head work
 

Hello All,
I'm slowly trying to 'upgrade' my truck, need some advise. 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 HO, 4 wheel drive, 6 speed manual; Daily driver, some plowing in winter (family), some towing year round. Towing involves some good sized hills that have to be started from a dead stop. No intentions of racing. Only thing done so far is a 5" exhaust. Down the road: complete intake redo, tuner, better turbo?. Right now am ready to do head studs. Question is-will they be enough? Do I really need to o-ring the head? And I have noticed that it is much easier to redline the tach, especially 2nd and 3rd, since doing the exhaust. Should I add heavier valve springs? Any recommendations on a qualified shop to do this in Western NY area.
Thanks!

Welcome to the forum! :tu:

What all are you planning to do? If a tuner is all you want, then head studs arent really needed. If you're going to upgrade the turbo, I would say head studs, and o-ring if you want to. The o-rings really arent necessary with what a moderately sized single turbo would be putting out, but safer is better in my opinion.

Let someone else chime in on the valvesprings Im not sure where they're needed at on the newer ones.

Probably just a better single turbo. The realm of dual turbos would be overkill for what the truck is used for. I'm just worried about that uphill tow.

The 5" exhaust was the first derail but since you have it get a manifold blanket, turbo boot and wrap the DP down to where it levels out. Will help retain some of the low end TQ.

If your not intending to push over 50 psi head studs are just a nice to have but not needed. Better off spending your money on a cam, good turbo, and a tuner with good adjustability.

Do you have an early or late 05? Early ones had plastic tanks on the IC and that will be your first failure when you up the power.

Start thinking clutch it you have the DMF, they won't like the power.