oy vey. So that was a slight error in proofreading on my part. I meant he should get a TC and VB but beyond that was dependant on his power level. But "Lets not nitpick shall we?" My personal suggestion would be to ditch the auto entirely and go with a nv4500 or 5600 as they both would be far superior to an automatic for towing.

You know what I find funny? I have a 2nd gen truck but its a manual, and you have 2 STOCK 3rd gen trucks, and we are both telling him what to do with his automatic tranny. How bout we leave the tranny discussions to the big boys, cause frankly I'm tired of arguing about it.

As for head studs, the stock head gasket is pretty reliable up to about 50 PSI. I've personally had my truck up to 40 PSI several times and I still have a headgasket. However it would be a good idea to retorque all your head bolts before you push it that hard, to make sure they haven't stretched.
Besides even if he does go that high it won't be for very long.  

Actually I had an '03 3500 and can totally feel his pain, that's why it got traded in on the '08.  The auto is the biggest POS that I've seen even in stock form and we both agree on that.  That's why the '03 and I parted ways and I got the '08 with a 6 speed manual.  It's gonna be my toy hauler and I wanted to make sure I had something that could pull 6700 pounds dry weight with ease.  The '03 could hardly stay above 50 MPH even on flat land and inhaled fuel worse than a gasser did, and I couldn't justify a new tranny, TC, VB, and other minor upgrades on an engine with 250hp.  The new truck pulls the toy hauler like it's not even there.  My wife won't even drive it anymore after popping the clutch in 2nd and leaving some impressive tire marks down the street.

My '06 is officially the fun truck, so the TC and VB are both tops on my list of things to do to my own personal rig, including gauges and a deeper trans pan.  I've already gotten the new intake kits bought for it(AEM Brute Force HD and CFM manifold), but it'll sit in a box until I come home in the summer on vacation since I'm overseas.  The only one staying stock for now is the new truck .... I'm not sure how "mod friendly" my dealer is going to be.

And yes .... retighten those head bolts.  That'll definately be a life saver down the road.




Kris  

Jarhead hurry back soon, I got bounced for having high blood sugars then finding out my pancrease took a *** so I was a full blown diabetic. So hows the tranny in the 08? pros and cons on the truck... I have a 97 stroker I am begining to play with. Just got the guages and K&N filter/intake put on. Still need to mount the EGT probe and the boost tube. EGT-- not real sure where I am supposed to put it. In the pipe by my oil filter? And the boost tube that ties into the map sensor is to short so I am trying to figure out my next step before my play truck is FUBAR  

Oh man that sucks .... make sure you watch yourself, my mother-in-law is a diabetic as well, so I know what you're going through.  And yeah, I'm keeping my head down.

EGT sensor will need to go in a few inches above the turbo right into the exhaust manifold, but about 3 or 4 inches below where the individual ports meet up on the manifold.

For both your boost and EGT here are some instructions to help you out: http://www.dieselmanor.com/diy/CMS3-gauge/CMS-gen3gaugeinstall.htm

I only got one day to mess with the my '08 but it felt really nice and shifting was easy, although I hate the stock Michellin tires that came with it.  They suck in wet/bad weather and it's like riding on a slip 'n slide.  It's just something else for me to swap out when I come home in the summer on break.



Kris  

cool thanks for the info, let me know if you need anything over there.  

The 03's had 305 hp actually. Sorry. Couldn't resist.  

Actually there were 2 engines for the '03 year model; the standard output rated for 250hp and the high output rated for 305hp.

I wouldn't have traded it in if it had the 305hp.  I did some research and the main differences between the two engines was the programming and lubrication of the internals to handle the extra horses.

My wife really misses the '03 .... she loved that gold/khaki color, so it looks like I may need to find another one in that color for her.




Kris  

Id love to have a beer with the two of you, somethin tells me the conversation would be nothing less then comical.  

lol oh well here is a bud light to ya 07 or some j/d  

It's all good fun, LOL!!!

Besides, I don't drink beer .... I've got an allergy to hops that gives me alcohol poisoning symptoms so I stick with the good stuff like bourbon or tequila.  Maker's Mark or Fighting *** are my choices in bourbon, and Petron or Don Julio for tequila.




Kris  

Shots all around then!  

Guess I was only aware of the 305hp version. Do you know where to find the ratings on the other engine? Because so far I can't.  Oh and I don't mind Marine too bad. Just some poor fools  don't know no betta... ah no don't hurt me! I bruise easily and my face is too pretty!

I'll go with Marine and pass on the beer. I can't hardly stand to drink the stuff.Now if we had some whiskey... oh and you'll have to buy! My fake ID isn't ready yet. lol.  

http://www.new-cars.com/2003/dodge/dodge-ram-2500-3500-specs.html


I forgot to include the de-tuned California engine as well, so there is technically 3 engines for that model year ..... the California 235hp, the SO 250hp, and the HO 305hp.  

All three engines are listed.



Kris  

Cool. I was having a hard time finding correct specs on ANY of those engines. Some of the sites I went to still had the HO engine rated at 245. DOH!  

I forgot to include the California engine because its such an oddball, since the DPRC wants to be sooooo different that they NEED their own engine.



Kris