It's been 3 years, almost and I just hit 31k miles. I thought I'd do a quick write up on my 30k mile report and how this car has treated me this far.
Oil:
I've used basically whatever's on sale, synthetic wise. I'm not an oil whore and have no specific brand that I stick with. I've used Amsoil, Valvoline, Mobile 1 and the current, Castrol synthetic fluids. I've noticed more 'ticking' on cold start ups with Castrol than with any of the three. I think I'll be switching back to Mobile 1 when I'm due again. I change oil and filter at every 6k miles.
Tires:
The stock Goodyears lasted me 22k miles and were complete slicks. Enough that at 18-22k miles on them, I could no longer maintain traction at WOT in 2nd gear, reaching speeds above 75 mph. The ass end started to break loose after 60 and it got kinda hairy at times. Anything above 4500 rpms and it was all over. Those tires pretty much sucked and I will never buy them again. I've switched to Hankook Ventus V12, in a 255/45/20, are nice and fat and super sticky. I'll be lucky to get 25k out of these but they're wearing much better already and I've already rotated them. Besides, I think they look cool and have a nice tread pattern. I can still get a chirp between 1st and 2nd with sticky tires at WOT.
Engine:
I had always been a GM guy my whole life until this thing. I had no idea just how potent these engines really were. A bone stock 5.7 makes anywhere between 320-340 hp to the wheels on a dyno. I've been running a Diablo Sport canned 91 octane, CAI tune since week two after owning the car. 3750 miles, according to Dodge, the engine is 'broken in' and variable valve timing is engaged. These motors make incredible power up at the top of their power band. I'm now running a custom tune, and with my mods listed, 'should' be around 370 rwhp, or around ~420 at the crank. The shorty headers made a HUGE difference with low end beans and mid band acceleration. It simply gets up and goes WAY easier than before. Stock power levels are 375 hp and 410 lb ft.
Being Captain Wishy Washy with exhaust, I couldn't make up my mind. I initially bought a set of Jones Full Boar, which are nothing more than Flowmaster knock offs and had Ferman weld them in for me. It sounded good but the drone drove me ballistic and I couldn't hack it anymore. The drone at 1500 rpms, which incidentally, was right at cruising rpm, killed it for me completely. I researched, and researched, and researched some more. I finally came up with Dynomax VTs. These mufflers are EVERYTHING they're advertised to be. They're s straight through design, flow well, and have a flap that opens and closes based on exhaust flow. Now, it is super mellow, deep, throaty and quiet cruising around town, even on the interstate. But at WOT, it sounds downright mean and ferocious but isn't overbearing. No drone at all and I'd recommend them to anyone.
I went with a Volant intake because I liked the idea of an enclosed airbox. K&N garbage will never be on any of my vehicles. The box also has a scoop that sucks up air from underneath the car. The only downside is that it gets dirty quick and requires cleaning frequently.
Brakes:
My stock rotors warmed at 4k miles. I replaced them with a set of R1 Premium drilled and slotted with ceramic pads. Two years later, I've been very happy with them.
Reliability:
This car has been 100% reliable. It's never had an issue with anything other than a wheel speed sensor that was fixed under warranty. I've never quite fell in love with any vehicle like I have with this one. This 5.7 is a potent plant and can pretty much rape 90% of traffic on the road. I blacked out the grille and debadged it. I'm not a huge fan of the chrome clad rims and I'd like to paint them black - Mainly with Plasti-Dip. I've also become a huge fan of silver. It's easy to keep clean and never really looks dirty.
The bottom line is, it's been an awesome car and I would by another in a heart beat.
Pics attached for viewing pleasure.
Oil:
I've used basically whatever's on sale, synthetic wise. I'm not an oil whore and have no specific brand that I stick with. I've used Amsoil, Valvoline, Mobile 1 and the current, Castrol synthetic fluids. I've noticed more 'ticking' on cold start ups with Castrol than with any of the three. I think I'll be switching back to Mobile 1 when I'm due again. I change oil and filter at every 6k miles.
Tires:
The stock Goodyears lasted me 22k miles and were complete slicks. Enough that at 18-22k miles on them, I could no longer maintain traction at WOT in 2nd gear, reaching speeds above 75 mph. The ass end started to break loose after 60 and it got kinda hairy at times. Anything above 4500 rpms and it was all over. Those tires pretty much sucked and I will never buy them again. I've switched to Hankook Ventus V12, in a 255/45/20, are nice and fat and super sticky. I'll be lucky to get 25k out of these but they're wearing much better already and I've already rotated them. Besides, I think they look cool and have a nice tread pattern. I can still get a chirp between 1st and 2nd with sticky tires at WOT.
Engine:
I had always been a GM guy my whole life until this thing. I had no idea just how potent these engines really were. A bone stock 5.7 makes anywhere between 320-340 hp to the wheels on a dyno. I've been running a Diablo Sport canned 91 octane, CAI tune since week two after owning the car. 3750 miles, according to Dodge, the engine is 'broken in' and variable valve timing is engaged. These motors make incredible power up at the top of their power band. I'm now running a custom tune, and with my mods listed, 'should' be around 370 rwhp, or around ~420 at the crank. The shorty headers made a HUGE difference with low end beans and mid band acceleration. It simply gets up and goes WAY easier than before. Stock power levels are 375 hp and 410 lb ft.
Being Captain Wishy Washy with exhaust, I couldn't make up my mind. I initially bought a set of Jones Full Boar, which are nothing more than Flowmaster knock offs and had Ferman weld them in for me. It sounded good but the drone drove me ballistic and I couldn't hack it anymore. The drone at 1500 rpms, which incidentally, was right at cruising rpm, killed it for me completely. I researched, and researched, and researched some more. I finally came up with Dynomax VTs. These mufflers are EVERYTHING they're advertised to be. They're s straight through design, flow well, and have a flap that opens and closes based on exhaust flow. Now, it is super mellow, deep, throaty and quiet cruising around town, even on the interstate. But at WOT, it sounds downright mean and ferocious but isn't overbearing. No drone at all and I'd recommend them to anyone.
I went with a Volant intake because I liked the idea of an enclosed airbox. K&N garbage will never be on any of my vehicles. The box also has a scoop that sucks up air from underneath the car. The only downside is that it gets dirty quick and requires cleaning frequently.
Brakes:
My stock rotors warmed at 4k miles. I replaced them with a set of R1 Premium drilled and slotted with ceramic pads. Two years later, I've been very happy with them.
Reliability:
This car has been 100% reliable. It's never had an issue with anything other than a wheel speed sensor that was fixed under warranty. I've never quite fell in love with any vehicle like I have with this one. This 5.7 is a potent plant and can pretty much rape 90% of traffic on the road. I blacked out the grille and debadged it. I'm not a huge fan of the chrome clad rims and I'd like to paint them black - Mainly with Plasti-Dip. I've also become a huge fan of silver. It's easy to keep clean and never really looks dirty.
The bottom line is, it's been an awesome car and I would by another in a heart beat.
Pics attached for viewing pleasure.
or do you plan on keeping it for the long haul?
