Performance Bolt On Upgrades for the Dodge Magnum

A few months ago (June '08 issue), we bolted a bunch of Mopar Performance parts on to your author's '05 Dodge Magnum and did a before and after evaluation. The effects of adding a cold-air kit, headers and full exhaust, a camshaft, a torque converter, and engine and transmission controllers were impressive, showing a bump of 65 hp and a 0.67-second improvement in the quarter-mile e.t. But here's the behind-the-scenes story we didn't tell you last time.

It started with the cover story we did back in the Sept. '07 issue, where we outlined the state of bolt-on performance parts for new cars, using a GTO, a Mustang, and a Charger as examples. The Dodge camp got short shrift because there really wasn't anything for them other than a cold-air kit and exhaust. The reason was Ma Mopar and her Germanic overlords stored their computer codes behind a stone wall, refusing to let anyone take a peek and hence limiting parts development. Between the time we did the story and when that issue hit the stands, Mopar had loosened up a bit and allowed its hot rodding arm, Mopar Performance, to develop a lot more parts for the car. Our pals there saw the story and called, saying, "We now have parts for these cars. Will you test them?"

My daily driver was a 250,000-mile Eurotrash sedan with nonworking air conditioning and black leather seats. It was summer and I was sick of showing up to work with the back of my shirt all sweaty, so when someone mentioned, "Hey, feel like buying a used Charger and bolting this stuff on to see how it works?" the wheels were set in motion. I always liked the Magnum, so I found a 30,000-mile '05 model and made it mine.

With a fat payment book in hand, it was really difficult to watch the motor come out and apart in DC Performance's shop to install all those parts. I was convinced I had just ruined the car, as with most other pristine, low-mileage vehicles I had done this to in the past. Turns out, though, those parts have been working flawlessly ever since and have transformed the car into a Mustang eater. It's my daily driver, and I couldn't be happier.

Soon after, Mopar called and offered the rest of its parts to test on the car, including coilovers and a Kicker speaker/subwoofer upgrade. I said yes, then kicked myself after remembering some of the other cars I had ruined with racy suspension parts. Squeaky bushings, banging Heim joints, teeth-rattling ride . . . what had I agreed to this time?

So back to DC Performance the car went, with strict orders to put all the stock parts in the wagon's hold so when I get sick of it, I can put it back to stock. That was two months ago, and I'm glad to report that so far the suspension has made nary a peep. It rides a little stiffer but only in a good way, it handles great, and it looks great. DC's Lyle Larson is now trying to talk me into putting together a purpose-built blower motor with 600 hp, but I think for now I'll stop. After all, I've still got 48 payments left.