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Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? #2846403
11/15/20 05:21 AM
11/15/20 05:21 AM
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Vallejo, CA
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ditchdrift Offline OP
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My daily driver is a 01 ram single cab short bed 2wd with the 5.2 and 46re. Dang it's a turd. It runs smooth but doesn't have much power especially under 3000 rpms. Honestly it feels like it really lacks timing and maybe the exhaust side is pretty restrictive. It does have 3 cat converters under it. I've heard that a tune can make it a little more punchy but I have my reservations about doing that kind of dime on a tune box. It's this just how they are/were or is something wrong with my truck?

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: ditchdrift] #2846433
11/15/20 09:34 AM
11/15/20 09:34 AM
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Canada
WO23Coronet Offline
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They all received what's called the "death flash" as a dealer recall. It took all the timing out of them to mitigate the plenum gasket blowing out and sucking in oil, which causes pinging. Instead of fixing it properly they just did the recall and made them absolute dogs. Being an '01, yours probably came with the death flash from the factory.

Fix the plenum gasket and get a tune, it's supposed to make a big difference.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: WO23Coronet] #2846440
11/15/20 09:49 AM
11/15/20 09:49 AM
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Western Colorado High Desert
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My 98 Dakota 4wd 5.2 5-speed rips. My son is a tech at the local Dodge dealership. We resynchronized the timing. I fixed the plenum leak and install back of cat Flowmaster exhaust. It only has one cat. Has great power and will climb most any hill in 5th gear. Also get around 20 mpg at 80 mph and around 25 mpg at 65 mph. Though the Dakota is about 800-1000 lbs less than a Ram.


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Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: moparmarks] #2846488
11/15/20 11:28 AM
11/15/20 11:28 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,997
Salem
Grizzly Offline
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I had a '98 QC 5 speed 4x4 with the 318 and it would give my '01 360 QC 4x4 auto a run for it's money. It ripped just like moparmarks '98 mentioned above. drive

Just started running my '01 Reg Cab 5 speed 4x4 318 and it is definitely slower than the '98 and has almost no torque under 3000 like you are mentioning. I hooked my Torque app to it and the timing is showing anywhere from 23 to 31 degrees out on the highway at steady cruise. Well, that definitely can't be right. mad On the plus side, I guess it comes Turbocharger-ready from the factory. wink I'm thinking about finding a '98 computer to get around this death flash nonsense.

My info on those "tuners" is that all they do is have a circuit in them interupting the coolant temperature that fools the factory computer into thinking the engine is cold and they run in closed-loop rich to make it feel like you have more power.

You have "Turd" and 46re transmission close together, and you would be 100% correct on that: I found out just how much of a power-sucking turd the 727-based platform is when I got my first 318 a833od. It was like a night and day difference to any 318 automatic I previously owned.


Mo' Farts

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Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: Grizzly] #2846513
11/15/20 12:06 PM
11/15/20 12:06 PM
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Vallejo, CA
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ditchdrift Offline OP
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Ok. This confirms what I thought. There is a tuner that you can buy that will allow you to change the ignition tables and such. It's called the syked tuner or some such. Might be worth it especially with other mods. I don't think my plenum is leaking as there's no oil puddling on the plate when I look down the throttle body. Id like to improve the exhaust system and have a suspicion that one or more of the cats is clogged. The front left car does rattle already.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: ditchdrift] #2846561
11/15/20 01:32 PM
11/15/20 01:32 PM
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Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
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Diablo sport and hypertech are good tuners also they allow a number of tune changes including shift points, timing and more. They are pricy but worth it. Those Ebay chips are bogus as can be.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: ditchdrift] #2846596
11/15/20 02:24 PM
11/15/20 02:24 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,997
Salem
Grizzly Offline
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Yes, the convertors are a plug in the system. I take all of mine out and usually pick up 1 to 2mpg. They struggle a lot less when in top gear and maintain cruise much easier.

Electric fan while you are at it, the trucks make less noise, and pick up a slight amount in the mpg department.


Mo' Farts

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Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: WO23Coronet] #2846897
11/16/20 09:06 AM
11/16/20 09:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
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360view Offline
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I can certainly feel the difference between the Mopar Performance PCM on my 1995 Magnum 5.9 V8 and the stock PCM.
I guess that means that ignition timing was pretty retarded from Mean Best Torque.The MP PCM supposedly advanced the ignition timing up to 12 degrees at some points in the RPM/ throttle opening table.

I certainly remember HUGE complaints from both 5.2 and 5.9 V8 owners who took their trucks in to dealers and got the “Death Flash” in the 1997-2001 period.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: 360view] #2846916
11/16/20 09:46 AM
11/16/20 09:46 AM
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aZLiViN
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95 you could go into the pcm and set the timing 0, -5, -10 from base to help eliminate pinging. It was definitely a power robber and the customer often returned and would live with a little pinging. Can’t remember what year they took that away from us with the irreversible flash.... was hell for corporate to keep that archaic design emission compliant. I looked into about every option avail to get more tow grunt for my 95 5.9.... but alas, nothing much for return in investment and it turned into a diesel payment.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: J_BODY] #2847023
11/16/20 01:25 PM
11/16/20 01:25 PM
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Vallejo, CA
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ditchdrift Offline OP
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Ok. It really does seem like its a timing issue due to the flash that chrysler put on the pcm. There is a sticker on the pcm that says its been reprogrammed as well. I do like the Syked tuner, as you can go and modify almost all of the parameters. I also do know that one or more of the cat converters is bad. I might just go ahead and get rid of 2 of them and put a new main cat on. I hope i can keep the MIL off.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: ditchdrift] #2847194
11/16/20 06:14 PM
11/16/20 06:14 PM
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Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
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Diablo sport and hyper tech do the same thing.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: stumpy] #2847218
11/16/20 06:54 PM
11/16/20 06:54 PM
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Vallejo, CA
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ditchdrift Offline OP
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Is there anyway to go in without a tuner and revert to a previous configuration? I have capability to flash with a j2564 but it obviously needs to be with chrysler software

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: ditchdrift] #2847335
11/16/20 11:20 PM
11/16/20 11:20 PM
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ILLINOIS
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volaredon Offline
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Ive had several, none seemed underpowered, Drive my 3.9 and then tell me your 318 is underpowered.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: volaredon] #2847351
11/17/20 12:05 AM
11/17/20 12:05 AM
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Vallejo, CA
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ditchdrift Offline OP
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Originally Posted by volaredon
Ive had several, none seemed underpowered, Drive my 3.9 and then tell me your 318 is underpowered.


I'll have to get a video of it's acceleration. It's hideous.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: ditchdrift] #2847400
11/17/20 08:06 AM
11/17/20 08:06 AM
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USA
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360view Offline
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Chrysler had a recall for plugged catalytic converters.
This happened to my 1995 with a severe loss of power.
The 1996-2003 passenger side 5.2/5.9 Magnum exhaust has a undrilled boss where 1992-1995 models had the EGR feed tube connected.
You could drill a hole there at that flat spot to measure backpressure, then drill tap and plug.

On my 1995 5.9 with stock exhaust the backpressure was 7 psi at full throttle and 4000 rpm with 60,000 miles on the odometer.

The cat converter plugged around 100,000 miles.

Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: 360view] #2847850
11/17/20 09:42 PM
11/17/20 09:42 PM
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Salem
Grizzly Offline
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I recall some conversation years ago about modifying the crankshaft sensor (edit: for advancing the timing)............and just found it:

Dakota Forum

.......and an explanation of the origins of Death Flash:

UTawesome Performance

Last edited by Grizzly; 11/18/20 12:36 AM.

Mo' Farts

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Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: Grizzly] #2850861
11/24/20 10:10 AM
11/24/20 10:10 AM
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new jersey usa
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11secdart Offline
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Last edited by 11secdart; 11/24/20 05:36 PM.

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Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: 11secdart] #2850906
11/24/20 01:28 PM
11/24/20 01:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
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Salem
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Originally Posted by 11secdart
I am considering removing the cat since I no longer have to go thru inspection due to its age. Is there any performance advantage to doing it?


Ah, the childish advantage of blocking another Member's posts.

No, leave it in, dummy. up


Mo' Farts

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Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: Grizzly] #2851005
11/24/20 05:15 PM
11/24/20 05:15 PM
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new jersey usa
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Last edited by 11secdart; 11/25/20 05:16 PM.

68 Dart 410 / 904
92 D150 original owner
21 Ram 1500 Quad Cab, Big Horn , Hemi ,4x4
23 Audi Q5
16 Honda HRV
Re: Are the 5.2 magnums all underpowered? [Re: 11secdart] #2851011
11/24/20 05:38 PM
11/24/20 05:38 PM
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Colleyville
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Originally Posted by 11secdart
I am considering removing the cat since I no longer have to go thru inspection due to its age. Is there any performance advantage to doing it?


I don't think you'll gain anything. But, as old as it is, I doubt it's working at all anymore. We went through MANY in our 350,000 mile 318 Ramcharger. Always failing smog for NOx, every year or two, always the converter. Near the end we discovered those muffler shop cheapies were universal fit and crap. Finally got one from Walker, specific fit for the truck, lasted until we sold it in 2016.


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