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Dodge Ram 1994-2008: V8 Performance Modifications

Whether you're looking for straight up horsepower or some extra torque for towing capacity, these upgrades are sure to boost your truck's power, performance, and efficiency.

By Jared Hammond - July 15, 2015

This article applies to the Dodge Ram 2nd and 3rd Generation (1994-2008).

If you've got the thirst to modify your Dodge Ram but don't know where to begin, then you've come to the right article. Listed here is a collection of modifications that are great for those who are new to modifying their trucks. Just remember that many of these mods are meant to work together, so just installing one or two components won't get you a significant gain in horsepower. Go into your modifications with a plan for what you want out of it, and budget according to that.

Cold Air Intakes

DIY Cost – $50-$300

Professional Cost – $250-$400

Skill Level – Easy; it is a straightforward bolt on upgrade.

Cold air intakes are always a great place to start because they're a relatively easy mod, and can give you the quickest boost in horsepower as well as fuel efficiency. Most cold air intakes are pretty much the same, so there's no harm in getting a cheaper one online. You can also build your own cold air intake. All you need are the parts and a filter. The only negative is that it will increase the amount of noise under your hood. Recommended for its low cost and easy installation.

Throttle Body/Throttle Body Spacers

DIY Cost – $100-$500

Professional Cost – $300-$700

Skill Level – Moderate; it requires precise machine work.

The throttle body controls how much air goes into your engine. This modification can be done by taking a stock throttle body to a machine shop and porting the opening. You'll have to be careful how much you drill out; otherwise, you could end up letting in too much air and your engine will run lean. You'll also need to install a larger butterfly valve to compensate for the wider opening. Typically, throttle body modifications range in size from 68.5 to 70mm for the 4.7L engine and 85 to 90mm for the 5.7L engine. Recommended for its control in air flow.

Exhaust Headers

DIY Cost – $230-$700

Professional Cost – $500-$1,000

Skill Level – Moderate; it can be difficult to replace the headers and will require some work under the truck.

Exhaust headers help to expel the gases leaving your engine. There are two main choices for exhaust headers: long tube and short tube. Both will give you improved performance, but long tubes are more consistent and efficient. Short tubes will give you a greater spike in horsepower, but are not as efficient. No matter which one you go for, you should always opt for one with ceramic coating, which will be great at preventing leaks. Recommended for its improved performance.

Exhausts

DIY Cost – $275-$1,000

Professional Cost – $500-$1,500

Skill Level – Moderate; most work will be done under the truck.

You can sometimes get exhausts and header all in a complete set, but it will cost a premium. The most popular option is to get a cat-back exhaust kit. These include all the piping, from the catalytic converter to the exhaust tip. For better performance get a 3" Y-pipe and a 2.25" double exhaust tip, or a 2.5" single exhaust tip. If you decide to get 3" piping for the entire exhaust, go for a 3" single exhaust tip. Recommended for its better performance.

Tuners and Programmers

DIY Cost – $300-$400

Professional Cost – $500-$700

Skill Level – Easy; you just need to plug in and set it up.

There are only a few options available for tuners and programmers, which are all around the same price. If you're only doing the mods seen in this article, you should go with a programmer like Superchips or the Diablosport Predator. These come a few pre-programmed options, and are easy to install as well as set up. A good programmer is going to give you a great boost in performance and fuel efficiency. But it's important to stick to well-known brands, otherwise you could end up causing harm to your ECU. The only option in customized tuners is SCT Tuners. If you have a lot more internal mods like the camshaft, gears, or transmission, an SCT Tuner will do a better job of taking advantage of those changes. Recommended for its easy installation.

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