Time for a rebuild

[justadodgeman]

03 ram hemi. Did a compression test and all cylinders were 175-185 except one that was barely getting to 110 and with oil in the cylinder it was 180. Everything like oil pump, valve seals, cam, springs, alternator, water pump, timing set, headers, superchips, gauges, and torque converter are new and I have a back up transmission so I can't get myself to get rid of the truck.
Plan is:
-clevite p-series main and rod bearings
-hopefully I can find a good deal on new 6.1 crank
-mopar gaskets except rear main cause mine is already leaking after like 3,000 miles
-heads milled .20 or .30 over?
-block professionally bored .20 over
-Mahle forged Pistons/rings/.20 over/9.6 cr or Manley forged Pistons/rings/.20 over/9.7 cr
I guess my question is how much can an 03 handle mod/tuning wise and who makes the cam bearings

 

[justadodgeman]

Trying to start ordering parts but don't want to put my truck together and have to much compression or some bull that an 03 with superchips can't handle.
So can I do all this or will I need custom tuning?
-Mill heads .30
-Bore .20 over
-9.7 compression pistons

 

[usaf2006]

My guess is you would need custom tuning, but I'm not sure. Others with more experience should chime in soon.

 

[ST-8]

If you're going to throw that kind of money at it, why not spend a little extra to get all out of it performance wise an get it tuned? 2003s are able to get tuned but there finicky compared to the 04+ models an no trans support on 03-04 an some 05s

 

[RonJon '06]

If you're going with a forged crank and pistons are you getting forged connecting rods as well? If you deck the heads you'll need custom length pushrods and yes it'll need a custom tune. Don't know who sells the cam bearings because the machine shop ordered and installed mine.

 

[Rustycowl69]

if you shave the heads, you'll need shorter pushrods, but you don't necessarily have to order custom pushrods. You can probably shorten your existing pushrods. It's not hard if you have access to a lathe.

 

[justadodgeman]

If you're going to throw that kind of money at it, why not spend a little extra to get all out of it performance wise an get it tuned? 2003s are able to get tuned but there finicky compared to the 04+ models an no trans support on 03-04 an some 05s

Because I'm willing to spend around 3,000. How hard would it be to swap to an 05 ecu

 

[justadodgeman]

If you're going with a forged crank and pistons are you getting forged connecting rods as well? If you deck the heads you'll need custom length pushrods and yes it'll need a custom tune. Don't know who sells the cam bearings because the machine shop ordered and installed mine.

I'd like to get a whole rotating assembly. The only reason I won't to get a crank is so I don't have to worry about needing oversized bearings and I can have everything ready to go when I get home in a month

 

[HemiLonestar]

So can I do all this or will I need custom tuning?
-Mill heads .30
-Bore .20 over
-9.7 compression pistons

For a slight compression increase you won't need custom tuning, Superchips will be fine. If you cam it beyond a mild custom grind or comparable (like a comp 260) you will, which is where you will run into problems.

Because I'm willing to spend around 3,000. How hard would it be to swap to an 05 ecu

You can either get an 05 PCM and harness and try to do it yourself or yank your entire 03 harness, get an 05 PCM and send it to a place like hotwireauto and you shell out some $$.

 

[justadodgeman]

For a slight compression increase you won't need custom tuning, Superchips will be fine. If you cam it beyond a mild custom grind or comparable (like a comp 260) you will, which is where you will run into problems.



You can either get an 05 PCM and harness and try to do it yourself or yank your entire 03 harness, get an 05 PCM and send it to a place like hotwireauto and you shell out some $$.

Well I'm not sure how much compression milling the heads .30 would add plus adding a little higher compression Pistons(9.7 instead of 9.6) I've already got a custom grind by jay Greene that idles and runs great on a superchips tune. I'm not sure if you would even need tuning at all to bore the block .20 but I plan to do that too. I just want it to be fast as hell and reliable.

 

[justadodgeman]

About what would a machine shop charge to do cam bearings, bore and hone, mill the heads, valve seats, and shorten pushrods?

 

[justadodgeman]

Well I have ordered diamond 14.2cc dome Pistons that came with total seal rings. Also got Manley h-beam rods. Now just trying to find a good deal on a 6.1 crank that is new or will take standard sized bearings because I've already ordered p series clevite bearings and gaskets and everything else I will need.

 

[justadodgeman]

Well I have ordered diamond 14.2cc dome Pistons that came with total seal rings. Also got Manley h-beam rods. Now just trying to find a good deal on a 6.1 crank that is new or will take standard sized bearings because I've already ordered p series clevite bearings and gaskets and everything else I will need.

Just ordered a 6.1 crank from inertia motor sports and he is gonna have it polished for me for a little extra. Is there anything else I will need to make a 6.1 crank work in my 5.7 and what do I need to know to get it balanced

 

[ST-8]

You ever been on Nadodge or hemitruckclub? It's more performance oriented for the HEMI trucks, not real lively but the guys there are more into making trucks go fast, as opposed to most sights for the 3G Ram, the performance side is dying off.

 

[justadodgeman]

You ever been on Nadodge or hemitruckclub? It's more performance oriented for the HEMI trucks, not real lively but the guys there are more into making trucks go fast, as opposed to most sights for the 3G Ram, the performance side is dying off.

im a member on hemi truck club I guess I'll try nadodge
Thanks