Superchips TriTune Max MicroTuner

 

Installation for the 2003 Dodge 5.7 HEMI RAM 1500/2500/3500 (2WD or 4X4)

 

By Mark Simonds (MrHemi)

Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

Ah… the technical and computerized world we live in today.  Who would’ve thought you could give yourself over 20 additional horsepower and close to 35 ft lbs of torque, and never lift the hood or get your hands dirty.  That’s what the new Superchips TriTune Max MicroTuner will do for your 2003 5.7 Hemi Truck – and it’ll only take ten minutes.

            Daimler Chrysler did a very good job with their 2003 Hemi trucks – with the exception of one issue that has been driving Hemi Truck owners nuts… the Throttle Control Module, or TCM.  This annoying little electronic device under the hood tells the engine (during wide-open throttle) to lower the engine speed between shift points.  This might be great for extending the life of the transmission, but it’s annoying as heck to the driver who desires to get from point “A” to point “B” very quickly.  Superchips TriTune Max MicroTuner has been able to remedy that TCM irritation, and in addition, has given the Hemi Truck owner several other options to make his or her driving experience a pleasure.  Here’s what the Max MicroTuner will provide:

 

  • Tunes the engine every 200 rpms utilizing the “Tri Tune” option… users can select between 87 Octane (no added performance – but can benefit from other options); 91-93 Octane (Performance Tow Program); and 91-93 Octane (Performance Program).
  • Improved throttle response.
  • Increase the Rev Limiter by an additional 500 rpm.
  • Increase the Speed Limiter to either 120mph or 140mph.
  • Adjust speedometer for larger aftermarket tire sizes.
  • Firms up the shift points and shift firmness.

 

For more info on user options, go to http://www.superchips.com/html/products/chrysler/3714adjust.htm.

 

Another nice little item about the Superchips programmer is once the performance program is installed in the truck, the stock program is saved in the hand-held programmer.  It’s there when you need it… whenever desired it can be returned to the stock program and your saved performance program is kept in the memory of the hand-held programmer.   This is especially handy when it’s time to take your truck to the dealership – you do not want your custom performance program forever wiped out because the service guy ran a diagnostic check. 

 

Once I installed the performance program, it was time to give it a run.  I had filled up with 93 octane earlier that day, so I was good to go using the performance option.  The first thing I noticed was the throttle response... a night and day difference.  The pedal is very touchy now – and no more of that "slack in the cable" feeling.  Having elected the “+500 rpm” option, the truck now ran up the rpm band to just under 6000 rpm.  With the firmer shift points provided by Superchips, the shifting from 1st to 2nd was just like the TCM modification (you Hemi Truck Club folks know what I’m talking about).  The other shift points were firmed up as well.  I was actually able to chirp tires shifting into 2nd once!  Not too bad for an automatic transmission.

The speed limiter can be set up to either 120 mph or 140 mph... of course I set mine to the latter.  I hit the highway and decided to see how fast she would go (research for HemiTruckClub.com members is worth getting large speeding ticket). At 120 mph I backed down... to be perfectly honest I was getting scared. The wind noise at that speed was deafening.  I didn't feel like I was in control and I didn't know the speed rating on my stock tires, so I backed off.  There was more available from the Hemi, so I wouldn't be surprised if you could hit 130 or higher in this truck now!

The tire size option I left as "stock", since I still have the factory issued tires.  For you 4X4 owners, this is a nice option to ensure the speedometer is correct when you put on those larger size tires.  No more worries about speeding tickets because of a faulty speedometer.

About two hours after the installation of the programmer, I went over to my friends at DynoTuned Performance, Inc. for a few runs on their chassis dyno.  It was a very bad day to dyno anything - 103 degrees in the shop with humidity of 50%. The last time I was there (January of this year) I dyno'd 286.2 rwhp with the aFe cold air intake and Gibson Super Truck exhaust. We did a base line run first (without the programmer installed) and came up with 268 rwhp… what a difference a cool day makes. So keep that in mind when you read the numbers below:

Rear wheel performance w/ stock computer: 268 rwhp/283 ftlbs torque (aFe intake, Gibson S/T cat-back).
Rear wheel performance w/ Superchips installed: 280 rwhp/303 ftlbs torque (aFe intake, Gibson S/T cat-back).

Estimated flywheel performance (using est. 23% drive train loss):  364 hp/394 ftlbs torque.

 

For horsepower and torque gains on a stock Hemi Ram, go to Superchips’ web site at http://www.superchips.com/html/products/chrysler/gas_trucks.htm.  Brent at DynoTuned Performance stated had it been a 75 degree day, the end results would be 10-12 greater hp, and 15-20 ftlbs greater torque with the programmer.  I'm not too concerned with the hp numbers, but I do like the fact that even on a very hot day I'm very close to 400 ftlbs of torque at the flywheel.

In summary, it's a completely different truck now... shifts better, sounds better, and goes faster. The Superchips TriTune Max MicroTuner is definitely a “must have” item for your 2003 Hemi Ram. Order yours Today with free shipping, just click...

 

 Home 2003 Ram Hemi is part # 3714, new part # 3715 to include more Dodge gas engines, 4.7L, 5.2L,5.7L and 5.9L