Specs:
Patriot Blue 2001 Dodge Durango SLT+
4.7L V8 with AWD
Leather, rear A/C, and just about all of the goods...
High Output Cams and Intake
Dynomax UltraFlo Muffler
IP Stage III Intake
Hotchkis Sway Bars (front and rear)
Marksman M-11 Alarm/Remote Start
Westin Safari Bar / Driving Lights
Hella Angel Eyes
Driver Seat Padding Fix
IAT Sensor
Bilstein Shocks
Yaesu Ham Radio
Pioneer DEH-P940MP Stereo
PAC SWI-X Steering Wheel Control Adapter
For a step-by-step illustrated guide on how to use your factory steering wheel radio buttons with an aftermarket stereo as well as my review of the Pioneer Premier DEH-P940MP, please visit my stereo installation page.
Some Durango owners have complained of poor padding on the left side of the driver seat that causes leg cramps after long road trips. I have developed a simple fix for this problem that costs less than $5 and 30 minutes to install. It's definitely worth a look if you have been noticing this problem on your Durango.
A modification that I think every Durango owner should do: I installed Bilstein shocks on all 4 corners of the Durango. I had no idea that the Durango could perform like it does with these shocks. It handles turns and bumps like never before. I drove over some washboard dirt roads and the rear end stayed planted in a straight line -- something that has NEVER happened before. It took me about two hours to install all 4 shocks by myself. With an assistant, I think the job could be done in an hour. The part numbers for the Bilstein shocks on the 2000-2002 4x4 Durango are as follows:Fronts: BE5-2617
Rears: BE5-2790
This is by far the best modification I have made to my durango. It would have been worth 3x the price I paid for these shocks ($240).
Another modification that I would recommend to anyone: I spliced a 10k ohm 1/4 watt resistor in line with the IAT sensor (the sensor that tells the computer how cold the incoming air is). This fools the computer into thinking that the air is much cooler than it really is, thereby making the fuel mixture slightly rich and advancing the timing. I noticed a noticeable difference in power at wide open throttle. On an '01 4.7, the IAT sensor is on the driver side of the intake manifold (it actually taps into one of the runners), and has a two-wire plug going to it. This mod is very easy to do, so check this thread in my message board for the details if you are interested in modifying your engine as well: Link to Message Board Thread. If you are curious, the 10k ohm resistor lowered the sensor's reading from about 140 to 72 degrees with a warm engine and a 90 degree ambient outside temperature.
Here are a few pictures I have taken of some modifications I have made to my Durango:
Please click on an image for a higher quality version.
Click here to see a 360 degree view of the interior of my Durango.
Hella Angel Eyes
Here is a pic of what Hella Angel Eyes driving lights look like on my D. I installed these lights in the factory fog light location, and utilized existing wiring. I wired the angel eye 'ring' to the parking lights, and the driving light portion of the light to the existing fog light wiring. These lights are FAR brighter than the headlights, and definitely give the Durango a unique look.
This is a side shot of the Intense Performance IP Stage III Z-Tube Cold Air Intake system I installed. John from Intense Performance gave me great customer service, and provides a great product. I'd recommend this upgrade to anyone.
This is a close-up of the ceramic canister that houses the 7" S&B air filter.
Here is a close up of the tube and coupler at the throttle body.
This is a close-up of the panel that attaches to the side wall to get the cold air from outside the engine compartment. The kit also comes with a piece of self-adhesive plyable aluminum that you stick over the hold behind the PCM to block any warm air from getting into the area that the intake draws from.
Dynomax Ultraflo Exhaust
Click here to hear what the Dynomax Ultraflo muffler sounds like.
Here is a shot of the Gibson stainless steel exhaust tip that I installed after my Dynomax Ultraflo muffler. To get this tip to fit, I had to lower the pipe by re-hanging the exhaust, and also had to cut the end of the pipe off.
Here is another shot of the tip. Unfortunately, the "Gibson" logo on mine was stamped off center.
Here is a shot of what the exhaust looks like from behind.
Westin Safari Bar
Here is a close-up of my Westin Safari Bar and Hella FF200 driving lights.
Here is a side shot.
This is where I mounted the switch to disable the Hellas. I would recommend mounting it about an inch lower than I have it, because then you could see it through the hole in the steering wheel while you are driving. Currently, mine is blocked by the turn signal stick.
Yaesu Ham Radio
This is where I mounted the head of my Yaesu FT-100 Ham Radio. I fabricated a small bracket that wedges between the rubber liner of the cubby hole and the console, so I didn't have to drill any holes. It is surprisingly solid! Having the head mounted here gives me easy access to all of the controls and the VFO knob with my arm on the armrest.
Here is a picture of where I mounted the external speaker for the FT-100.
You can see pictures of how I mounted the same setup in a Dodge Ram in the Ham Radio section of my page.
Pioneer Stereo
Here is the Pioneer DEH-P940MP stereo that I installed in my Durango. I also installed a PAC SWI-X steering wheel control interface so that I could use the factory radio buttons on the steering wheel with this stereo. More information about this setup can be seen in the stereo installation page.
