2017 Rebel Overland Project - Stage 1 mods

[Rebel Project]

Mechanical rookie here. Last time I posted looking for advice you guys were super helpful so here goes--

Wish to stage 1 the 5.7 in my 2017 Rebel:

K&N CAI (already installed)
BBK 90mm throttle body.
Kooks shorty headers
catback borla or corsa exhaust
cam (maaaybe..)
chip or tuner.

This truck is for off-roading and towing.

1. Do I install all the parts and then add a tuner?

2. If I end up looking to put in a different cam, what's good for my purpose?

3. With fuel approaching $5/gal in my area, I'm not messing around with high octane. I'll take what I can get with regular octane. Keeping the same sized tires. No lifts, not touching suspension or rear end. With that in mind, what's a good tuner?
Beyond installing a Jet chip in my Ranger 20 years ago, I have no real experience with tuning or chips but I am enthusiastic to learn about tuning now.

Would love to hear from experienced folks here. You guys have been great. Thank you in advance.
Jon

 

[DILLIGAF]

Adding a TB to a 5.7L intake is a waste of money, A 6.4L intake swap is a way better investment.

Always start with a Custom Tune.

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

Even that CAI is a waste of money as well and you are increasing the risk of getting water in yer' engine .... but it's your truck ....

Even the shorty headers is not going to really do anything performance wise, should of gone with long ones then a tune will really help you out ...

 

[Rebel Project]

Even that CAI is a waste of money as well and you are increasing the risk of getting water in yer' engine .... but it's your truck ....

Even the shorty headers is not going to really do anything performance wise, should of gone with long ones then a tune will really help you out ...

Thanks for the response. Where would I start looking for a 6.4 intake? Start with a tune prior to the mods? Is there one you would recommend? Thanks

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

Thanks for the response. Where would I start looking for a 6.4 intake? Start with a tune prior to the mods? Is there one you would recommend? Thanks

I couldn't tell you ... the intake system is one area I just leave alone on my vehicles ... there's a few guys on here that have done it I am sure they will eventually see this thread .....

 

[TestPilot57]

Any performance upgrades you do for power are unlikely to be felt by an unbiased butt-dyno UNLESS you are talking forced induction.

I have a Borla Type-S cat back but only for the sound. Maybe it gives more power? But for the $1000 I spent on it I'd be waaaay better off spending $7000 for a supercharger as far as a power ROI goes.

Changing out a cam is not a quick/easy deal. I bet that you'd spend $4-5k doing all the mods you are speaking of, and you may gain 50 HP. Spend 50% more on a SC and gain quadruple the HP. By the way, I seriously doubt that most people, in a blind test, could tell the difference between 400 HP and 450 HP. OTOH, you'd have to be a vegetable to not tell the difference between 400 and 600 HP.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Just Get HP Tuners and a Custom Flyin' Ryan Tune and start mods after that. You will be pleasantly surprised of what a Custom Tune can do.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Changing out a cam is not a quick/easy deal.

Its literally a long weekend job that requires you to follow the simple MMX YouTube video.

 

[Rebel Project]

Just Get HP Tuners and a Custom Flyin' Ryan Tune and start mods after that. You will be pleasantly surprised of what a Custom Tune can do.

So the tune adapts to the mods installed after?

 

[Rebel Project]

Adding a TB to a 5.7L intake is a waste of money, A 6.4L intake swap is a way better investment.

Always start with a Custom Tune.

So a custom tune will adapt to mods installed after?

 

[evolizzee]

So a custom tune will adapt to mods installed after?

The tuning aspect allows the physical mods (intake, exhaust, forced induction, etc...) to yield the most amount of power they can. Tuning also helps dial in power output consistency. The adjustment or removal of annoying factory settings like: MDS, torque limiter, rev limiter, cat-efficiency codes, etc..., is a plus too.

 

[Rebel Project]

The tuning aspect allows the physical mods (intake, exhaust, forced induction, etc...) to yield the most amount of power they can. Tuning also helps dial in power output consistency. The adjustment or removal of annoying factory settings like: MDS, torque limiter, rev limiter, cat-efficiency codes, etc..., is a plus too.

Okay great! Since I don't have any experience with this I would've thought the tune happens after the mods are installed. Familiar with Jay Greene? I've heard good things.

 

[crazykid1994]

6.4 manifold is a good one for low end torque and mid range power in general. The stock air box is your best bet. If you do the 6.4 manifold you would have to swap your intake anyways so the k&n hot air intake would go bye bye. I swapped to a 6.4 stock intake and box with my 6.4 manifold swap. I have long tubes and a borla s type catback. Not sure on cam. If my stock cam kicks the bed I’ll definitely end up with an aftermarket. Probably a Greene cam. My truck is lifted on 35s aimed at off-roading. Plans to add a snorkel just for the better cold air intake feature. Look at my build thread or even my signature. If you’re on a phone turn it sideways to go widescreen. That’s how you’ll see the signatures.

 

[evolizzee]

Okay great! Since I don't have any experience with this I would've thought the tune happens after the mods are installed. Familiar with Jay Greene? I've heard good things.

Yes. One of the best for tuning. I’ve used Hemifever for tuning on my previous and current Ram. But Jay is just as good as Sean and some say better since he’s R&D’d his own HEMI mods for customers. I’ve always been pleased with Sean. He’s very fast with reply’s. However, Holley screwed me over this round by not providing access to the Trans files… just the engine files.

 

[evolizzee]

One thing to be aware of is that a full bolt on and tuned truck won’t feel crazy different to a stock one. If you lift and install oversized tires, you only hinder what you gained from bolt-ons. Nitrous, gears, or Forced Induction will be the step up that really puts you in your seat.

However, I’ve raced a stock 2020 Laramie with 3.92 gears,in my new Ram. My intake, exhaust, tuned, 3.21 geared, Lonestar, bus length’d it. It was not even close. That being said, my old 13’ with all that plus gears and a 100shot, freight trains away to a low 12. Which is 3 seconds faster than a stock Ram. So the difference between bolt ons and going big is very noticeable.