[timmypstyle]

Originally Posted by 4.2L_Guy

and as for the parking brake i have never really needed it because our drive way is steep and if you put it in low range and reverse you can pretty much park wareever you want. but always have to shut it off and keep it in gear.

umm dude, a manual is easier for it to run away from you than an auto. autos have park which is like a "lock in place" for the tranny. manuals it is in a GEAR which means if it is too much weight for it, then it will start rolling. just think of the weight being equal to the torque your engine makes to turn the gears. try putting an auto in drive or reverse and shut it off on a steep hill, leave and come back in 15minutes, it probably will be at the bottom. you are lucky yours hasnt yet!!! the rule with parking brakes tho is either never use them, or use them every time. if you dont use them they freeze or lock up. by using it every time you are keeping the parts moving which keeps them from locking up for a longer time. so once you get it in, use it every time, hill or no hill and still put it in gear the way you were because i have come across many parking brakes that dont work well at all for backward rolling but it helps. the trick is to put it in gear, then shut off the truck, then let clutch out and let foot off of brake, let the truck settle(roll until the gear catches) then put on parking brake(no need to do it as hard as you can, just till it gets kinda hard to push. do it with your hand like your doing a push-up on it and see how far down it goes(using hand and arm force only, not putting your back into it or anything). that should be stiff enough.
as for your gas mileage, an intake should add about 2-3mpg, or a K&N drop-in should add 1 if your truck was in normal operating condition. since yours is probably not, it may only add .5 or 1 for an intake and probably not much at all for the drop-in. my 04 heritage gor 18.9 average stock, then 19.9 with drop-in, then 22.5 with intake. my 08 has the same intake and is getting just under 20 with intake but i mess around a lot. both trucks it seems i cant play all day and still get over 17. messing around on the highway, hitting 100, pulling away from whoever... no matter what i have gotten over 19 with my 08 and my 04 got just over 17. making your vehicle breathe better is the best thing for it. with your exhaust being bigger, if you do get the drop-in or intake it may be a bigger gain than i got since mine's exhaust is restricted still. either way...it is worth the 60-65 for the drop-in and its worth the 305 for the intake.