I currently have a 2004.5 3500 SRW 6spd. It has a S&B intake and a Quadzilla Mileage Max Module. I am not wanting to do anything too crazy too it but I am looking for some opinions on the next few mods...Obviously exhaust is next, MBRP? Is it a good buy? CFM+ intake manifolds? Just let me hear what you think....Thanks.  

What I did when I first started was these upgrades.  I bought a Modular tuner, a intake and manifold actually the CFM+ you mentioned. It gave me really good mileage for one, made my turbo spool better, and gave it some pretty cool sounds.  Not to mention it ran pretty good too.  

Exhaust is always good.  I would go with a 5 inch personally just because it's more aggressive and can lower EGT's but slightly. I personally believe an exhaust is an exhaust.  They do the same thing, and are virtually the same design, I believe the only thing that is different is the name.  Now whether you go with stainless or whatever is entirely up to you, but I think they're the same which is the reason a friend of mine custom made mine for me.

It really depends on what you mean by too crazy.  If you're wanting to go as far as running bigger injectors and stacking chips then there will be quite a few things you will need, safe guarding and balancing you'r fuel to air ration, and keeping temps at reasonable numbers, etc.  

When I say "too crazy" I am talking about doing stuff that could ultimately be detrimental to the truck, basically mods where I need to have safeguarding measures etc. Right now I just want to make the truck run as efficiently as possible while having some fun. Thanks for the help, any suggestions on programmers or modules?  

Ok well then you could have a lot of fun with this then.  Do the exhaust and CFM manifold.  After that save up enough money to do a Torque Converter and Valve body and Stack those chips.  The cool thing is is that you from the way you sound, you won't be into it very hard, but when you want you will have that ground shaking power.  And not only at the motor but at the wheels.  Your horsepower is only as good what you're putting to the ground.  And not only that since the transmission is not the greatest out of the Ford and Chevy, you need to upgrade the TC and VB. That would probably be good enough for you though with those mods.  

The CFM+ is a great choice and I'll be putting one on my '06 once I go on vacation from the sandbox.  It did wonders for my '03, improving fuel mileage, spooled the turbo quicker, and allowed me actually hear the turbo when I shoved my right foot to the floor.  Those I passed either didn't like the sound or were mortified that a truck that big could move like that.  (My wife calls it the "Moses Effect", everyone moves out of her way like Moses parting the Red Sea.)

JMS is right about exhausts; an exhaust is an exhaust is an exhaust, just make sure it's mandrel bent (all bends are smooth) and either 4 or 5 inch will do fine.  The 4 inch will be cheaper but the 5 inch will help reduce your EGT's better.  I'd put a boost fooler on for good measure since you're got a good intake (the S&B) and will be putting on the CFM+ with an exhaust it helps with EGT's, too.

Really anything beyond that and you're going to need to do the TC and VB work to make sure your tranny holds, but since you're looking for some power once in a while this can be saved up for and done later.



Kris  

Thats a good point with that boost fooler, it's a cheap and easy upgrade, it will give you about 10lbs of boost extra, also give you about 50hp (depending on the upgrades you have) and also lower EGT's significantly.  And most of all it's a cheap upgrade.  Do the boost fooler.  

If you put a TC and Valve Body on their, you're tranny will hold up to about 500-550 pony's.  TC will prevent slippage and give you better MPG I got three extra miles on mine, and the VB will give you better internal line pressure and firmer shifts, which is good too. If you go beyond that in power upgrades, then you're gonna need an Input shaft but if  you think you're even gonna go beyond that, just upgrade all three. I only did the Input and Output thinking I was gonna stop with my turbo and water meth and intercooler upgrades but now I didn't now I have to drop my tranny out again and upgrade my TC VB (AGAIN) and put an intermediate, so just do all three it will save you about 600bucks, hahaha, oh well though.  

John