed stuff like that then use the holley ecu to control the engine... maybe split the wires from the sensors that the holley ecu requires? Ive heard the 05 pcm is terrible for boost applications. Also if I did go with the holley ecu would I be able to keep all of my oem accessories? Lights a/c radio all that?

Depending on which Holley ECU you purchase will determine how many accessories you can run.

The Holley Dominator has a total of 40 programmable outputs that can run all of your lights and A/C and fans and pumps and solenoids, etc.

The Holley Terminator X Max has 4 programmable outputs.

If you need more outputs while using the Terminator X Max you can purchase the Holley CAN I/O Module that will give you an additional 8 programmable outputs.

If you really want to try and let the NGC PCM control the instrument cluster, gauges and accessories you can try the piggyback method but this has the potential to create a bunch of electrical interference. NGC PCM's can be really picky with the cam and crank signals. The Holley ECU unit needs to receive crankshaft, camshaft, coolant temperature, MAP, and TPS signals to operate the motor. You may find that the two ECU's don't play well together.

I have had mixed results using the piggyback method. I know it's nice to keep the stock instrument cluster and gauges working but these days I go with the digital dash every time now instead of trying to keep the stock PCM happy.

If you wanted to save some money I would use the MegaSquirt MS3 Pro Evo+ as it has 31 inputs and 33 outputs along with a built-in 4-bar map sensor. This unit is also Canbus and Serial Bus capable so that you can add options on later like an 8-channel EGT setup. Right now I think it sells for $1,499.00

There are multiple digital dashes out there so you can pick your poison and buy what fits your budget and style. Also, there is a plug-n-play harness available from MegaSquirt for the Gen-3 HEMI if you wanted to go that route instead of wiring it on your own. Side our HEMI ignition coils do not have their own ignitor you will need some smart coils or a pair of QuadSpark modules from MegaSquirt to operate the ignition coils.

 

[HemiLonestar]

The Holley has been made to tickle an 04 OEM gauge cluster but you'd have to ask the guy who claims to have done it https://www.ramforum.com/members/harleyc04.58265/
He has much more info on HTC.