I suppose I'm a newbie, certainly to this forum, but not to the Nitro. I've had my 2007 SXT 4x2 for 21 months and 57,000 miles now, and still have mixed emotions - I bought it to replace a 2006 Dakota ST V-8 with towing package (totalled under circumstances I'd not care to relate) and it's required considerable modification to carry personal effects and the roughly 1,500 lb. trailer/motorcycle combination. Modifications I've made and discarded:
AEM Cold Air Intake P/N 218218DP (too noisy for long-distance driving)
Gibson Performance Exhaust P/N 616004 (same as above)
Keystone ALY02304U86N wheels with 275/45R20 Goodyear Fortera SL tires (bent two rims on undeveloped roads; not enough sidewall height)
Eibach Pro-Kit spring set P/N 2885-540 (not enough ground clearance for undeveloped roads)
Jet Performance power control module P/N 90701S Stage 2 (requires 91 octane fuel - on my last trip to Abiquiu, NM, I had to re-install the 90701 Stage 1 chip because only 86, 88, and 90 octane were available)
Modifications I've made and retained:
Volant Cool Air intake P/N 166376 (quieter than AEM, no apparent compromise in performance, configuration enabled ram-air mod, slight improvement in fuel economy)
CGS Cat-Back
Exhaust P/N 70033 (interior noise level tolerable for long-distance travel, improved fuel economy and performance)
Jet Performance power control module P/N 90701 Stage 1 (improved performance and economy, but requires 89 octane fuel)
Bilstein heavy duty shocks, P/N's BE5-D916-H0 (front), BE5-D917-H0 (rear) (much-improved cornering, braking and wheel control)
Richmond Gear PowerTrax No-Slip P/N 92-0382-2905 (traction! in mud, grass and on snowy surfaces)
Rotora cross-drilled and slotted brake rotors (order for each corner of car by description)(quiet, absolutely non-fade braking with ceramic pads)
Modifications I would not have made if I knew then what I do now:
BWoody Performance swaybar links (might have made a difference before the Bilsteins, but not worth removing)
JBA exhaust manifolds (installation was a nightmare, additional power (if any) inconsequential, exhaust noise slightly higher)
I do hope that some of you might benefit from my experiences.
