Retiring my truck as my daily driver and wanting to finally do some upgrades to it.

[Jonpen26]

I recently got a company vehicle so my truck gets to be retired from being my daily driver.

I have a 2016 ran 1500 with the 8 speed. All currently stock.

Looking for some recommendations on what simple modifications I can start with to slowly improve my performance and get some more power. Any idea and part recommendations would be great. Thanks

 

[Adamcr68]

I recently got a company vehicle so my truck gets to be retired from being my daily driver.

I have a 2016 ran 1500 with the 8 speed. All currently stock.

Looking for some recommendations on what simple modifications I can start with to slowly improve my performance and get some more power. Any idea and part recommendations would be great. Thanks

Most bolt on upgrades won’t do much to give you more hp.
Cold air intakes claim up to 15 hp gains, but our trucks have a good intake already, I found out after I bought one of course.
Exhaust systems, cat backs & replacing the factory y- pipe will help the engine “ breath” better, along with long tube headers are the only bolt ons that will actually increase hp IMO.
You’ll need to get a custom tune, replace or get your cpu unlocked, 15’ & up are locked, to be able to get the most out of upgrades.
Headers, cat back, a open y-pipe & custom tune is where I’m at now, my tuner estimates around 420hp, was hoping for 450 or so but he informed me would need to upgrade cam to get close to those numbers.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

No such thing as simple mods, it's a slippery slope . My best advice, wash it, wax it, fill it up with some 89 octane and go for a scenic drive.

 

[Mojo88]

Major power increases typically come with major expenses and major headaches.

I would recommend you start with the whole HPTuner setup; with a new, unlocked PCM. You can do some minor tweaks to the engine and the trans which you will definitely feel. I did this, and am totally happy. But mind you, I am not looking to roast tires or get into the 11's with my truck. I don't even know if I have more official horsepower, it's just that my truck FEELS 100% better, the transmission shifts when it should, and the engine is very responsive.

You'd have to learn some of the tuning basics, but you should be doing that anyway, ESPECIALLY if you plan on big power adders. And you'd NEED an unlocked PCM to make any real changes at all.

 

[Mojo88]

Headers, cat back, a open y-pipe & custom tune is where I’m at now, my tuner estimates around 420hp, was hoping for 450 or so but he informed me would need to upgrade cam to get close to those numbers.

Header setup looks nice. How's the interior noise level? Any drone?

 

[Pull Ya]

Most guys wanting to improve their truck's performance use the following as a foundation: Long tube headers, a tuner with a custom tune, and a 6.4 intake manifold with a CAI. These are the estimated improvements: headers about 25-30hp, a custom tune about 25-30hp, and the intake and CAI about 25 hp. Be prepared to increase your credit card limit--headers are about $2000-2500, an unlocked PCM and custom tune are north of $1000-$1500, and the 6.4 intake and CAI are north of $1000. There are many more performance improvements you can make to enhance the above.
Jay

 

[Adamcr68]

Header setup looks nice. How's the interior noise level? Any drone?

None that I notice, but my wife has commented that she is not a fan, don’t know if “drone” or just the fact you can hear the exhaust.

 

[slbenz600]

Most bolt on upgrades won’t do much to give you more hp.
Cold air intakes claim up to 15 hp gains, but our trucks have a good intake already, I found out after I bought one of course.
Exhaust systems, cat backs & replacing the factory y- pipe will help the engine “ breath” better, along with long tube headers are the only bolt ons that will actually increase hp IMO.
You’ll need to get a custom tune, replace or get your cpu unlocked, 15’ & up are locked, to be able to get the most out of upgrades.
Headers, cat back, a open y-pipe & custom tune is where I’m at now, my tuner estimates around 420hp, was hoping for 450 or so but he informed me would need to upgrade cam to get close to those numbers.

One of the simplest upgrades that can be done to increase power and gas mileage. Talk to your exhaust people tell them you want a true dual exhaust system ? that Y pipe that is connected to the rear of the catiletic converts is a big piece of garbage, have the exhaust people cut the Y pipe off then weld 3 inch pipe on each of the cats, followed back through two mufflers of your choice of sound continued either out the back or out behind rear tires. You will gain 8 to 10 mpg and noticeable increase in power. It's all legal because you are leaving both cats and O/2 sensors. If you put the upgraded air box and filter make sure you know what your buying some require a monthly or more cleaning and if you travel on dirt roads you clean after you are off. There are different brands out there one of the worst is K & N, they are similar to a screen door with a piece of paper requiring daily or weekly cleaning to keep your engine clean. Good luck

 

[Mojo88]

..... have the exhaust people cut the Y pipe off then weld 3 inch pipe on each of the cats, followed back through two mufflers of your choice of sound continued either out the back or out behind rear tires. You will gain 8 to 10 mpg and noticeable increase in power. .....

8 to 10 mpg increase? Not in this lifetime,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 8/10ths of a mpg increase maybe......;

 

[Adamcr68]

One of the simplest upgrades that can be done to increase power and gas mileage. Talk to your exhaust people tell them you want a true dual exhaust system ? that Y pipe that is connected to the rear of the catiletic converts is a big piece of garbage, have the exhaust people cut the Y pipe off then weld 3 inch pipe on each of the cats, followed back through two mufflers of your choice of sound continued either out the back or out behind rear tires. You will gain 8 to 10 mpg and noticeable increase in power. It's all legal because you are leaving both cats and O/2 sensors. If you put the upgraded air box and filter make sure you know what your buying some require a monthly or more cleaning and if you travel on dirt roads you clean after you are off. There are different brands out there one of the worst is K & N, they are similar to a screen door with a piece of paper requiring daily or weekly cleaning to keep your engine clean. Good luck

I had briefly considered doing a true dual exhaust, & I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no expert, but have seen post’s from very knowledgeable members about having the right amount of back pressure.
Apologies to @Wild one if I’m remembering wrong, I recall a post saying a single exhaust setup properly, will deliver more hp than a dual exhaust.

 

[Wild one]

I had briefly considered doing a true dual exhaust, & I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no expert, but have seen post’s from very knowledgeable members about having the right amount of back pressure.
Apologies to @Wild one if I’m remembering wrong, I recall a post saying a single exhaust setup properly, will deliver more hp than a dual exhaust.

A big single exhaust will generally make more power then a dual system will.

 

[Daw14]

I had briefly considered doing a true dual exhaust, & I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no expert, but have seen post’s from very knowledgeable members about having the right amount of back pressure.
Apologies to @Wild one if I’m remembering wrong, I recall a post saying a single exhaust setup properly, will deliver more hp than a dual exhaust.

I do not know if you have access to the tv show Engine Masters , but they devoted an episode addressing different exhaust setups.

This is a good episode, like most .
And a single 3” out performed a 2 1/2 “ dual, hands down.
I watched it a couple times , to try and let it sink in my thick head. All the years taught to believe the duels were better , this shows differently .

Plus this should free up some money ,to spend on other goodies !!!

 

[Mojo88]

I do not know if you have access to the tv show Engine Masters , but they devoted an episode addressing different exhaust setups.

This is a good episode, like most .
And a single 3” out performed a 2 1/2 “ dual, hands down.
I watched it a couple times , to try and let it sink in my thick head. All the years taught to believe the duels were better , this shows differently .

Plus this should free up some money ,to spend on other goodies !!!

Yeah, but there's something suggestively sensual about a nice set of duals poking out the back, if you catch my drift.

Did they mess with different headers in that episode? I do like that show, not sure if they're making any new episodes. But I always thought they were pretty well done. Real dyno numbers can often be very enlightening............

 

[Wild one]

I do not know if you have access to the tv show Engine Masters , but they devoted an episode addressing different exhaust setups.

This is a good episode, like most .
And a single 3” out performed a 2 1/2 “ dual, hands down.
I watched it a couple times , to try and let it sink in my thick head. All the years taught to believe the duels were better , this shows differently .

Plus this should free up some money ,to spend on other goodies !!!

Even when i was a kid,my Dad was a big proponent of big single exhausts,as he was an old dirt track stock car racer,and he'd discovered that his car made more off the corner torque with a big single then it did with dual pipes,and that was back in the early 60's

 

[Daw14]

Yeah, but there's something suggestively sensual about a nice set of duals poking out the back, if you catch my drift.

Did they mess with different headers in that episode? I do like that show, not sure if they're making any new episodes. But I always thought they were pretty well done. Real dyno numbers can often be very enlightening............

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got headers and duels out the back , as the sound has its own siren song that draws me in.
My memory fails me about more details, I was lucky to find my coffee and iPad today.
But helps me to forget about all the things my body prevents me from doing.