My 2003 Dodge Ram 3500

[skippy]

So my faithful tow rig is almost 12 years old and starting show her age. Although it is very clean for its age its not clean enough for me. We sold the white TJ a couple weeks back and met the buyer in Boise, on the way home from Boise I really noticed how bad the truck was riding and handling and decided it was time for rebuild of most the componants in the steering system and suspension along with some paint correction, headlights/tailights, fix the rippling chrome grill and some performance goodies. This is a not really a build thread but it may turn into one.



Here is the list of stuff I have planned ASAP:

Replace steering box (DONE)
tie rod ends and ball joints (DONE)
Steering box brace (DONE)
Track bar bushings (DONE)
Firestone airbags
shocks
Build new front suspension
intake
bigger turbo
Smarty Tuner
Paint correction
Heated Leather Interior
New wheels (I am open to opinions on chrome or black wheels)

The main reason for the intake and turbo is coming home from St George yesterday pulling 2 rigs up the steep climb headed north out of St George, I had all the power to hold 6th gear but my EGTs would start getting hot and I had to back out of it, most of the performance parts will be mostly about keeping it cool as well as adding some power.


To fix the crappy ride I am going to build a radius arm long arm front suspension and it needs new shocks... Just not sure what shocks to run.
it will also be going to jeepin4x4james for a complete cut n buff to get the paint back to its near perfect condition

Just for pictures sake here is a picture of it on the lift the day I did the front end work dont pay attention to how dirty it is it stormed the day before.

 

[zmotorsports]

Nice lookin' truck. They all need a little TLC after a few years.

My 06 Duramax hardly comes out of the shop these days unless I either need a truck or I am bored and the wife and I want to go for a drive in comfort.

Mike.

 

[skippy]

Nice lookin' truck. They all need a little TLC after a few years.

My 06 Duramax hardly comes out of the shop these days unless I either need a truck or I am bored and the wife and I want to go for a drive in comfort.

Mike.

My truck sits on the side of the house until I need to tow something. The chrome on the wheels is starting to look like crap and cant decide if I want to replace them with chrome wheels or go black, If I go black i will powdercoat my current wheels and save some coin

 

[zmotorsports]

My truck sits on the side of the house until I need to tow something. The chrome on the wheels is starting to look like crap and cant decide if I want to replace them with chrome wheels or go black, If I go black i will powdercoat my current wheels and save some coin

Yep, I know what you mean about the chrome going to shit. My last set I picked up used and couldn't bring them back. I bought a new set of MKW M86 wheels about two years ago and I flat refuse to drive it if the roads are crap.

Mike.

 

[N-Smooth]

As I have previously stated- if you don't make the wheels black we can no longer be friends.

Oh and get back to work on the buggy RIGHT MEOW!

 

[zmotorsports]

As I have previously stated- if you don't make the wheels black we can no longer be friends.

Oh and get back to work on the buggy RIGHT MEOW!

Wow. That's harsh. Tough group.

Mike.

 

[idahoyj]

As I have previously stated- if you don't make the wheels black we can no longer be friends.

Oh and get back to work on the buggy RIGHT MEOW!

That makes the decision easy! Chrome it is!!
Two birds, one stone.

 

[N-Smooth]

That makes the decision easy! Chrome it is!!
Two birds, one stone.

Hahahaha

 

[anderson750]

What are your thoughts on water/methanol injection for cooling the EGT's down. I have been doing a little research on it for my Cummins 6.7 and it seems the Snow Performance kit is good for around 250*F under load.

 

[boogie_4wheel]

What are your thoughts on water/methanol injection for cooling the EGT's down. I have been doing a little research on it for my Cummins 6.7 and it seems the Snow Performance kit is good for around 250*F under load.

I thought about running one on my '05 to help cool the charge, and just filling it with the -20* windshield washer fluid. The Edge Juice makes exhaust a little too warm. I seriously considered the Devils Own kit, but came to the conclusion that it is cheaper to just lift my foot a little bit.
The more I've read about them, it almost seems like money would be better spent on proper tuning (EFI Live for the '06+, or UDC on the '05 and older). The Edge isn't the best choice since it runs hot, but it was already in the truck or I would be running UDC. For your 6.7 (what year?), go get a custom tune on it; better response, more power, and probably a little cooler too.

 

[Bart]

Wow. That's harsh. Tough group.

They're more like a dysfunctional couple and this is kind of like pillow talk.

 

[N-Smooth]

They're more like a dysfunctional couple and this is kind of like pillow talk.

Hahahah! Hey, he told me to reply to his thread. He didn't tell me what to say though

 

[zmotorsports]

They're more like a dysfunctional couple and this is kind of like pillow talk.

Understood. I will just let them have their time together.

Mike.

 

[anderson750]

I thought about running one on my '05 to help cool the charge, and just filling it with the -20* windshield washer fluid. The Edge Juice makes exhaust a little too warm. I seriously considered the Devils Own kit, but came to the conclusion that it is cheaper to just lift my foot a little bit.
The more I've read about them, it almost seems like money would be better spent on proper tuning (EFI Live for the '06+, or UDC on the '05 and older). The Edge isn't the best choice since it runs hot, but it was already in the truck or I would be running UDC. For your 6.7 (what year?), go get a custom tune on it; better response, more power, and probably a little cooler too.

I have an '11 and am running an H&S tuner with EGR & DPF delete, 5" turbo back exhaust and AFE intake.

 

[Tonkaman]

My duramax loved water/meth injection. The truck was built pretty good but I never felt good about pushing it hard so I usually just ran water in it. Water not only helped with peak temps but slowed down how quickly we would get up to peak. The controller failed soon after I bought the truck and I immediately missed having it

 

[Trate D]

I ran water meth on a built cummins for years. Never had an issue it was a snow performance stage 2 kit. It was always good for at least a 200 degree drop. Just got to get your setting tuned correctly you can run larger or smaller nozzles and it's a progressive ramp off boost pressure.

 

[skippy]

I am open to water/methanol but I want to wait until the other mods are done to see if its really needed. The turbo and intake should take care of my EGT issue, Its not like I am dumping tons of fuel at it.

 

[anderson750]

I looked at a couple turbo options for mine awhile ago and my biggest negative towards it is the loss of my engine brake. I could do an aftermarket brake but that pushes the cost out of range for me to do them both at once. I will anxiously await your report on the drop in EGT's with intake & turbo.

 

[skippy]

I looked at a couple turbo options for mine awhile ago and my biggest negative towards it is the loss of my engine brake. I could do an aftermarket brake but that pushes the cost out of range for me to do them both at once. I will anxiously await your report on the drop in EGT's with intake & turbo.

I dont have an exhaust brake, Since my truck is an 03/early 04 it also only has the 305/555 motor instead of the 325/600 that came in late 04. I have a factory turbo off the late 04 HO motor it is a very sizeable upgrade compared to my stock turbo and 100% bolt in swap and they can be had for relatively cheap or free if you know the right people

They are good for another 10 pounds of boost and still remain efficient, also people are reporting a 200-300 degree drop in EGTs plus all the extra power you would expect from a turbo upgrade

 

[skippy]

My current driver side tail light has had a broken plastic clip for awhile and rattles at high way speeds. My wife stepped up this year for my birthday and bought me these to replace the old lights. I like the stock red look with the updated LEDs. My Leather is scheduled to be installed next Wednesday along with seat heaters wich I am very excited about. I also will start installing my air bags for the rear suspension here soon the truck handles the weight great but after towing to St George the truck sagged pretty bad in the rear so its time to remedy that as well. The axles are set so far back on my trailer that it creates alot of tongue weight.



Here is my truck in front of my parents house after we just loaded up my dads XJ before WOTR: