Got Juice?

06. Best Rated HP and TQ, it has a cat, but nothing that a little blue tipped wrench can't solve.

Better headlights are nice. The 06+ really throw a good lighting pattern down the road.

garbri

removing the cat gains you what? Nothing. Unless you really bump up the power, the cat won't hold you back.

Are the 04.5 pistons the first with the additional cooling? That makes a difference for those running hard with high EGT's.

The 04's can be brought up to 04.5 power levels very easily, but both have the LP issues (easily fixed, though).

I was in the same boat as you recently when I had to replace my 96 Ram. I ended up getting a 04.5 with a 6 speed. I'm getting about 20-23 MPG from mixed driving, so good mileage from these engines is possible.

garrett

cameroneod

My 03 came with a 47re. I wouldn't trade mine for a brand new truck. I beat the tar out of it and it never misses a beat. Hell of a pickup and AWESOME mileage.

Got Juice?

Depends on how high you want to go.

I'm 475RWHP and the factory airfilter and exhaust is still in place.

paroxysym

um id do 04.5-06... yea the LATER 05's came with the plastic intercoolers but its not as bad as it sounds. the 05s and 06s are very mod friendly and take to chips/downloaders/etc. nicer than some years. you have a stock 4" exhaust so you just have to cut the muffler off it and you have a decent exhaust, you will have the 48re which will last if you dont beat on it much... if you are going for fuel efficency- like mentioned above the 03s and early 04s are the onces to look at

Gary Emerald

I've had an '03 SO and now an '04 555 (early HO)

love 'em! good mileage, and no cat!!! smog ***** are getting more and more strict by the year.

GlennRMK

Very happy with my 03 HO so far. Gets good mileage. About 18.5-19 around town with the Smarty Junior. Mileage is about the same as my 01 6 speed.

Only thing I dislike about the 03 is no Tow/Haul mode. But it has OD lock out which is nice.