Street Truck

[JeremyJ]

So I found a unicorn. It's a 2003 Dodge Dakota. Black Sport. Regular cab, short bed, 2WD, 4.7 V8, and...a manual transmission. A five-speed stick with a V8! These are incredibly rare. This one isn't perfect, but it's an excellent platform to have fun with. I'll upload some photos when I get a chance. Here is a list of the known issues:

• Cheap respray paint job

• Mismatched tailgate and rear bumper

• Dings in the front bumper

• Hideous aftermarket tail lights

• Noisy throwout bearing (needs a clutch)

• 188,000 miles

And here are the pros:

• Came with a new clutch, front bumper cover, and a lowering kit

• Straight body

• New brakes and ball joints

• It was really cheap

• Runs and drives perfectly

• No leaks

• $1200+ canopy

• Spray-in bedliner

• Did I mention the manual transmission?

My plans involve a steep suspension drop kit, a roll pan, some paint on the tailgate, and a new clutch. Eventually some exhaust so I can actually hear it. Maybe a short shifter (expensive and hard to find for these things) and some other go-fast bits. It's going to be my little hot rod pickup. I'll break the speed limit while doing dump runs...or something. I'd actually like to set it up to handle and brake well, so it feel less like a truck on the road. It's going to be a fun project.

[Midnight_Rider]

Aare you going back with the OEM tail lights?

[occasional demons]

My friend had a fullsize with the 4.7. He had well over 200,000 miles with no major issues, other than a water pump and radiator.

Until...

The killer was the way the PDC/PCM was set up, they get corrosion in there, and it killed the PCM. The cost was more than the truck was worth to fix it, because the PDC also needed replaced.

So it would have been a PCM, PDC, and wire harness. IIRC it was a 2010? Something about the only year they made like this in the Rams, so parts were tough to find.

The engine itself never gave any issues, other than stuff that normally wears out.

[JeremyJ]

Aare you going back with the OEM tail lights?

Heck yes. OEM red.

The 4.7 seems to be a good motor. I've been doing some research and the trans noise might actually be the input shaft bearing, instead of the throwout bearing. I might end up taking it to a trans shop, depending on the cost.

[JeremyJ]

Here it is:





I'm going to paint the tailgate to match and get rid of the eBay lighting. I'm unsure about the canopy. It was a $1500 piece and it can be useful, but I'm not a fan of it in general. I'll either keep it in case I want to use it and store it off the truck, or I'll sell it to buy more parts. Not sure yet.

[occasional demons]

I had forgotten about the oddball 6 bolt wheel pattern. The one thing that annoyed me about Dakotas.

The canopy probably adds to the fuel mileage.

My dad had a hard cover, and it made a huge difference in fuel mileage. It was a V6 5 speed, and it got 21 mpg. If you had to do something that required taking the cover off, it dropped to around 14 mpg.

The cosmetic benefit of a hard cover, is it doesn't look like an old man truck like the canopy does, but at the cost of needing to remove it, for a lot of things the canopy can stay put for.

But it is much easier to remove/install.

[JeremyJ]

This truck gets 19 mpg according to the overhead console. Not bad for a V8. I'm sure the canopy helps with that. But like you said...old man vibes. I put a hard tonneau cover on my old Hemi Ram and I easily gained two MPG. That was with a lead foot.

The one cool thing about the bolt pattern is that it's shared with the Viper. There have been a few guys who installed Viper wheels on their Dakotas and it looks pretty cool. They do require spacers to clear the suspension. Most do the four front wheels setup, but a few have managed to squeeze the 13" rears under them before. I think that would be overkill for this truck, though. I'd be happy with a set of stock R/T 17x9's and some sticky tires.

[occasional demons]

This truck gets 19 mpg according to the overhead console. Not bad for a V8.

The sad part, (for Ford) is Dakotas in same era can smoke the Ranger in both power and fuel economy.

My nephew learned that the hard way. He had a 90's Dakota, and traded it for a Ranger, even after we told him it was going to be a mistake. A move he regretted. He just couldn't comprehend a smaller truck could get such horrible fuel economy, while being so lame to drive.

My brother and former brother in law both had Rangers, one being new, and the other pretty well beat. Both were lucky to hit 10 mpg, and the gas pedal was more of an ornament than something that functions. The beater actually made better power than the new one.

The beater was a 2.3 4 banger, the new one was a 3.0 V6.

[04rebel]

Nice looking mid size truck you found there JJ ! Hope you end up liking it much and for a long time. Myself, I'm not into pick ups at all, would rather have a van or suburban clas equivalent vehicle than a pick up.

[JeremyJ]

I think it looks a lot better.

[occasional demons]

Definitely!


Do you want this moved to a Project Log? or to your old one?

[JeremyJ]

I thought about starting a project log, but this is a Neon site after all. I don't think people are going to be stoked to read about a Dakota. Seems more off-topic. What do you think? I'm open to what you suggest.

[occasional demons]

Meh, a project log on a non neon isn't going to hurt anything. It's not like there are a ton of strict neon purist hanging out here. We're just lucky anyone interested in anything Mopar related are still using this site...

Danteneon had a PL on his Caliber, so I don't see how a truck is any different.

[JeremyJ]

Then let's move it over and I'll keep a log on here. It will be nice to bounce some ideas off of you guys. You know...all three of you.

[Midnight_Rider]

It's not like there are a ton of strict neon purist hanging out here.

WHAT? Wait a minute... Just kidding.

[04rebel]

You guys are making me like "persona non grata" by letting the wife get a PONTIAC G6 gt and quitting on our 98 Avenger!
Son has the Journey now. His GF has Luna the 04 SXT. I've got the 04 Town&Country and the Avenger is HIBERNATING out in the back yard!!

[occasional demons]

You know...all three of you.

[JeremyJ]

Since this is officially a project log, I'm going to continue with tradition and add a post with all of the mods on the truck. I will update this post as I make changes to it:

Exterior:
Anzo clear headlights
Clear corners
Chrome coated amber bulbs
JDMAstar LED corner lights
Debadged
Pinstripe delete
Line-X bed liner
Black LED 3rd brake light
Roll pan
Leer canopy (removed)
eBay tail lights (removed)
eBay headlights (removed)

Interior:
Corbeau Evolution seats
Corbeau brackets
Center console delete
Kenwood CD player
Kicker speakers

Suspension:
Energy Suspension bump stops
Belltech Street Performance shocks
DJM 3" drop control arms
DJM 5" drop spring hangers
Cut front springs

Wheels/Tires/Brakes:
235/60/16 Kumhos
Black paint

Engine/Performance:
2.5" cat delete pipes
High flow Y pipe
3rd cat delete
Custom 3" Magnaflow
Mishimoto magnetic drain plug

Transmission/drivetrain:
Sachs clutch kit
Luk flywheel
Painted diff cover

[MyNeonSaysHi]

Looks like a nice little truck. Odd I was thinking about getting an old Dodge truck the other day b4 seeing this log... And to lower it too. Sick of seeing all these lifted trucks with UGLY wheels rolling all over the place out here. I think it would be fun to have a lowered Ram/Dakota. Has hell froze over?!? There is a local with a black Dakota R/T on the Viper wheels. It looks pretty good! My dad had a 02 V6 Dakota he bought brand new with a stick. Always liked Dodge trucks. Curious to see what you end up doing to it!

[JeremyJ]

I don't say this out loud very often, for fear of being stoned to death, but I actually really dislike lifted trucks. I think they look stupid. I love lowered trucks, though. Bagged trucks are cool, but I prefer static drops. I don't know why. I see regular cab trucks like two-seat muscle cars. Drop them and make them fast.

[MyNeonSaysHi]

Agreed! I am sure not many will see your post here about that hahaha.

[JeremyJ]

New tail lights! No more ricer garbage!

[occasional demons]

[Midnight_Rider]

That looks so much better.

[JeremyJ]

Well, I dropped the truck off at the shop last night. It's going to get a new clutch kit, flywheel, and rear main seal replaced. Let's hope I can afford to pick it up when they're done! It's a good shop that's really close to home. They quoted me half what another shop quoted me and they're much friendlier. Great reviews. I think it's in good hands. We'll see.

[occasional demons]

Labor shouldn't be too bad, we did the clutch in my Dad's '93, 2wd, and it was a fairly simple job, even without a lift/transmission jack.

I think back then, there were still machine shops around that would re surface a flywheel. So I think it was just a disc and pressure plate for the "major expense" pieces.

When my brother needed a clutch in his fox body Mustang, he was going to do it himself, but he checked around for shits and grins, and the local Ford dealer only wanted $125 for labor and parts.

He didn't hesitate to drop it off.

[MyNeonSaysHi]

Hopefully all goes well withj the clutch job and it shifts like new. Its nice having a shop take care of a jjob like that,. Don't have to lift a finger and since the price is right, might as well! Eveyrone seems to be buying new cars like crazy I noticed! I think car market prices or going to tank next year. /offtopic

[JeremyJ]

Soooooo I guess the transmission needs a rebuild. I'm not surprised, since the sound it was making didn't sound like a throwout bearing at all. Bad internal bearings. I can't wait until they quote me a price for the rebuild. Fun times.

[occasional demons]

I wonder if they used ATF in those also?

And someone put gear oil in...

Just because it is a bigger vehicle doesn't exclude it from ATF from the factory.

My Jeep XJ used ATF in the transfer case. Dexron IIE.

I drained it, and put in Redline's version in both the AW4 and the 242 transfer case. Never had any issues with wear, or the fluid turning dark. My buddies Jeep used the same, but he just changed it every 30,000 miles with conventional. His was always black coming out.

[MyNeonSaysHi]

yikes sorry to hear that