2021 Ram Classic Warlock 5.7L Build

[Codystair]

Finally got around to beefing up the truck myself after years of pushing it off. All of this started with fixing a bad turn signal light and a ton of patience from the wife. First vehicle Ive bought new but after years of using my truck as a demolition debris hauler and loading her far far far beyond payload with sand, cement & tile + towing my tool trailer daily destroyed my already terrible stock shocks. Finally decided I’m done treating my truck like a ****box. All work done myself (I have trust issues and used to have a love for XJ’s lol)

‘21 Warlock 5.7L V8 ZF 8HP70 3.21






As of now she’s got:
- Cheapo Sailun Terramax RT 35” winter tires
- Upgraded all stock Halogen bulbs to LEDs (highs/lows, dome light, map light, footwell lights, vanity lights)
- Swapped to OEM Tow Mirrors
- Aftermarket rear bumper
- Added OEM Fog Lights & bezels
- Added OEM Tow hooks & bezels
- Added RAM emblem LED & amber grill DRLs
- Hitch mounted reverse/work pod lights (absolute godsend for hooking up my tool trailer)
- Truxedo tonneau cover
- Ceramic Tinted side & rear windows
- HDX running boards
- Sub amplifier & power cap
- Rockford Punch speakers
- Fox sub box with dual 12” Kicker subs
- Bed cargo/work lighting triggered by in bed switch
- Black LED third break light
- Auxbeam switch panel & fuse box
- Running board mounted LED courtesy/approach lights triggered by door open/unlock button
- LineX bedliner
- Bilstein 5100 Front Coilovers (2.1” Level)
- Bilstein B8 Rear Shocks & HD Lift Coils
- Airlift Loadlifter Ultimate 5000 Bags routed to license plate
- Alpharex LUXX Tail Lights
- Billet Tech Catch Can
- Moes Performance 87MM Ported Throttle Body
- K&N Breather Vent Filter (deleted intake-routed breather line)
- 6.4L Lower Airbox & Airduct upgrade
- Carven Progressive Exhaust w/ 5” Black ceramic exhaust tips
- Peddle Commander throttle controller
- Diablosport Pulsar set to Performance mode running 93. (Shouldve gotten an unlocked PCM & custom tune. I’m LOVING the Pulsar it’s so much fun but financially regret going this route as a custom tune would’ve done me better in the long run.)
- Caulk06’s ZF 8HP70 Transmission Thermostat Bypass Valve
- Legmaker Carbon Fiber intake “Mid” Tube
- Black lugs, stock 20” wheels
- BORA 1.5” hubcentric wheel spacers
- Suspension Maxx HD Extended Front Sway Bar end links
- Core 4x4 (Track) Rear Upper & Lower Control Arms, Track Bar & Rear Sway Bar End Links
- Roadmaster Heavy Duty Rear Anti-Sway Bar
- PPE Heavy Duty Aluminum Cast Transmission Pan
- Bulletproof 6” Drop Hitch
- Redline fluids throughout



Eyeballing the Powerstop Z36 full break kit & 6.4L intake manifold swap next. Possibly JBA UCAs but I don’t know that I need them just yet.

 

[Codystair]

Stock first break job a couple years back. Prepping for a straight shot trip moving from Englewood Florida back home to Long Island New York before our daughter was born
Couple months later, Like I said,
stock rear suspension was shot. 1500lbs of sand in the bed

More pics:






Gotta show the trailer too. Power ran off a dewalt battery attached to 20v-12v RC car power inverter with fuse panel & low voltage disconnect. Shower power connect is at the V nose with breaker box. Shes essentially a portable work station.

 

[Codystair]

Added JBA UCA’s last night and snapped some pics of the Core 4x4 rear setup

 

[DoverDad]

Nice set up. Is the rear bumper stock? I also have a 2021 Warlock and noticed some rust right on the edge below license plate. Can't have that so I'm thinking about replacing.

 

[Codystair]

I’m on this website daily and completely forgot I made this thread. Been busy with work and mods lol. Bathroom remodeler/tile guy so my brains fried. Added a JL Audio XDM 400/4 amp to beef up the Rockford punch speakers and bring them up to match the sub power a bit. Through some cheapo Amazon Dynamat knockoff on the entire floor , back wall & doors with the help of my 1 year old daughter lol drove around without door cards on for about a week so I could do one inner (outer? The metal outside-most part.) door each day after work. Will eventually add MLV after I recover a bit from the $ aspect

 

[Codystair]

Both diffs & transfer case drain & fill after the disgusting New York winter

 

[Codystair]

Did some body work, pulled dents, sanded out rust and painted a few panels to undo some of the abuse I’ve put the truck through at work. Wet sanded and did a 2 step paint correction cut & polished the truck top to bottom before I ceramic coated it with Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light. Detailers overhype how hard paint correction is, took a while yeah but not difficult by any means. maybe I’m biased because my truck is white lol. I found it to be very calming. Cant remember the name but bought a “splash and wam-o”? For the tailgate to cover up the trailer jack dent my helper caused last year. Will be pulling off the rear bumper to hit a few spots I can’t reach with the bumper on once I get some more time on my hands

 

[Codystair]

77k miles on the dash, Up next:
1. Powerstop V36 calipers pads & rotors, just got here today

2. 6.4L intake manifold w/injector spacers & 6.4 air cleaner lid. Should be here next week

3. VERY very very close to pulling the trigger on a set of stainless works Long tube headers with catted Y but the price is steep. Will most likely pull the trigger after the intake manifold is installed. Tune will follow shortly after.

Hemituner Performance’s shop is 20 Minutes from my house…. but I want all bases covered BEFORE I go drop my truck off as i cannot be without my truck for more than a few days due to pulling my tool trailer back & forth to work. I’m doing both headers & tune regardless just need to find the time

 

[Codystair]

Out with the old in with the new! So happy to get these garbage teeth-shatteringly stiff Bilstein 5100’s off of my truck. Absolutely horrible ride quality. I guess they must feel nice to guys used to driving unloaded 2500’s or fords (lol) but they were miserable from the day I put them on. I can maybe see the appeal of them for southern drivers with perfect roads driving 30mph all day but they’re not meant for the horribly congested “pothole-wasteland” that is Long Island New York lol. My wife HATED the bilstein’s and made sure I didn’t forget every time she was in the passenger seat.snapped 2 top bolts on each shock taking them off with little to no force. Kind of freaked me out imagining what could’ve happened if I kept them on. They were on the truck for LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. Anyways, I’m excited to take these fox 2.0 performance series for a ride tomorrow to break-in the new brakes.

 

[Codystair]

finally did the 6.4 intake manifold swap yesterday, paired with an air box from a 6.4 since I already had it from running the lower box.

 

[Codystair]

Stainless Works long tube headers being delivered Wednesday, (finally) getting a custom tune. All of these mods paired with the tune should keep me happy for a while. At least until I get the time to rip into the engine for a cam install…

I’ve always wanted a “hot rod” project car but now that I have a 1 year old and #2 will be here any day now, my truck became the project car while I save up for a family car. Maybe when the kiddos are older I’ll buy a Viper.

Will update after the headers are in!

 

[Codystair]

Wrapped up the rear today. Foxes ride fantastic I’m very happy with them they’re exactly the feel I wanted. I’m pretty disappointed that they come shipped with no lift they’re advertised as 2” lift coils but my truck is sitting 2” lower than it did with the Bils. My dumba s s forgot to check so now I’ll be riding around with the factory rake until the weekend

 

[Codystair]

Coated, wrapped, silicone sprayed and cured. Let’s get it ! Got the old manifolds off earlier today, currently fighting with the Y-pipe clamp will post pics shortly

 

[Codystair]

Got the headers in last weekend forgot to update since it ended up turning into an all nighter followed by taking 2 days off of work install wasn’t bad, I cracked them fought with the dipstick for almost 8 hours but eventually got it out. Truck sounds mean and finally got my Hemifever tune and it runs like a dream.



Still getting used to how it drives compared to pre-long tubes w/ a canned tune. Felt much tighter & instant response pre long tubes, but GOD DA M N does she book it now. Bogs down a tiny bit before it actually goes could just be the new PCM as the tune is fresh.

10mm stubby swivel socket, flex head ratcheting wrench and a set of stubby wrenches are your best friends used both 3/8” & 1/4” . Very very tight on most of the bolts and I have a set of baseball mitts for hands which didn’t help. Not a mechanic by any means but I’m very good at figuring sh’t out & got a decent set of tools on hand lol. Going to replace the SW clamps that came with the kit out with band clamps soon.

Need a new muffler now for sure. The Mach 40 drones horrible I’m talking window shaking drone, which is the reason I tossed the Carven Progressive; except this drone is significantly louder. Drone-free muffler that pairs well with long tube headers recommendations are welcome