2003 Dodge Ram ECU swap Questions

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

Looking for advice on the best way to go with my project, any help would be appreciated.

I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 SB RC 2WD that I bought new and currently has 309,000 miles. It?s seem many mods along the way, but it?s definitely time to finish it off with the motor and trans I?ve always wanted. Since the 2003 has no programming capability, I was planning on just going to a Holley Terminator X Max, but I?ve been looking into doing an ECU swap to later model instead now. My big question is which year should I go to and why?

My plan is to get the correct ECU in and running first with stock motor and trans, then swap in a T56 Magnum, then finally put in a new built motor from Arrington or MMX.

I see a lot of people say the 2005 is the one to go to because ?more control? with very little explanation of what that means. To me it seems like it?s all about transmission control, but I want to end up with a T56 manual so I really couldn?t care less about tuning the auto trans. Is there any other reason I wouldn?t want to use a 2004 ECU? Seems like a lot less work. Others say to go to even later models, but again it all seems to be for other trans options, which I don?t need.

If I go with an auto transmission ECU, can I turn off all the codes that might be thrown when I go to a manual?

Truck has already been converted to 4 link with panhard, rear airbags, lowering springs in the front, 22? SRT10 wheels, SRT10 Dana 60 rear end with 4.55 gears, and SRT10 four piston front calipers, rotors, and spindle carriers, custom front and rear sway bars?

Thanks!

Daniel

[PurpleRam]

Hemitruckclub.com. Several threads dealing with the swap.

05 ecu is the easiest, mostly just o2 sensor and vin info , 06-08 , more involved , dash cluster , and 02 ……if you plan on wasting money on a 545 transmission, 07-08 is the better choice, don’t forget dash cluster and o2.

VVT engine ….09……DO NOT WASTE YOU TIME, 10-13 is ok, dash cluster o2’s and a few other things, 2014 is the better choice for VVT engine.

[PurpleRam]

If rays04gtx doesn’t chime in later , I?ll go over why the 05, is preferred over 04 tomorrow

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

If rays04gtx doesn’t chime in later , I?ll go over why the 05, is preferred over 04 tomorrow

Awesome thank you!!

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

Hemitruckclub.com. Several threads dealing with the swap.

05 ecu is the easiest, mostly just o2 sensor and vin info , 06-08 , more involved , dash cluster , and 02 ……if you plan on wasting money on a 545 transmission, 07-08 is the better choice, don’t forget dash cluster and o2.

VVT engine ….09……DO NOT WASTE YOU TIME, 10-13 is ok, dash cluster o2’s and a few other things, 2014 is the better choice for VVT engine.

I won't be using VVT. Using my stock 545RFE until I put in the T56 Magnum, no ther transmission being considered. I would like to keep stock instrument cluster.

[LilSick]

Why you dead set on a T56?

[rays04gtx]

05 Vs 04 ......05 have a few more tables.
Idle , Idle TQ spark is the same , but 05 has a few more Idle Tq Throttle tables, making BIG Cams trickier to idle , but it can be done.
Airflow ,Electric Throttle , is a big one, 04's don't have any of the "Pedal" tables , but Ironically the 04's have the BEST oem Pedal feel, they are closest to a DBC(drive by cable) feel in OEM form.
DFCO, the 04's there's no way to turn off "spark control" for cut off.
Spark is the big one, 04's don't have a lot of the IAT/ECT modifiers, no start up table. The PT & WOT table the max values are 2-3* different with the 05's being high. MBT tables are the same.
Tq management is another big one, 04's do not have any of the Auto Trans Tq tables.
An interesting difference if you are using the MPVI 2 interface and version 5.0, the Misfire table on the 04 is 5600RPM, while the 05 is 352.

04/05's have 4 02s while your 03 should only have 2 ....other then that it's a cake walk.

05 is the easier of the the 2 to tune when it comes to cams, 05 is the better one with the 545 trans, not a lot of control over the POS 545, but the Tq management tables and Shift reduction time help keep the 545 from self destruction.

My 04 GTX I run a 468 G3 Na , I'm making a little less then 770 Hp on the 04 ECU, so Power can be made with the 04 ECU .
When I bought this truck it was converted over to a t56 already , I've had a 46RH in it, now It has a 727. If this truck didn't have the T56 in it when I bought it, I would of swapped over to the 05 ECU.
Purple Ram's Nephew has an 03 with 2014 ECU, dash cluster and a few other odds and ends, My youngest son also did a 14 to 03 swap.

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

05 Vs 04 ......05 have a few more tables.
Idle , Idle TQ spark is the same , but 05 has a few more Idle Tq Throttle tables, making BIG Cams trickier to idle , but it can be done.
Airflow ,Electric Throttle , is a big one, 04's don't have any of the "Pedal" tables , but Ironically the 04's have the BEST oem Pedal feel, they are closest to a DBC(drive by cable) feel in OEM form.
DFCO, the 04's there's no way to turn off "spark control" for cut off.
Spark is the big one, 04's don't have a lot of the IAT/ECT modifiers, no start up table. The PT & WOT table the max values are 2-3* different with the 05's being high. MBT tables are the same.
Tq management is another big one, 04's do not have any of the Auto Trans Tq tables.
An interesting difference if you are using the MPVI 2 interface and version 5.0, the Misfire table on the 04 is 5600RPM, while the 05 is 352.

04/05's have 4 02s while your 03 should only have 2 ....other then that it's a cake walk.

05 is the easier of the the 2 to tune when it comes to cams, 05 is the better one with the 545 trans, not a lot of control over the POS 545, but the Tq management tables and Shift reduction time help keep the 545 from self destruction.

My 04 GTX I run a 468 G3 Na , I'm making a little less then 770 Hp on the 04 ECU, so Power can be made with the 04 ECU .
When I bought this truck it was converted over to a t56 already , I've had a 46RH in it, now It has a 727. If this truck didn't have the T56 in it when I bought it, I would of swapped over to the 05 ECU.
Purple Ram's Nephew has an 03 with 2014 ECU, dash cluster and a few other odds and ends, My youngest son also did a 14 to 03 swap.

Ray, thank you for answering this question with actual details, very helpful!

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

Why you dead set on a T56?

Why wouldn't I be? How about because the T56 Magnum is the best manual transmission you can get by a long shot for the money, and I know it will fit and work because it's been done, and it's awesome and not another fucking automatic. Why are you asking me this when I want to know details about an ECU swap?

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

If rays04gtx doesn’t chime in later , I?ll go over why the 05, is preferred over 04 tomorrow

I saw in another thread that you were going to do a T56 swap on a Ram back in 2017. How did it go? What did you do for programming?

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

05 Vs 04 ......05 have a few more tables.
Idle , Idle TQ spark is the same , but 05 has a few more Idle Tq Throttle tables, making BIG Cams trickier to idle , but it can be done.
Airflow ,Electric Throttle , is a big one, 04's don't have any of the "Pedal" tables , but Ironically the 04's have the BEST oem Pedal feel, they are closest to a DBC(drive by cable) feel in OEM form.
DFCO, the 04's there's no way to turn off "spark control" for cut off.
Spark is the big one, 04's don't have a lot of the IAT/ECT modifiers, no start up table. The PT & WOT table the max values are 2-3* different with the 05's being high. MBT tables are the same.
Tq management is another big one, 04's do not have any of the Auto Trans Tq tables.
An interesting difference if you are using the MPVI 2 interface and version 5.0, the Misfire table on the 04 is 5600RPM, while the 05 is 352.

04/05's have 4 02s while your 03 should only have 2 ....other then that it's a cake walk.

05 is the easier of the the 2 to tune when it comes to cams, 05 is the better one with the 545 trans, not a lot of control over the POS 545, but the Tq management tables and Shift reduction time help keep the 545 from self destruction.

My 04 GTX I run a 468 G3 Na , I'm making a little less then 770 Hp on the 04 ECU, so Power can be made with the 04 ECU .
When I bought this truck it was converted over to a t56 already , I've had a 46RH in it, now It has a 727. If this truck didn't have the T56 in it when I bought it, I would of swapped over to the 05 ECU.
Purple Ram's Nephew has an 03 with 2014 ECU, dash cluster and a few other odds and ends, My youngest son also did a 14 to 03 swap.

Who built the 468? Arrington? I was currently interested in the MMX 454. Do any of these stroker motors have issues with piston stability?

[LilSick]

4 inch arm and 6 inch rod how long do you think the rings and skirts are gonna stay happy?

What is the application?

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

4 inch arm and 6 inch rod how long do you think the rings and skirts are gonna stay happy?

What is the application?

I don't know, that's why I'm asking. Do you know? or do you just ask questions like a know-it-all yet never actually reply or have any real information to share??

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

4 inch arm and 6 inch rod how long do you think the rings and skirts are gonna stay happy?

What is the application?

The application is clearly stated at the beginning of the thread.

[LilSick]

Looking for advice. My plan is to get the correct ECU in and running first with stock motor and trans, then swap in a T56 Magnum, then finally put in a new built motor from Arrington or MMX. I see a lot of people say the 2005 is the one to go to because ?more control? with very little explanation of what that means. To me it seems like it?s all about transmission control, but I want to end up with a T56 manual so I really couldn?t care less about tuning the auto trans. Is there any other reason I wouldn?t want to use a 2004 ECU? Seems like a lot less work. Others say to go to even later models, but again it all seems to be for other trans options, which I don?t need.
Truck has already been converted to 4 link with panhard, rear airbags, lowering springs in the front, 22? SRT10 wheels, SRT10 Dana 60 rear end with 4.55 gears, and SRT10 four piston front calipers, rotors, and spindle carriers, custom front and rear sway bar?

I am sorry but to me the application is not clear. First post is just a lot of questions and a list of mods. No mention of the intended application

Anyone who starts talking about longevity without first knowing what the application is, is... well.... a fool

Alum connecting rods last forever if they are used to hold a clock

Good luck with your project

[PurpleRam]

Ray's 468?s, I built both, the one that was in the truck when ray bought it in 2016, and the 2nd one that was installed in 2019.
1st 468 was built in 2011 with darton sleeves in a parts program 6.1 block, 4.16x 4.30 , 6.10 rods pistons were 1.0 ph, needed a . 070 gasket to give post to head clearance of roughly.045.
It spent its 1st 3 months on and off the dyno some where between 50 and 65 sessions, 250 hours before the 1st tear down, everything mic'd up to original specs. Original owner wanted it re-assembled with the bearings and rings that I just took out.....I said no.so it was re-built with new "wear items" that 468 made it into the truck early 2012, I drove the truck about 5k miles that 1st year, with 20 passes, delivered the truck September 2012.from 2012 to when ray bought it in 2016 truck had 19k miles put on it, 130 more passes. Ray put another 9k on it plus another 100 passes
I tore that 468 apart in march 2019, cylinders had on average.007 tapper, with #8 being the worst@ .010.
The new 468 started out as a 426 DP crate. This 468 is 4.185x4.25, 6.125 rods 1.0 ph pistons &.050 gasket ,
Piston are . 01 above deck at static assembly and has a piston to head clearance of .035 when running

[PurpleRam]

Who built the 468? Arrington? I was currently interested in the MMX 454. Do any of these stroker motors have issues with piston stability?

MMX 454 is a BGE Block Build,4.125X 4.25 Pin Height is 1.03 , For NA or a nitrous shot , the piston is stable. For Boost no, any piston over 4in in DIA should have at least 1.22 Ph to be stable if you are going to run anything higher then 14lbs.

there is a reason why 1.28 is the Ph for the 6.2l Hellcat/Demon/Red eye/ What ever else FCA stuffs it in to.

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

MMX 454 is a BGE Block Build,4.125X 4.25 Pin Height is 1.03 , For NA or a nitrous shot , the piston is stable. For Boost no, any piston over 4in in DIA should have at least 1.22 Ph to be stable if you are going to run anything higher then 14lbs.

there is a reason why 1.28 is the Ph for the 6.2l Hellcat/Demon/Red eye/ What ever else FCA stuffs it in to.

Awesome, thanks again for the clear answers. This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

I'm just looking to build a street truck with a manual and a big motor. I drive it and have fun, that's about it. The only reason it would see the track is if I decided to do Sick Week or something just for fun, so maybe a few passes a year, definitely not pushing hard. No towing or anything like that on the street.

It could see a lot of miles though, any concerns there? It's my primary vehicle now but not likely to stay that way long term. It's my keeper truck, i it bought new in 2003, has 309,000 miles with the motor and transmission never having been taken apart. It's never let me down in 20 years. I'll never sell it.

[ineedtofinishmyprojects]

I am sorry but to me the application is not clear. First post is just a lot of questions and a list of mods. No mention of the intended application

Anyone who starts talking about longevity without first knowing what the application is, is... well.... a fool

Alum connecting rods last forever if they are used to hold a clock

Good luck with your project

It's a street truck, i drive it around and have fun. That's it. Now lets hear all the specific knowledge you have (that I didn't even ask from you)...

[PurpleRam]

Understand this has been my experience, My current crop of 02-05 RC4x2 Rams consist of 12 , 4 strictly drag trucks, 6 daily's and two projects ,

1st I would drop the side tank and go with a Mustang/Universal tank, mount it under the bed where the spare tire goes?.(which you might have already do when going 4 link)makes true equal length duals a reality, also lets you mount both shocks on the bac side of the axle in a 10-15* position in relationship to the rear axle.
2nd JTS Venom, They have a Spider gear set for the Dana SRT10 Dana?..the oem spiders are almost as weak as a RFE545 Trans?.(almost) JTS also has a lot of T56 goodies for your swap.
3rd JMB performance SRT10 Battery relocation kit??it?s a one stop kit.
4th If you plan on driving a good amount, I mean 75-100 miles a week, or you know you want to do 100mile road trips??.Cowl Hood, similar to the OEM Ram GTX hood ??. As you know from owning your truck as long as you have , half of the dam engine is under the cab over hang?..these things build up a ton of heat especially when you get in to the 400+CI engines.
As much as I think the Us-bodies Super-bee hood is just plan ole Awesome looking on these trucks. Cowl is the go-to, 2nd hood that works well on these is a 6pk Scoop hood.

Back in 2010 I helped my niece?s late husband build a 433ci 5.7 (4.03X4.25) it used Nissian application 6.077 rods, so rod ratio is a measly 1.43 , it went in to her 06 C300, she wrecked the car in 2016 with 90k on the 433, we dropped it in to her new(for her) 08 Magnum. 2020 the car was striped, and chassis was sold off to a neighbor of hers. The 433 had 155k on it when I tore it down. Taper was less then .005 on all 8 cylinders.

I have a good friend who runs 8.2 deck ht SBF's his favorite combo I build for him is 4.185X3.79 he tops it off with 4 plates of NOS, he runs a lot of small tire races nation wide in a 83 Fox Body , we run 5.234Honda style rods, rod ratio is 1.38 He averages 10k miles a year , we rebuild or replace every year, but this last Dart block had 3 rebuilds on it this current "rebuild" I cut the block .005 to clean up the tapper in cylinder 6 & 8

I think too many people worry about Rod ratio now-adays , Plenty of Small block chevy 400s out there with 1.48 Rod ratio