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Critter
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2003
00:37:23
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 Subject: Help... look at this truck
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I just bought a 1997 Dakota with 69,000miles on it for $3000. The problem is well... look at the pics in this link. http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=703810
See the prob here. I have looked all over this site for mods.. can't decide on any specifics yet... help me out. Oh yeah paint job is the last thing.
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Danny
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2003
03:10:49
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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Just wanted to say nice buy.. Not a bad price...That color makes me wanna hurl..and then gouge my eyes out with a spoon, but other than that, everything looks good. I'm curious to see your mods. I assume by looking it's 2 wheel.
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Max E. Pad
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2003
04:48:17
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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I kinda like the color...Magenta (PH1). I wouldn't touch the factory paint if it's in good shape. You have so many other things to clean up first.
#1) Rims and tires. Stock R/T rims from the dealer ($130.00 each from the accessories catalog) and nice rubber. Something shiney would look good too. Your choice but those nasty steelies have to go. Sometimes the R/T rims come up for sale here. Sometimes on eBay but I personally hate eBay.
#2) Roll-pan painted to match.
#3) 2/4 drop.
#4) Stillen bumper cover painted to match.
#5) Passenger side mirror...may as well paint both to match as well as the door handles.
#6) Get rid of that nasty plastic bed liner, repair the holes in the bed rails, carpet the bed and get a hard tonneau painted to match.
When you make it look good then tackle the go parts. You can do the usual V8 TB swap, CAI, Autolite XXXX (whatever they are) but all that will get you about 5 RWHP. (Incoming flames!!!Take cover!!!!) The best way to get more from your V-6 is a blower. That's where I'm headed when I've get the dough.
Oh yeah, don't neglect the exhaust. Stock doesn't flow too bad for a smog eating sound killing factory set-up but you can really make things happen with a good cat-back or even a custom manifold back system. I'm having mine custom made by a guy in my town.
Welcome to the world of obsessively spent every spare penny you have.
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Max E. Pad
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2003
04:57:07
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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Sorry about the last sentence...I'm drunk.
Forgot to mention the wheels flares too. They can still be ordered from the dealer. Personally I like the look of the factory flares. I think they add a nice line to carry over the outer edge of wide rims and tires. It's a matter of taste but if you go with a wider rim with less back spacing you don't get that nasty ghetto look.
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Barney
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2003
07:46:35
|  RE: Help... look at this truck
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It's the Barneymobile!!!!!
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Critter
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2003
10:04:59
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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Sweet that helps me... but i want it raised not lowered... it is a truck and i live in the south. :-D You sure do cosmetics first?
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Justi
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2003
11:21:48
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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Max E. Pad is building you a ricer, be careful! LOL.. I just saw a set of 16x8 stock SLT rims on ebay for like $275, not great rims but decent and would look nice. Ebay absolutely rocks, you just have to be a smart shopper. People who don't know how to wisely shop generally dislike eBay. Use it with common sense and you'll find stellar deals if you're willing to wait for em.
I'd first make sure it's mechanically sound before dropping a dime in the appearance, but one you're there the fun begins!
Good luck and enjoy!
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uuuum
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2003
12:52:23
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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This ain't no ricer...
Why built a truck like the one every sister marrying bubba has?
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Critter
Dodge Dakota
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12/31/2003
13:49:35
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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Well I know the engine and the transmission are in good shape b/c I drove it 400 miles from Ohio on sunday. Mirrors are being repaced with those M3 mirros b/c 2 of those were cheaper than 1 OEM even off of e-bay.
A few problems I have found:
1) It needs a new right exhaust manifold. so if you know any place that has cheap performance headers to replace it with that would be nice to know.
2) I was packing gravel with it (driving back and forth and would drop into neutral to go backwards b/c I was on a hill) and it stalled out after the 3rd time of going forward and backward... Donno what happened but it happened in our jeep too. so if anyone might know why that happened it would be nice to know.
3) Rusting bolts.... that is a Ohio problem. Any that are very important I may need check integraty of?
4) Back bumper is rusting... gonna need a new one of those.
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Critter
Dodge Dakota
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1/04/2004
01:11:14
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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Ok so i am looking for a set of headers and everything else back for my lil v6... were is the best and most inexpensive place to look. I want it to sound/look good and not cost me an arm and a leg. i have looked places and headers are about 300-400 and the rest is questionable b/c i have a long bed. How much should i expect to dump into that. And how easy is it to do my self being not very experienced and wanting to learn how to do it.
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Karrick
Dodge Dakota
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1/04/2004
02:09:34
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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Just from looking at the pics, I'd guess the truck was flood damaged, and that is why you got the "great deal" How does it smell on a hot day with the windows rolled up? Just curious.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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1/04/2004
04:45:54
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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Great deal, for $3000 I could live with the color. Man there's alot of rust in the engine bay, is that what the hard winters and road salt do to the trucks up north? I live in the desert and get pissed if my exhaust starts rusting.
I have both bumpers off my 00 Dak that I don't need anymore. I replaced the bumpers with chrome ones last year and have the old ones sitting in the garage. The back bumper (black) has a few small dents but nothing big. Can shoot you some pics if your interested in the bumper. The bumper is rust free, except for some insignificant surface rust where the paints scratched off, I'll have to look it over. One good thing about living in the desert, nothing rusts out here.
Critter, if your going to get headers, spend some money and get a good set. The cheap ones will work O.K. for a while, but after time the flanges will probably warp and then the gaskets will blow out. Headers are a pain with the gaskets anyway so make sure to get a good pair of headers. Or, just replace the stock manifold and then you don't have to worry about blowing gaskets.
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360dak
R/T
1/04/2004
09:13:43
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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looks like it was sitting at the bottom of the ocean for about 4 years.
-MSD 6AL, MSD 8.5mm wires, MSD coil. Oh and some nitrous.
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Critter
Dodge Dakota
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1/04/2004
09:19:19
| RE: Help... look at this truck
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Well it smells fine.. actually smells new. It was kept in a garage during the time it was not used. It is just rust from the years of Ohio salt and snow. It was my uncles truck and he had it since it was new. Yeah the rust sucks.
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