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General Dakota Board
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ch312
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2005
22:41:33
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 Subject: New 2000 dakota...HELP!
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hey all i just bought a 2000 dakota and i have a bunch of questions.
its a reg cab, standard, 3.9l, 33,000kms with nothing aftermarket at all. no accidents or damage of any sort except a few scrathes.
--how much is it really worth?
--how do i remove scratches in the clear coat? i tried some scratch remover but it didnt take out the deeper ones.
--theres one deep gouge about 1" long to bare metal and some of the metal is sticking out above the paint so u can really notice it and feel it. how do i fix it properly?
--it has normal oil in it now. is synthetic oil better? does it last longer? better mileage? i heard theres a certain way of changing to synthetic, true?
--what size fog lights do i need? wheres the cheapest place to get them and whats a good brand?
--i want to increase mileage badly cuz im a cheapo. what are the best ways?
--i heard that intakes allow too much dirt into the engine, true? if not, then would a homemade one perform as good as the $300 ones?
--whats a good quality deck that plays mp3? i cant decide on which one i want
--i want to buy a brush bar with the grilles that go over the headlights. whats the best brand that has spots that allow me to attach lights to it easily?
--how long does DIY tinting last if u use the proper methods and liquid stuff?
as u can see i have many questions. thanks for any help guys.
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DakotaSport
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2005
09:02:58
|  RE: New 2000 dakota...HELP!
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Message:
There are only a few questions I can answer for you. For the radio I would go with a Pioneer/Alpine deck. IMO they are the best car stereo systems out there.
When I put syntheic in my Dak, I didn't see a increase in milage, but I driver longer between changes (like 5k). I don't know what you mean by a certain way of changing to synthetic because one day I just decided to put synthetic in at at like 38k miles.
Intakes. I have a 4.7 not a 3.9 but here is what I think about them. I dont think that more dirt gets into the engine, they probably trap more dirt IMO with a good K&N or Airaid system. They will make a louder whistling noise and suck in more air. Gas milage is different with everyone, for me it didn't increase because it sounds so cool at above 3k rpms. And the better throttle response for me just makes me use my right foot even more :).
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Spacinjason
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2005
10:56:17
|  RE: New 2000 dakota...HELP!
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Message:
Thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth on a couple of your questions. I have a 'Westin' grill gaurd. I didn't get the brush gaurd attachments that protect the lights and stuff. It has two tabs on it to allow the installation of auxillary lighting. Most grill/brush gaurds have tabs for additional lighting. I put two bright driving lights (Blazer brand) on mine. Cost about $30 for the lights. I wanted a brand that I could find replacement lenses for easily as they do get cracked and broken sometimes. I could put covers on them, but didn't.
As far as the window tinting goes, I would really recconmend having it done professionally. It cost me $190 to get the front door windows and the back window tinted (rear door windows have factory tint). It has a lifetime warranty, and I have had no problems with it in 4 years. Plus I have yet to have a good experience or good results from DIY window tinting products.
As far as scratches in your paint ........ maybe rubbing compound. If they are deep though, they may require some wet sanding or something. I'm not an auto body repairman though, so I would go to a local body shop and get an estimate on repairs.
As far as sound systems go there are lots of quality brands to choose from, so just go for something that is affordable and has the features you want. I have a Pioneer single CD, AM/FM stereo and have had no problems with it in 4 years. Sound good!
As far as mileage goes...... these trucks do not get the best of mileage! Keep your foot out of it (even though that is no fun!), keep it tuned up, make sure your tires are inflated to the proper level, etc.. I get about 16 mpg (average) with my 4.7 L, 5 sp..
Hope some of this helps! Good luck and I hope you enjoy your Dakota as much as I have enjoyed mine!
Spacinjason
'01 QC 4x4
4.7L, 5 sp., 3.55 LSD
Magnaflow exhaust
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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10/31/2005
11:44:28
| RE: New 2000 dakota...HELP!
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Message:
On my 04 Quad V8 I got a Westin Safari bar, the smaller 'mini-grill guard' that comes up over the bumper but doesn't go much higher than the bottum of the grill. Beefs up the front without screwing up the body-lines like I think the full grill guards do. It's not really designed to hold up on impact but as a mounting point for lights. It was 129.99 black poweder-coated from Pep Boys with two tabs for mounting lights built in, plus I got two Hella 500 driving lights with which I am very satisfied, also from Pep Boys, for about 70$. So you can get the set-up for 200$ if that's a look you would like. Install you can do yourself for free if you want, or expect it to run you another 150-200 if you have it done at most shops. I know you said you like the full brush-guards with grills over the lights, but I figured since you also said you're a cheapo that you might be interested in this option. Full grill guards run 400$ or more brand new, maybe 2-300 bucks used.
As for the scratches: I had to do some work on a couple of those the other day. I got some minor scuff marks out with 3m rubbing compound, but beyond that there were a couple really deep ones. For the deep paint chip, what I had to do was mask around the chip, fill it in using a brush with touch-up paint and clear coat, then wet sand with 2000 grit sandpaper to flatten it out. Afterward I polished it and will soon put some wax back on it. It was nerve-wracking taking sandpaper to my paint so you gotta decide whether you have the nerve and the skill to do that or let someone else do it for you. IT still doesn't look perfect but it loks better.
For the one deep scratch I had I also had to spot wet sand with 2000 grit sandpaper to flatten it out, then filled it in with touch-up paint.
Basically anything you can feel with your finger-nail, you'll probably need something more abrasive than scratch remover. I went from least abrasive to most abrasive on my scratches. First tried 3m finish restorer, then moved to rubbing compound, then for the stuff that was still there after the rubbing compound I had to wet sand.
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