Performance upgrades for 2013 Ram

[Joel Glisson]

Save your money for a blower. Headers are over rated if your naturally aspirated. You will not notice enough of a gain from headers unless you have a blower.

I'm probably leaning towards that. I noticed that the edelbrock superchargers are a little cheaper than procharger. I've heard a lot of great things about the procharger system though, while I haven't heard anything about the edelbrock system. Any thoughts?

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

I'm probably leaning towards that. I noticed that the edelbrock superchargers are a little cheaper than procharger. I've heard a lot of great things about the procharger system though, while I haven't heard anything about the edelbrock system. Any thoughts?

Personally I wouldnt install a blower unless its a roots type blower. (Whipple)

 

[Pull Ya]

There are a couple of members that recently installed blowers on their 4th Gen's. Maybe they will chime in and give you their experiences.
Jay

 

[Wild one]

Save your money for a blower. Headers are over rated if your naturally aspirated. You will not notice enough of a gain from headers unless you have a blower.

I disagree. When I went from stock manifolds with a custom mandrel bent catless midpipe and canned 93 Diablo tune to JBA long tubes and catless midpipe with a custom tune I dropped over a 1/2 second off my 1/4 mile times. I'm guessing you've never seen the stock log manifolds ,a garden hose flows more then they do,the stock manifolds are very restrictive

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

I disagree. When I went from stock manifolds with a custom mandrel bent catless midpipe and canned 93 Diablo tune to JBA long tubes and catless midpipe with a custom tune I dropped over a 1/2 second off my 1/4 mile times. I'm guessing you've never seen the stock log manifolds ,a garden hose flows more then they do,the stock manifolds are very restrictive

I have not seen the stock manifold, but i will take your word for it. I just can not justify $1,000.+ on headers when that money can be put toward a blower, or a cam. I made the mistake of adding a cold air intake, long tube headers, bigger mass airflow sensor, bigger throttle body, catless X pipe, and flowmaster exhaust on my mustang. Lets just say I was very dissapointed when i saw the numbers vs stock when i had a dyno tune done.
These new motors respond a lot better to blowers than bolt ons. All of the money I spent on bolt ons, could have went towards buying a blower. I learned a valuable, but expensive lesson.

 

[Pull Ya]

Lots and lots of guys on here have installed headers with no intention of ever installing a blower. I can't remember any of them saying what a mistake it was cause they saw no improvement in performance. If what you say is correct,(post #16) then there is a lot of guys that have wasted their money. I hope yours is a minority opinion.
Jay

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

Lots and lots of guys on here have installed headers with no intention of ever installing a blower. I can't remember any of them saying what a mistake it was cause they saw no improvement in performance. If what you say is correct,(post #16) then there is a lot of guys that have wasted their money. I hope yours is a minority opinion.
Jay

What im saying is the money spent for headers for our trucks is a lot. The HP numbers gained by by 1 7/8" long tubes is minimal on a NA motor with stock cam.
Not to mention install costs. You can buy a used blower for $3,000. And get 50% higher HP ang TQ numbers. Newer motors respond better to being blown than they do to bolt ons. Nobody makes improved intake manifolds like the old edelbrock victor JR that perform great with a big cam and carb that old motors used. Times have a changed.

 

[chrisp2493]

Well that’s because the stock intake manifolds are getting really really good on these newer hemis. But as I said earlier, all those mods (especially the headers) are great stepping stones if you wanted a blower later on. Here are the stock log manifolds

You would have to be crazy to think that switching to these aren’t helping you pick up a good bit of power
I have always read most people are getting an easy 30-40 hp from headers, way more then you would get from buying into the cold air intake nonsense.


I Bleed Ram Trucks

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

Well that’s because the stock intake manifolds are getting really really good on these newer hemis. But as I said earlier, all those mods (especially the headers) are great stepping stones if you wanted a blower later on. Here are the stock log manifolds

You would have to be crazy to think that switching to these aren’t helping you pick up a good bit of power
I have always read most people are getting an easy 30-40 hp from headers, way more then you would get from buying into the cold air intake nonsense.


I Bleed Ram Trucks

Well that’s because the stock intake manifolds are getting really really good on these newer hemis. But as I said earlier, all those mods (especially the headers) are great stepping stones if you wanted a blower later on. Here are the stock log manifolds

You would have to be crazy to think that switching to these aren’t helping you pick up a good bit of power
I have always read most people are getting an easy 30-40 hp from headers, way more then you would get from buying into the cold air intake nonsense.


I Bleed Ram Trucks

On JBA's website they only gained 15 rwhp from their headers. http://www.ramforumz.com/showthread.php?t=106126&page=3#/topics/106126?page=3
I just read a long write up on another forum about shortys and long tubes. People always exxagerate HP numbers. 30-40 hp is nothing but a pipe dream.

 

[Wild one]

What im saying is the money spent for headers for our trucks is a lot. The HP numbers gained by by 1 7/8" long tubes is minimal on a NA motor with stock cam.
Not to mention install costs. You can buy a used blower for $3,000. And get 50% higher HP ang TQ numbers. Newer motors respond better to being blown than they do to bolt ons. Nobody makes improved intake manifolds like the old edelbrock victor JR that perform great with a big cam and carb that old motors used. Times have a changed.

It's a waste of time to put a blower on these trucks if you don't also put a decent set of headers on,all you're doing is generating false boost numbers and heat if the exhaust won't let it out of the cylinders

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

It's a waste of time to put a blower on these trucks if you don't also put a decent set of headers on,all you're doing is generating false boost numbers and heat if the exhaust won't let it out of the cylinders

Waste of time to put a blower on without headers? Lmao! You still get 50% more power and torque with just the blower, and even MORE if you then add 1 7/8 headers. C
If you intend on installing a blower later on then adding headers does make sense.

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

15HP not 30-40 HP lmao!

 

[Pull Ya]

This will always hold true--"going fast cost money, so just how fast do you wanna go?" Or for some of us maybe it should say----how fast will your wife let you go?
Just a little humor added to the conversation----
Jay

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

This will always hold true--"going fast cost money, so just how fast do you wanna go?" Or for some of us maybe it should say----how fast will your wife let you go?
Just a little humor added to the conversation----
Jay

Jay i was by no means trying to be a smart ass. Like i said earlier, newer motors respond better to being blown than they do to bolt ons. If a blower adds 50% HP and TQ then a set of headers will add even more power. Add in ported heads and a cam with the blower, and it will run like a ***** ape! Even at only 8psi.

 

[chrisp2493]

Well headers aren’t going to cause your rod to go through the side of your stock block. Ask the 4th gen guy (I “THINK” it was Tach-Tech??) that had that happen not too long ago on his blower. If you want to add boost, it’s way more expensive then just throughout a blower on and walking away if you are committed to doing it right. Now you are putting even more pressure on a lightweight trans like the op has, and running the risk of popping a piston or two if you get carried away. To do it right, it’s not just 5 grand for a blower kit. He said he only wants to spend around 3 grand, so the mods listed will help him accomplish that goal of improving without blowing the bank and an engine.


I Bleed Ram Trucks

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

Well that’s because the stock intake manifolds are getting really really good on these newer hemis. But as I said earlier, all those mods (especially the headers) are great stepping stones if you wanted a blower later on. Here are the stock log manifolds

You would have to be crazy to think that switching to these aren’t helping you pick up a good bit of power
I have always read most people are getting an easy 30-40 hp from headers, way more then you would get from buying into the cold air intake nonsense.


I Bleed Ram Trucks

Long tube headers and flowmaster exhaust vs stock only gained 22 rwhp.
Funny some guys claim 30-40 from just long tubes. Dyno charts always tell the truth.

http://www.offroadxtreme.com/engine-tech/exhaust/ramping-up-the-ram-with-headers-exhaust-and-a-tune/

 

[chrisp2493]

Long tube headers and flowmaster exhaust vs stock only gained 22 rwhp.
Funny some guys claim 30-40 from just long tubes. Dyno charts always tell the truth.

http://www.offroadxtreme.com/engine-tech/exhaust/ramping-up-the-ram-with-headers-exhaust-and-a-tune/

You’re just looking at a peak to peak number that the engine runs at for about 2 seconds on a pull. Look at the entire dyno graph comparing the gains





I Bleed Ram Trucks

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

Well headers aren’t going to cause your rod to go through the side of your stock block. Ask the 4th gen guy (I “THINK” it was Tach-Tech??) that had that happen not too long ago on his blower. If you want to add boost, it’s way more expensive then just throughout a blower on and walking away if you are committed to doing it right. Now you are putting even more pressure on a lightweight trans like the op has, and running the risk of popping a piston or two if you get carried away. To do it right, it’s not just 5 grand for a blower kit. He said he only wants to spend around 3 grand, so the mods listed will help him accomplish that goal of improving without blowing the bank and an engine.


I Bleed Ram Trucks

Depends what air/fuel ratio was and how many pounds of boost he was running. I had twin turbos and a blower i installed myself on my mustang, so I have experience and first hand knowledge. There are lots of variables that need to be followed correctly. The number one cause of blown motors on forced induction motors is not installing a large enough fuel pump or injectors. Second reason for blown motors is ****** tuning and wrong fuel/air ratio.
You can find used supercharger kits for 3 grand, and if you only run 6# of boost, proper fuel/air ratio, and proper fuel delivery, you wont have any problems.
You cant use an internet custom tuner, you have to have the truck custom dyno tuned so the parameters can be properly adjusted.
But back to my original point...headers do not add 30-40 hp. Those numbers are rediculously inflated!!!

 

[chrisp2493]

Depends what air/fuel ratio was and how many pounds of boost he was running. I had twin turbos and a blower i installed myself on my mustang, so I have experience and first hand knowledge. There are lots of variables that need to be followed correctly. The number one cause of blown motors on forced induction motors is not installing a large enough fuel pump or injectors. Second reason for blown motors is ****** tuning and wrong fuel/air ratio.
You can find used supercharger kits for 3 grand, and if you only run 6# of boost, proper fuel/air ratio, and proper fuel delivery, you wont have any problems.
You cant use an internet custom tuner, you have to have the truck custom dyno tuned so the parameters can be properly adjusted.
But back to my original point...headers do not add 30-40 hp. Those numbers are rediculously inflated!!!

Maybe not peak to peak but look at the overall curve that was in your own quoted article. The torque gains were substantial. And you are comparing two different engines, the Hemi’s problem is weak ring lands that fail after 8lbs or so. I’m not arguing one bit that $ for $ a super charger isn’t the best bang for the buck, but again there is so much more involved then just a blower kit. How long is that stock engine and tranny going to hold up to an extra 150 hp? That’s when the cost goes way up


I Bleed Ram Trucks

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

You’re just looking at a peak to peak number that the engine runs at for about 2 seconds on a pull. Look at the entire dyno graph comparing the gains





I Bleed Ram Trucks

And? Headers only gain 15hp for $1000+ dollars plus install cost ($500).
OP would be better off NOT installing insanely priced headers and putting his money ($3,000.) towards a used blower that will give 50% more power, not 15hp.