Upgrades You Should Always Do First To Your Cummins 

3 upgrades Short Cut 1. Lift pump (Fass or air dog) 2. Gauges- EGTs, Transmission Temp, Fuel pressure gauge. 3. Cold air intake and exhaust

im 20 years old and just bought a 2nd gen. I previously had a 6.5 diesel so im familiar with diesels in general i think. But my cummins is definitely a step up. Just got it running cause i had problems with the fuel. But these videos definitely do help alot to new cummins owners!

Crazy how this was five years ago! I wish I had the knowledge of what you speak of then as much as everything you know now about these trucks! I’m 21 and just got my first 2500 Cummins diesel ram And I am figuring out the beautiful world to all of this! Definitely following along!

Great looking truck! Sport bumpers look so good! Love the color to! I own and work/play 3 2nd gens and a 4th gen! 2 are Cummins powered.

You probably want to change out the pressure regulator spring on your FASS. 26-28 psi is a little too much fuel pressure for the VP44. Ideally you want 15-18 psi. Good choice on the FASS though--I bought mine in late 2004 and it's still running beautifully. A couple other things that these 2nd gen trucks need is: 1. Reroute the crankcase breather tube. The stock breather tube coming out of the timing gear case goes into a catch bottle right in front of the radiator. This cakes up the radiator and intercooler with oily crap, and it's better to extend it to run into the frame rail. If you do much offroading, you can also route it up and back towards the firewall, and down from there. This helps prevent loss of engine oil when you get into severe nose-down conditions on the trail. 2. If you have rear drum brakes, get larger wheel cylinders. You want NAPA part number 37337. *MUCH* better braking. Also make sure your rear brakes are adjusted up good. The self adjusters are notorious for not working. 3. I noticed you don't have the hood blanket--that's common with 2001+ model year trucks. If you can pick one up from an earlier truck at a junkyard, even from a 1500, it'll help keep the hood cooler and also help reduce engine noise a little bit. Also, you won't have to worry about it since you're in a warm climate, but for those guys in colder climates, get a Smarty programmer, or find someone who is willing to loan it to you. That'll let you update the ECM to enable fast idle and 3-cylinder idle, which are hugely helpful in cold weather conditions. Great videos, keep 'em coming--and thanks for your service!

Love your truck brother I’m a Cummins member of the family been Cummins my entire adult life I like the way she sits got a nice posture I’m loving it brother keep on Truckin

Kinda bugs me when people say that people who buy these trucks don't use them for what they are for. People can buy what they want. Just because they aren't towing 15,000 lbs doesn't mean a truck isn't useful

Damn that truck is so clean.. always saying you appreciate us watching but I'd like to thank you for making these detailed videos, keep it up bro!

Ball joints are another big thing on these trucks! I worked in an auto shop for 2 years, and almost every dodge truck that came in had bad ball joints. Including my 03 that I bought 8 months ago, I went with dynatrac's, heard great things about them, and so far so good! Carli ball joints are a great option as well! Definitely worth upgrading for anyone running factory ball joints.

great vidoe i have a 97' that im rebuilding and i didnt have a clue what i was doing but it runs like NEW now thanls for the video helped me out alot

I love your videos! Very informative. I want to buy a cummins eventually this coming year

Great video ... clear and concise! Liked !! ...

Beautiful truck bro good luck with it!

Turbo silencer ring a new intake filter I did k and n and it lowered my egts by about 30 to 40 degrees. Along with stripping the baffling out of your intake tube

I Love You're Truck!! I Like The Upgrades You Did On The Truck I Like The 1st And 2nd Gen Cummins The 12 Valve 5.9 L is My Favorite Engine

Great Video. Thanks!!!

One of the cleanest second gens I've seen. Nice truck man

Nice pickup man she’s clean.

I can't believe what great shape your 2001 is! My 2001 sport rusted all to hell!! I do live in NY where our roads are salted, but still. Very nice truck!!

Love the videos man keep up the great work!

Killer dowel pin kit is a must, especially for ones with a lot of miles. Oh and great video, keep it up!!!

you deserve a million subscribers, i love your channel man!!!

Good video! Getting a manual 06 cummins crew cab long box in less than a week! Southern truck with no rust I can't wait!

Good info... looking at my next vehicle to be a ram 2500 2015+, but first got to get the new house. keep up the good videos

I love this truck ❤️🚗💨

Your truck is awesome

#1 silencer ring. But you wouldn't know that considering you still haven't taken it out.

My first mod was fass. Then stage 5 suncoast transmission. Pump conversion coming.

Great job hiding that lift pump! Looks a lot better that way in my opinion

great vids man keep it up

freaking awesome truck

love your truck i cant wait to get my second gen

Holy shit! That's Clean!!!

Love your truck, you should make some in cab videos of you riding around

Good job on gages, I agree with them as a very first upgrade. Disagree on electric lift pumps, mechanical one last forever

The word is pertain, not retain. I mean that to be costructive. Good video.

awesome truck

nice truck!

your channel will grow for sure

great video

Love your truck man. The only ram owner who isn't pulling a ghost trailer. lol

That's definitely Schofield Barracks in the background! I'd guess AMR or HMR?!? Thanks for the advice brother. I have a 98 2500 V10, your videos are excellent!

You make some good beginner points. But vp44 trucks do not suck. They just need the factory lift pump replaced as you mentioned and then they're fine for the most part. They can make good power and the shift on the fly tuning is nice. Not everyone can drive around in a smoky pig 12V all the time. I like being able to turn mine down when the cops are behind me.

I’m probably getting a 7.3 idi but I also kinda want a Cummins

Hey my name is Jordan and I have an NV4500HD in mine. I was wondering if I should still get the transmission temp gauge for it? Your videos are really helpful. I just got my first Cummins a couple months ago. 98.5.

Sweet truck man! Just bought an 06 megacab and don’t know where to start upgrading. Good ideas though.

FASS Is without a doubt number one take it from somebody Who replaced the stock lift pump after it was TSV and the TSB Had problems. FASS remedied all the problems that the previous generation of lift pumps problems had. I am not a paid sponsor but a second GEN Enthusiast and FASS cured my acceleration lag

Just bought a 2002, long bed, going to up date.

I’ve been trying to find the same exact diamond eye 5” setup you have with the black tip but cant find it anywhere, i also read that the stainless steel version of the pipe is way better than the aluminized, whats your experience? Also the fass lift pump that i find are either 165 or 140 not 150 which one should i get the truck is bone stock but will be doing all the mods you mentioned minus the lift and tires also will be doing arp studs not because i will increase hp but just as a precaution THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!

What paint color is that? It’s beautiful!

Hey man love the videos did when you put your fass on did you go with a sump or did you just hook up to the stock port in the tank

One of the first upgrades on a second gen 24v cummins i believe along with the lift pump should be the killer dowel pin, because that will be just as costly as a vp44. by the way looks like you are missing a cab mount bolt on the back right.....

looks sick

Yes I have airdogg and have had loss of fuel pressure because of a relay or fuse I would recommend fass over airdog

Beautiful truck man 👍

I have the exact same truck just got it 2 weeks ago. 191K Miles 2001 24 Valve.

your exhaust sounds crisp

The silver sport is my favorite of all. I searched and searched for a 6 speed silver sport. Impossible to find.

when i was almost 17 i bought my first truck, 94 sclb 12v cummins loved the thing. Workin sense i was 13 on a farm pays off. Still workin there 5 years later. I got auto meter gauges 66mm turbo and 150 sticks for it along with the studs, 165 valve springs, Hamilton pushrods and all that shit. Was going to put an exhaust break on it hense the heavy ass springs. Don't ever sell it, i sold mine because of schooling (4.10 gears are slow as hell) and i miss it a ton...

i have the same fast set up never have had a problem with it on my 2006 dodge dually with the 5.9

Hey man! Love the videos. have a question. would I be fine with a full pump and sump with some gauges and not really any other upgrades for reliability? Im looing at the same truck you have but with 128k miles

For those of us that have older 12 valve trucks the killer dowel pin will need to be addressed as well as the charging system if the voltage regulator goes out in the computer. Also a quart of oil in the fuel tank helps keep everything lubed with the low sulfur fuel.

GDP mechanical fuel boss lift pump in my opinion is best, zero problems and mechanical ones are Bullet proof

I love your truck very nice can't wait till I can get my license and hey maybe even get a duckit sticker

can't wait to see what it's gonna look like when you paint the mirrors.

Could you put links to these things in the description?

Not a Ram guy but I love your Cummins

5 inch is awesome!! straight pipe with 7inch TIp same as me with my 5.9 CR 07! SOunds amazing about to tune my truck! with smarty had some trans upgrades! I put air ride bags on my rear and 4in ch suspension lift drives amazing!!! GReat video cant wait to get my tuner and fass!!!

I wish i had got a diesel. My 96 with the 5.9 magnum drinks gas like it has 7392974929 horsepower. Good thing gas is cheap rn!!

Is your gauge install video not available anymore?

Has anyone ever added a warning light in concert with the temperature gauge or do dodge drivers just know to stare at the gauges and glance now and then at the road?

Nice video well explained and the camera quality/voice is good too! I have a 14' crew cab cummins. I installed a turbo back exhaust and the raceme ultra tuner. Anything else you recommend? I'm limited with rim/tire size without a lift. It has the factory 20" rims/tires on it.

just pick up an 2003 2500 6 speed crew cab with the 5.9 cummins ...first diesel truck and I don't if I got a good deal...paid 6k for it.

Broooo keep making videos your content is duckin amazing. Haha get it?

I'm in love with your truck lol it's awesome bro

Fass and guages are a great idea, the upgraded air filter and box is a total waste of money. Youll only need that if youre already pulling 400+ horsepower or have stage 2 injectors. Other than that cool video.

with your cold air intake and exhaust should have bought new headers for it also.

So next upgrade will be a matching banks intake manifold

ParoDoxz, I was watching your injector video and was curious how you like the idle qualities of your sac injectors. How smokey are they compared to the stock ones? I have early 60 HP injectors (12 years old now) which have been awesome for mileage and a little extra power, and they're very clean too. However, I'm looking for a new set to make more power and was looking at DAP or DFI 7x.010 vco or sac. Just curious about your experience with the sac type injectors.

Can I get a list of these first things you would do in order?

What do you think about K&N intake? Snorkel?

Yes I agree FASS the pump lift pump no doubt the stock pump that comes with the Dodge must be replaced they are simply not adequate

everyone I look at says they don't fit sport....that's why I was asking. thanks

You don’t need to spend that much money on a fuel pump if your truck is stock. Just get a good fuel gauge you can monitor inside the cab and if your pump goes bad get it at your local parts store which they sale for lifetime warranty. I have changed those pumps in 20 minutes with some else’s help to lift the bed.

I think I just saw you on i265!!!

Not really a dodge/ram guy but the way you upgraded the truck I regret it.

Love the truck man, but I must confess... when you opened the door and I seen that it was an automatic, I was disappointed.

ATS exhaust manifold next as the stock ones crack.

my fass 200 is a beast pushing 50 psi and feeding my 7x14s

Me and my wife are bringing our 1st gen and 4th gen to Oahu, can we get away with having wide wheels, straight pipes and lifts? I know there’s inspections and recon laws there so I wanted to know if you had any tips?

Did you have to remove the spare tire to fit the 5in exhaust?

First upgrade should always be upgrade the stock trans before you do any mods to the motor.

what would the estimated price be for all of these upgrades?

That is the best lookin 2nd gen I have ever seen. Fuck it's nice

Prolly won't see this lol 2 years later. But where did you find those headlights?

hey bud 18psi is max recommended pressure for the vp44 you need to adjust your fass

nice vid. just want you to know that anything over 20 (fuel pressure) will rupture the diaphragm in the vp 44

What kind of rims do you have on your truck?

How did you get the black between the doors? Did you paint it or buy a piece for it?