Just got myself a nice 2001 Durango with 103,000 miles, and while it's already pretty peppy especially for such a small V8, I'd like to make it go a little faster. My budget is somewhat limited so nothing crazy. The guy who had it before me put an Air Raid intake on it, but what else is there to increase the power? I've heard of something called a Superchips programmer but I have no experience with programming and tuning, does it come with a pre-loaded tune?

Best bang for the buck are headers and exh mods. Stock manifolds are lacking and exh sys back pressure was very high.There was a hi output version (260 hp) with different cams but also included higher comp ratio pistons. Not alot out there for the 4.7L for cheap.

Superchips works good on my truck. It is a preloaded program but they have options and it firms up the shifts a lot at wot. The H.O. Cams can be swapped into a normal 4.7 but they were pretty pricey. I'm not sure you can get them anymore. There is better factory intake manifolds too but I can't remember what the pecking order is. Check on some of the dedicated Dakota and Durango sites for more stuff. And I agree on the exhaust mods the pipes are pretty small.

Do all Superchips systems require you to run premium gas? Or does it just run better that way?

It has a regular and premium tune plus a towing tune. You can also adjust the speedometer to compensate for different tire sizes. One other thing to get is a transmission computer from a 02 grand Cherokee with the 4.7. It will give you 5 gears instead of 4. I got mine on car-part.com. It will gain you a mile or 2 to the gallon.

Oh wow I had no idea about the trans computer, I thought the transmission was only capable of 4 gears. How difficult is the install and getting it to work properly? And that's good to know, I'll probably stick to the regular tune since this is my daily driver

The TCM is behind the passenger headlight. Total bolt in might take 5 minutes. Nothing to making it work. It's all in the programming doesn't hurt a thing

Sweet, well I know what the first upgrade is going to be. Then probably a Superchips programmer. After that I might invest in a cam and headers although I don't think the Durango has the right look for a big rumbling V8 sound, I want it to sound much more restrained.

Why does this V8 make less horsepower than the Pentastar V6? Even the HO version is only at 260 horsepower. You'd think with more displacement they could have done more power than a V6 has.

You will actually have to buy 2 cams. Be very careful with the exhaust bolts they aren't very big and they like to rust plus they are in aluminum heads. Can't really compare the 2 engines your talking about 15 years worth of technology. I have a pentastar 3.6 in an 11 Durango and has very little torque down low but it does do a pretty good job of moving this big suv and gets decent mileage on the road.

my 318 dakota will smoke my 4.7 dak with the same trans gearing... with less HP and tow a trailer much better, that V6 is an even bigger dog unless you rev the pee out of it.

The trans computer is nice but not huge, certainly not an extra MPG but just a tiny bit more dirvability for a weak 4.7 maybe a 1/10 mpg more as it is just a slightly different 2nd gear ratio it has to pick from.

A jet chip, CAI, gutted cat, straight pipe... was barely noticable in the 4.7 and still won't hang with the 31 CID bigger old school 318 bone stock. If I rev it an extra 1000 RPM it gets close but any efficency gain is out the window at that point.

Well, the 4.7 is what I've got to work with, not able or willing to do an engine swap lol

The trans computer gives it a second overdrive. It goes into 4 gear locks the converter then at about 58mph it shifts to the 2nd overdrive. You can watch the tach fall about 300 rpm or so. It help my quad get a little better mileage I know that for a fact!

imo instead of spending money on the 4.7L I would keep an eye out for a 5.9L Durango and get it if more pep is what you're looking for. Those 4.7s are not power motors and have been known to have some reliability issues.

I wouldn't put a ton of money into the 4.7L. I just had my timing chain guides/shoes, and front chain/valve train components replaced to the tune of $1800. Anyways, as far as the HO Cams are concerned I don't think they make them anymore. They use to be cheap back about ten years ago when produced. There was some other companies that produced cams for the 4.7L but, you'll want to have the springs changed.

Depending on how deep your pockets are the best mods for the 4.7L are 70mm TB combined with the 08+ intake but, you'll need the $300 TB adapter since the TB on your Durango is cable vs fly-by-wire. If your truck has 3.55s then upgrading to 4.10s or 4.56 gears is an option, and Superchips programmer. That's about it really. There's an underdrive pulley as well but, again I would just do an exhaust, throttle body, Superchips, and gears and call it a day and that is if your 4.7L has been taken care of. Also, I would have the dealer or you yourself attempt to update the PCV setup on it since the earlier ones cause issues.

I don't want a 5.9 Durango, the mileage would suck too much and this is my daily. And I'm a college student

The mpg is not much better in a 4.7 than a 5.9, I have owned plenty of both. It is because the 5.9 spends more time in OD than the 4.7. The biggest pigs are the full time 4x4, that is the biggest difference maker for MPG in these things, you can feel it sucking the power out of em. Swapping in a part time T-case really makes em peppy. The 5.9 is far more reliable, cheaper and easier to work on, great for a college student with no time/money for repairs. Even the 5.2 will spank a 4.7 coming and going and be very close for MPG.