My ram (ongoing project)

[crazykid1994]

So originally I was planing on running a tube from the air box to the grille for cooler air. Was seeing IAT temps while driving at about 112° last week. Ambient temp was around 98-102° Took the truck out for a drive today and ambient temp was 91-92° and saw IAT between 93-95°. Only difference was the fan controller. Must be helping keep my engine bay temps lower. Very surprised how well that is working. Stock 6.4 air box pulling from the fender behind the headlight.

 

[crazykid1994]

Something is missing!... oh that’s right. Still waiting on my wideband kit from plxdevices. This is the banks A pillar gauge mount. Fits great. Needs a little cleaning up on the edges but otherwise great fit. Excited to get a wideband in. Honestly more of a preparation for long tubes next year. Christmas is going to be rear control arms from Clayton off-road.

 

[crazykid1994]

Hand calculated to 16.5mpg. All highway. 305/70r18 on 18x9-12 lifted 3/1. Wheel and tire combo is 101lbs each. 3 people plus 3 suitcases and spare tire in bed. Can’t beat that.

 

[crazykid1994]

Finally was able to acquire an unlocked pcm and tune my truck. Currently only running a canned tune but I’m ok with that for now. Diablo 91 tune with speed limiter removed, mds disabled, fan speed adjusted (didn’t need that as I run a stand-alone fan controller but it doesn’t hurt in case I need to swap the fan motor out), 5% throttle boost for now, and the diablo trans tune. I can definitely feel the tune. Trans feels slightly snappier and holds the gear longer. Truck definitely feels like it revs faster too which is nice.

 

[autumnwalker]

Really digging the bumper and the mods! I might have missed it in the thread, but what is the brand / model of that front bumper? Have you had a chance to test the hidden winch bracket behind it?

 

[crazykid1994]

I have not done anything else with the bumper. It’s a barricade HD bumper from americantrucks.com. I have plans to build my own winch bracket for this bumper

 

[crazykid1994]

No more burning my arm if I’m working on the engine hot... dei sleeve heat shield over the upper radiator hose.

Little flare as well. Used purple tape over the ends to protect it from fraying and to keep it from sliding. It does use shrink wrap but wanted something nicer.

 

[crazykid1994]

Insulated the ac vacuum Line. My ac has cut out a few times in this heat this summer. Temps are in Low to mid 90s with humidity in the 80-90% range. Real feel temps in the 100-108° range. When the ac is running you can touch the vacuum line and it’s warm. I installed closed cell foam insulation designed for ac units and water heaters. It’s fire retardant as well. Now my vacuum line is cool/cold all the way to the compressor and I have not had my ac shut off on me since I’ve installed the insulation. I think it was shutting off on high pressure from to much heat soak causing the compressor to work harder as well. Now the vacuum line being cool all the way to the compressor should also help the compressor to run more efficiently and hopefully last longer.

 

[crazykid1994]

One step closer

 

[crazykid1994]

Thanks @ram1500rsm for the track bar drop bracket. I will be planning on reinstalling my rear spacers over my eibach springs when I install the bracket. It’s amusing how Carli suggests using this with their kit for the trucks but their kit only uses 1/2” lift springs and the drop bracket appears to be about 1-1/2” drop.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Thanks @ram1500rsm for the track bar drop bracket. I will be planning on reinstalling my rear spacers over my eibach springs when I install the bracket. It’s amusing how Carli suggests using this with their kit for the trucks but their kit only uses 1/2” lift springs and the drop bracket appears to be about 1-1/2” drop.
View attachment 223045

I know right ?. On top of that I've read their coil springs won't provide any lift at all even though Carli advertises 1/2" lift. I spoke with them and they said the spring rates are actually softer than stock so the springs will settle to stock height or a little more. Oh well.

 

[crazykid1994]

Ok. Decisions. Christmas is coming. I’m on the edge between 2 items. Aev snorkel or full set of rear control arms. Truck hasn’t been off-road in a while. Just bought our first home and have spent the majority of my free time fixing it up and doing much needed yard work that the previous owner neglected. I live in south Florida and we get a lot of dust and/or water in our trails so the snorkel has been on my list for a while along with the Clayton off-road control arms. What’s your opinions?

 

[ram1500rsm]

I will do the control arms instead of the snorkel just cause the control arms are prob more needed items anyways on a truck that is not new.
Regarding the snorkel, they're super useful if you're into deep water crossings, remember you also need to address your front/rear diff breathers, trans and transfer case breathers as well for the same function.

 

[crazykid1994]

I will do the control arms instead of the snorkel just cause the control arms are prob more needed items anyways on a truck that is not new.
Regarding the snorkel, they're super useful if you're into deep water crossings, remember you also need to address your front/rear diff breathers, trans and transfer case breathers as well for the same function.

All breathers have been addressed. Have taken the truck through some serious water. Had water over my headlights. Trans, front diff, and transfer case all extended to above the engine. Rear diff above fuel door. South Florida tends to be more swampy off-roading so water is a huge obstacle here. Removed my s&b intake and returned to stock due to almost ingesting water from how their intake is designed. Although rear control arms are very tempting for better control of the truck and how it maneuvers

 

[marshall634]

looks good, love that color

 

[crazykid1994]

Just purchased a purple cranium rear diff guard and in the process of buying front and rear diff fluid as well as tcase fluid for my truck. 4 years and 33,000 miles on it. Changing the fluid as preventative maintenance and planing on cracking open the diff to check the gears and make sure everything looks healthy.

 

[crazykid1994]

Installed a hidden antenna. Testing it out to see how I like it. Ram it all the way to the radio to prevent as much loss to the antenna as possible. Planning on adding a snorkel down the road and debating on deleting the stock antenna completely. Debating using a roof shark am/fm/Xm antenna if this doesn’t work out. I don’t use Sirius xm so I don’t care if I lose xm radio honestly and just get a rooftop am/fm antenna to replace the xm puck.

 

[crazykid1994]

First picture is front diff oil. Nice and clean and clear. Didn’t get one of transfer case oil but that was clear too. Second picture is rear diff. That’s pretty dirty. Rest of the pictures are pretty obvious. Gear set looks great. Filling with redline thanks to @Nick@GotExhaust

 

[Nick@GotExhaust]

that rear will be much happier with some fresh Red Line in it. that fluid was looking pretty dirty.

 

[crazykid1994]

Wasn’t expecting this for a month as it said 4 weeks expected but it’s in and installed. Purple cranium half diff cover. Ordered in the basic hammered look. Looks great and fits great. Thing is beefy. However it is a super tight fit on the sway bar. Not even a 1/2” of clearance. This will be great for when I start doing overland camping in Georgia and Tennessee. Next when tax returns come through I’m buying Clayton overland plus rear control arms. All I have left to purchase after that is long tube headers and the aev snorkel kit. Then the truck itself will be done and I can start working on my overland setup.