This post is spot on for me. I have two reg. cab short bed Ram 1500 trucks. A 96 Sport I got new, has the 5.9 . I have always been satisfied with the power it has. It now has 319,000. miles on it . I found a very clean 2001 with the 5.2 a couple years ago and bought it for it's excellent condition . I expected the 5.2 to have less bottom end power, but maybe better fuel mileage. Well, it is really poor in both respects. The 5.9 has a lot more power and gets the same or better fuel mileage with 200,000 additional miles. I did have to have the intake pulled and resealed many years ago on the 5.9. And recently replaced the original plug wires ! LOL
I am not willing to buy 93 octane fuel for it, but I may give this advance mod a try if I can get to it. The dist.cap rotor and plug wires was a real challenge for me to reach . The 96 has a one cat. system. I have to look at the 2001 and see. I was beginning to think The 2001 had a bad cat. that is causing the power loss. It seems I have to really put my foot in it, to get the truck to move out in the same manor the 96 does effortlessly.


Mark