New 03 Ram

[rparker762]

03 Ram SLT Quad cab, 5.7 Hemi, 4x4, 20" wheels.

Still finding stuff out about this but I am digging it. It does have high miles but it just went through the shop and everything checks out. It has 90489 on the clock. Fully loaded. I probably got raked over the coals and even from the dealership I work at but with my bad credit this was a good deal. The wife is happy. . My wife had a 99 Dakota and she always wanted a fullsize. She runs great! I promise there will be offroad pics of this one and the stuff I was planning for my Suburban will still work in this. Now the bad or not so bad.

Miles, Ive had good luck with higher mileage vehichle in the past and that doesnt mean too much to me.

PO location. The truck spent most of its life in Michigan. The only really bad rust is the oil pan so that will be replaced. Everything else will get pressure washed and coated.

The is a slight whining noise coming from the rear of the truck. It correlates with the speed of the truck. I assumed rear end and had them crack open the diff. Oil was shot but no metal, slop, or abnormal wear.

The wheels will get replaced down the line with some 17"s but it will be a while as the tires are in really good shape, Cooper Discovery HTs.

Toolbox, spray-in bedliner and a bed rug, nav disk for the nav system, torsion keys from Rough Country to raise the front to sit level. Thats about it as its gonna take a while to do.

Now, for those who own a similar Dodge, anything I should look for or suggestions? I've been a Chevy man all my life so......

 

[Greggk]

the new hemi is a great motor, I had 2 vehicles with the hemi. 1st the durango, that I then traded for a 300c. they are proven powerhouses, reliable, great fuel mileage for what you are getting. They respond well to cold air intakes, exhausts and tuning. I recommend the diablosport predator tuner. they sound amazing when you put the pedal down. they do tend to have what is called the "hemi tick" it is normal, and is nothing wrong with it. the whine from the rear could be the rear is improperly shimmed or it just could be a LSD that is just noisy.

 

[rparker762]

I assume the Hemi tick you are talking about is a steady tick that I hear from the motor at idle correct? Oh and the exhaust is good with a 4" pipe.

 

[Greggk]

yes that would be the one. apparently that tick is actually the injectors firing. a 4" exhaust? are you sure it isnt a 3"? nobody i know of makes a 4" exhaust for the hemi. stock is 2.75" every aftermarket i know of is 3". 4" would be WAY to large for a stock motor. It would kill the low end torque drastically. I have friends that are pushing 550-600 rwhp out of the 5.7 based stroker motors (393ci strokers)with superchargers and are only running 3" exhaust if its single exhaust, if they are running duals it is 2.5" dual dumped before the rear axle. Hell my diesel is running 4" turbo downpipe into a 4" straight pipe exhaust into dual 5" stacks, and that is a 7.3L (444ci) turbo diesel which moves significantly more air then a naturally aspirated 5.7L (345ci) gas motor. don't think im talking you down i'm just talking realistically. Now most likely its a 3" catback with a 4" exhaust tip. that i can see.

on a lighter note, that truck is gorgeous. take care of it, if you end up purchasing it. let me know if you want to get some good engine parts and i will point you in the right direction!

 

[Greggk]

BTW here is my old hemi vehicles so you can get a concept of my knowledge of them

2005 Durango Adventurer. 5.7 Hemi. Volant CAI, Flowmaster custom made 3" exhaust, Jet stage 2 chip (stay away from them, they are junk), 2004 Dodge ram 20's. I wish I never got rid of my durango.

2006 Chrysler 300c. 5.7Hemi. Airhammer CAI, Custom Flowmaster Dual exhaust (I dont buy off the shelf exhaust kits), Diablosport predator tuner (highly recommended) 22" Euromax Design wheels, too much invested.. over $20,000 in mods to that car.

here is a video for a great sounding hemi... 289.9rwhp in colorado springs, colorado which is 6890 feet above sea level where the dyno is. that equates to 359.1rwhp going by the standard equation of 3.5% loss for every 1,000 feet above sea level for a normally aspirated engine.

 

[rparker762]

I have to measure it still but this looks bigger than 3".....

 

[Greggk]

hmmm idk.. those pics are deceiving. but that exhaust looks like its stock. take a picture of the muffler quick and i can tell you what you got. btw my 300c had 4" tips...

 

[rparker762]

Ill grab a pic after work but I think the muffler is stock.

 

[Greggk]

if it is stock it is 2.75" now if it is the mopar performance which is made by either borla or magnaflow it is 3"

 

[colodak]

the whine you hear from the rear, may be a pinion starting to go. My '00 Daktoa does this, and it varies with speed as well. Dealer diagnosed it about two years ago as a R&P whine, it's starting to go bad and will need replaced. Based on your mileage, not uncommon, mine has 118K and started about 95K with the noise as well.

 

[rparker762]

I found a service bulletin, TSB 03-004-04, that involves installing a driveshaft with an external damper. Even though it is for a 2500, the rest of the bulletin reads as if it were my truck. Gonna take it to Dodge and have them check it out anyways. While the tires ar nice and makes the truck sit higher, they dont ride all that well with the short sidewall. I will be ordering me up a set of Michilens when I get the 17" rims.

 

[Greggk]

if you go to www.dodgetalk.com im sure someone would be willing to trade you their 17's and a little cash for your factory 20" wheels and tires

 

[Phreak480]

I've got an 03 hemi 4 door long bed 4x4 with just over 90k on it and it never gives me any trouble. I'd recommend if it hasnt been done yet for sure putting new plugs in it. It seems intimidating with 2 per cylinder but when i did mine it only took 90 minutes start to finish, they are pretty easy to get at. Surely come back here with any questions or feel free to pm me as i've done plenty of mods to mine. 6" lift new wheels 35" rubber, had the entire interior out numerous times for various projects, custom headliner, 2 way and cb radio installed, the list can go on and on. Also i would have to agree that exhaust does look stock.

 

[mvbeggs]

Here's my new hemi- lovn it!

Just got this back from Burnsville Offroad a couple weeks ago. I'm lov'n the power. :wings: Too bad Jeep doesn't do this from the factory.

Pre Hemi photo at Easter Jeep Safari, Moab 2011:

 

[Sock Puppet]

That may very well be the baddest 4-door Wrangler I've ever seen!