Ram 1500: Where to Start on a Build

The Ram 1500 catalog splits harder than any other truck in this build guide, and getting the split right matters more than picking a brand. You are shopping across old-body "Classic" trucks sold through 2024, new-body DT trucks from 2019 on, a 2025-and-up refresh running the turbocharged Hurricane inline-six, a diesel EcoDiesel V6 in two generations, and the supercharged TRX. A part built for one of those is routinely the wrong part for another, even when the listing sounds close. Check your build sheet before you check a price.

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Intake. The cheapest place to start. Airaid's DRYFLOW box for the DT 5.7L HEMI Airaid DRYFLOW Cold Air Intake 305-380 is the only intake here with an actual dyno chart behind it, a claimed 10.3 hp at 5700 rpm, though Airaid's own page says it needs custom tuning to get there and it is not legal for sale in California. S&B covers more ground than anyone: a new-body V8 kit S&B Filters Cold Air Intake, New Body Style (Cotton Cleanable / Dry Extendable), a Classic-body V8 kit S&B Filters Cold Air Intake, Classic Body Style, a new-body EcoDiesel kit S&B Filters Cold Air Intake 75-5195 (EcoDiesel, New Body) and a Classic-body EcoDiesel kit S&B Filters Cold Air Intake 75-5074 (EcoDiesel, Classic Body), both diesel versions unable to ship to California. S&B also builds one just for the TRX S&B Filters Cold Air Intake for RAM 1500 TRX, tested at a claimed 23.38 hp and 20.53 lb-ft. For the new Hurricane inline-six and the outgoing HEMI, aFe's Momentum GT comes in a dry, no-oil filter for either the V8 aFe Power Momentum GT Cold Air Intake System w/ Pro DRY S Filter, claimed +8 hp, or the Hurricane aFe Power Momentum GT Cold Air Intake System w/ Pro DRY S Filter, claimed +19 hp and +34 lb-ft, though that one does not fit the RHO.

Tuner and throttle body. For the EcoDiesel, Banks' Derringer plugs in without touching the factory computer and bundles a live gauge for boost and exhaust temperature: Banks Power Derringer Tuner with iDash 1.8 SuperGauge (66681) for the 2014-2018 truck claims +40 hp and +63 lb-ft, Banks Power Derringer Tuner with iDash 1.8 SuperGauge (66798) for the 2020-2023 truck claims +57 hp and +73 lb-ft across six selectable levels. Banks calls both 50-state compliant but publishes no CARB Executive Order number for either, so treat that as their claim, not a verified one. On the 5.7L HEMI, BBK's throttle bodies are the simplest wide-open-throttle upgrade: an 85mm version BBK Performance 85mm Power-Plus Throttle Body (1842) claims 10-12 hp, a 90mm version BBK Performance 90mm Power-Plus Throttle Body (1843) claims 12-15 hp and sometimes calls for a tune alongside it. Both carry CARB EO D-245-21, but that EO only covers select 2013-2016 trucks, not the full model range BBK lists.

Headers and cat-back. Kooks makes the header case here in three configurations: a large 1-7/8in tube set for the DS-body 2009-2018 truck Kooks Headers 1-7/8in x 3in Stainless Long Tube Headers, a stepped Torque Series set for the DT tuned for towing rpm Kooks Headers 1-5/8in x 1-3/4in Torque Series Stainless Headers, and a version with the catted Y-pipe already included Kooks Headers 1-7/8in x 3in Stainless Headers with Catted Y-Pipe so you are not sourcing that separately. The bare header kits need a Kooks Y-pipe bought on the side, all three are built to order on a 4-6 week lead, and Kooks publishes no CARB EO for the Y-pipe kit while its own page carries California racing-only language, so check your state before ordering. Cat-back is where the Ram catalog is deepest. For the DS/Classic V8, pick from Borla's through-bumper S-Type Borla Exhaust S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust System, Through-Bumper Exit, Corsa's Sport/Xtreme Corsa Performance Sport/Xtreme 3.0in Cat-Back, 4.5in Single Tips (Classic Body), or Gibson's dual split-rear system Gibson Performance Exhaust Dual Split Rear Cat-Back, 4in Polished Stainless Tip (Classic Body), the only one of the three with a published gain, a claimed 10-15 hp and 15-20 lb-ft. For the DT V8, the same three brands show up again: Borla's ATAK Borla Exhaust ATAK Cat-Back Exhaust System, Single Split Rear Exit, 5in Rolled Angle-Cut Tips for the loudest option, Corsa's side-exit Corsa Performance Sport 3.0in Cat-Back, Side Exit, Twin 4.0in Pro Series Tips for tow-hitch clearance, Corsa's dual rear-exit Corsa Performance Sport 3.0in Cat-Back, Dual Rear Exit, Single 5.0in Tips claiming +47% flow, and Gibson's new-body system Gibson Performance Exhaust Dual Split Rear Cat-Back, 5in Polished Stainless Tip with the same claimed 10-15 hp and 15-20 lb-ft as its Classic sibling. The V6 gets exactly two real choices: Borla's single-to-dual conversion Borla Exhaust S-Type Cat-Back Exhaust System, Single-to-Dual Conversion, Black Chrome Tips or MagnaFlow's cheaper Street Series MagnaFlow Exhaust Products Street Series Cat-Back, Dual 5in Polished Tips (3.6L V6). The new Hurricane six has one system so far, Corsa's Sport for the Standard Output engine only Corsa Performance Sport 3.0in-to-2.5in Cat-Back, Dual Rear Exit, 5.0in Single Tips, claiming +37% flow, and it explicitly does not fit the High Output, the RHO, or the GT Package. The TRX gets MagnaFlow's xMOD with swappable sound modules MagnaFlow Exhaust Products xMOD Series Cat-Back with Swappable Sound Modules (TRX), the only exhaust built for it in this catalog and also the most expensive cat-back here at $3,455.

Supercharger. Whipple's Gen 6 3.0L twin-screw kit is the only supercharger in the Ram 1500 catalog, and it only fits the 5.7L HEMI in the DT body from 2019-2022, sold in two versions that are not interchangeable: a non-eTorque kit Whipple Superchargers Gen 6 3.0L Twin-Screw Supercharger Kit (Non-eTorque) claiming +180 rwhp, and an eTorque-specific kit with the extra relocation hardware that system needs Whipple Superchargers Gen 6 3.0L Twin-Screw Supercharger Kit (eTorque) claiming up to +220 rwhp and +160 rwtq. Both carry their own CARB Executive Order numbers, which is worth confirming against your state before you commit to the install. Nothing here covers the V6, the Hurricane six, the EcoDiesel, or the TRX, which already ships supercharged from the factory.

Suspension. The Ram 1500 is the only half-ton with coil springs at the rear instead of leaf springs, which changes what a rear lift part even looks like. For a light front level, Bilstein's adjustable B8 5100 strut Bilstein B8 5100 Adjustable-Height Front Strut, Pair (0-2.6in lift) swaps the whole damper for up to 2.6 inches, and ReadyLift's 2 inch rear coil spacer ReadyLift 2.0in Rear Coil Spring Spacer Kit handles the back end the same way every other half-ton would use a leaf block. A step up, Eibach's matched Stage 2 kit Eibach PRO-TRUCK-LIFT Stage 2 (front shocks + rear lift springs), 4WD Crew Cab pairs adjustable front shocks with real rear lift springs for 4WD Crew Cab trucks only, and ReadyLift's 3.5in SST kit ReadyLift 3.5in SST Lift Kit (Coil Spring Trucks) gets you to 35s with corrected control arms while keeping the factory struts. If your truck left the factory with four-corner air suspension, none of the coil-spring kits above will work, and ReadyLift makes the one leveling kit built for it ReadyLift 1.5in Front Leveling Kit w/ Tubular Upper Control Arms (Factory Air Suspension Only), 4WD only, excluding TRX and EcoDiesel. For a true lift instead of a level, Rough Country's 6 inch kit Rough Country 6in Suspension Lift Kit, 4WD replaces the front knuckles rather than spacing them, but it is 4WD only, excludes air suspension and Classic trucks, and needs 20 inch wheels minimum. The DS-body truck gets one listing, Fox's 2.0 Performance Series front coilover FOX Shocks 2.0 Performance Series Front IFP Coilover, 4WD (0-2in lift), though it showed out of stock when this catalog was last checked.

None of this is a legal opinion. Emissions equipment, CARB certification, and street-legal status vary by state and by part, and where a CARB Executive Order is mentioned above that is the manufacturer's own claim, not independent verification. Confirm anything exhaust, intake, or tuner related against your state's rules before you buy, and run anything gray-area past someone who actually practices in this, not a parts catalog.