Need help

[Speedy McD]

Please assist in a performance decision. I continue reading about gaining every available horsepower out of the Ram and keep getting conflicting information. My thoughts for the ultimate sleeper (until a supercharger is available for the '13) is:
Vararam
87mm throttle body
Magnaflow cat-back
Diablo tuner

Here are the issues I have read about..
A bigger throttle body will increase horsepower however the torque will lower. Myth or truth?
If you replace your stock airfilter with a performance filter it will only be a small fraction difference as going with a CAI. Looking at a dry filter, AFE.

I am looking for stop light to stop light performance with no drone or high pitch sounds. Someone please chime in. Im ready to get this done and start working on the cosmetics.

 

[Mopar_Express]

Your list sounds good. Dont forget to add longtube headers to it. With the throttle body you will want to port match the intake too. If you really want to transform the truck you will want to look into a torque converter also. An aftermarket unit does a much better job putting the ponies to the ground.

Its been debated plenty lately but a drop in filter wont do nearly as much for you as a legitimate intake will. Its your money though, and some people dont feel comfortable spending 300 bucks on 5-10 hp.

 

[Caldwell]

Intake wise Vararam is going to give you the best gains from what has been discussed on the forum. I however prefer the traditional style better. As mentioned by MOPAR EXPRESS, adding headers to the list will help you gain some good power, however they are pricey. Also I would add a CATCH CAN, and Y-PIPE mod into you list as well. the factory y-pipe on these trucks is god awful. The Catch Can will prevent your TB and Intake Manifold from getting covered with sludge. A Torque Converter is also going to help you get off the line better.

 

[Hemi450hp]

The only reason you would lose tq with a larger throttle body is if it had a larger bore with no taper to the port. A prime example of this is the BBK 85mm TB. This throttle body is 85mm from front to back which increases airflow, but decreases airspeed. This results in a loss of tq down low, but increased hp at higher rpms. The way around this is to taper the port so that it is larger at the front of the blade and smaller behind the blade. The taper will increase airspeed while the overall larger bore increases the top end power as well...it is the best of both worlds. That is the reasoning behind our port design.

As for intakes, you want to force as much cold air into the motor as possible. A drop in filter is not going to show any increase in performance because it is not letting in any more air or any cooler air than the stock filter. The Vararam is going to show the best gains as we have seen up to a .4 drop in 1/4 mile ET from the intake alone. It is the only intake available that actually forces cold air into the motor.

Headers and a new TQ converter should also be high on your list. Longtubes are showing gains upwards of 30hp/30tq with proper tuning. Shorties are half the price, but they will also only net half the gain. Most shorties are showing 12-15hp/tq.

The tq converter is going to be huge as well. When it comes to off the line performance, no other mod you install on the truck will show the gains that you will see from the new tq converter. Keep the stall speed in the 2800-3000 rpm range, and you will have a beast off the line with great street manners on the highway.

Then once tuning is available, Hemifever is going to get you the best reliable power. We have seen up to 35hp gains with custom 93 octane tuning, so this is definitely a big mod once they release tuning for the 2013 models.

 

[RamHemi5.7]

Questions for Moes-Performance,

Is there a torque converter available for the 8 speed?

What would an average install cost, and what shop would know how to work on the new 8 speed? Would the dealer do this? I don't think I could do this myself...

Would a torque converter affect anything related to emissions? I am worried about california smog. Would the computer notice and tell on me? throw any kind of codes?

 

[whiteram432]

I'm sure there is no 8speed torque converter yet, we. Don't have tuning much less converters.. but in case there are some out already, I'm sure they are way overpriced due to these being new transmission

 

[Burla]

"stop light to stop light performance"

Just take one horse power for example, and even lower it to one man power. Now take two ten speed bikes and two equally powered men, and put one ten speed in first gear and the other in tenth. Do you think they will finish at the same time? NO WAY? 390 HP is all you need, put whatever gear you want and upgrade your transmision/TQ. All of those upgrades combined will not get you off the line faster then changing your gears.

Trade off you should consider if you change gears.
If you have a differential that's lower geared you will have more torque at any given RPM but to go at a given speed your engine will have to turn faster than with a higher geared differential. in theory this will lower your top speed.
if you go with a higher gearset you will have less torque in any given gear, but will have a higher speed at any given engine RPM vs the lower geared set. Your MPG will go down because you will be turning higher RPM within each of your transmision's gears. But for going stop light to stop light, the guy with the 4.56 wins.

And good news is if you have the 8 speed, I believe you will have a better top end then all the guys without the 8 speed, but I admit I don't know about the tranny gearing in your truck.

 

[Pull Ya]

Most all of the above are good ideas to help you increase the performance of your new truck, but please remember that you are driving a 5000# truck. In your "class" it might run better than most, but it was never built to be a "high performance" vehicle.
Jay

 

[Burla]

Most all of the above are good ideas to help you increase the performance of your new truck, but please remember that you are driving a 5000# truck. In your "class" it might run better than most, but it was never built to be a "high performance" vehicle.
Jay

Not a bad point at all, can't turn a ho into a housewife.