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Dakota340
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
00:09:22
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 Subject: Who created the Dakota ??
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I am not looking for the answer "DODGE". What I am interested in how the truck came about. Who came up with the idea for the truck or who's brain-child was the Dakota?? Is there a link to the story behind the truck?? I personally am a fan of the 87-96 years and would like to learn from where they started. I guess you can say I am doing research on there roots. If anyone has any information I would surely appreciate it. Thanks, dakota340@msn.com
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Brian Maier
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
00:34:03
|  RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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I think that the orignal dakotas were based off of the mitsubishi trucks back in the 80's.
Brian
1994 3.9l 2WD Ext Cab Dodge Dakota
JBA headers, JBA 8mm wires, Borg Warner Select Cap & Rotor, Autolite 3923, MSD 6A, Accel Super Coil, K&N FIPK, Hi-Flow Catalytic Converter, Flomaster Muffler, Robertshaw 180 T-Stat, V8 TB, S-Bolt
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dr0p0ff
DakotaEnthusiast
11/14/2002
00:55:03
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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damn good question. i never even thought about it either! :o) i hope someone can enlighten the rest of us
Keep On Truckin!
Sgt G
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DAHEMIKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
01:56:16
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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The Dakota was a replacement for the Mitsubishi D-50 pickup.Chrysler had trouble with the Japs and decided to make their own compact pickup.The first Dakotas had 2.5L four cylinder engines with a five speed trans. Then it got a 3.9L V-6. At one time Direct Connection made a V-8 conversion kit to put the 318 or 340 into the D-50 Jap ride. Some of the engineers at Chrysler thought that was a good idea so they rigged up a Dakota with a 5.9L V8. It was a toy just for evaluation purposes but it really got some possitive attention. The original had the old LA small block that was longer than the Magnum engine. It was a challenge to fit the engine into the small space under the Dak hood. They moved the radiator ahead of the core support and used electric fans in place of the one on the engine. The motor mounts were fabricated to adapt the V8 mounting ears to the V6 frame mount. All the new small block Magnum engines have the mounts in the same location as the V6 had in the Dak, Moved back with three bolts going into the block. The newer Daks have a larger engine compartment than the older models. There was even a twin turbo Dak running around the engineering complex for a while. It was never considered for production because of possible warranty cost and lack of a trans capable of the torque for the Dakota. he Dakota was a corporate decision but putting the V8 in it was pioneered by guys like Ted Flack, Al Nichols, and Dan Mancini to name a few.
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Dakota340
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
10:32:31
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Wow! Is there a site dedicated to the history of the creation of the Dakota?? Or maybe a book??
I, just like most of you, only know about what was offered from what I have seen either on a truck, from the repair manuals or on the body shop parts replacement lists that gives a mild break down on what was offered.
I have disassembled a few 80's Dakotas and have done a few v8 & v6 engine swaps in the early Dakotas as well but sure would like to learn more about these trucks on a historical note. Thanks so far.
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bigred
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
14:28:09
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Thanks for the great info. I haven't joined the site yet, but really appreciate all of the information you guys have accumulated. Does anybody else see the old Jeep (is it Comanchee?) pickup lines in the Dakota when viewed down the side?
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91DakotaFreak
Dodge Dakota
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11/14/2002
16:48:22
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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ok i have two corrections i have the LA 318 in my 91 and DO NOT HAVE A ELECTIRIC FAN i have the CLUTCH FAN I also could take my LA out and put the MAgnum in with now mods to the frame or to the radiator. The mag and the LA have the same block just different heads and intake. This is what i have been told by several different Dealership mechanics Also the 91-96 have the same body style. from what i know the only way to tell them apart is the engine symbol on the 1/4 panels mine says 5.2L EFI the 92's say 5.2L magnum
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DAHEMIKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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11/15/2002
22:35:50
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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The first V8 Dakota was a 1987 I believe. It had an electric fan. It also had the engine with a fuel pump on it. Also had a carb, what kind of carb you got on your 91? You have to pay attention to what you read. I am refering to a prototype vehicle. I don't think you got one of those. Also the LA and Magnum blocks are different. The LA has oil holes drilled from the deck to the cam bearings to lube the rocker arms. The Magnum does not have these holes because the heads get oil that is routed through the lifters, then through the push rods to lube the rocker arms. LA blocks have ears to mount the engine, while Magnums have pads to bolt the mounts to. Did you ever know that the mounting ears are different on the 318 & 360 ? Think not, measure the distance between the ears.
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TigerDak
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2002
11:28:37
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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There is some historical information about the early Dakotas here:
http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Desert/1727/DodgeDakota.html
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cudashoe
DakotaEnthusiast
11/16/2002
13:53:10
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Quote: The first V8 Dakota was a 1987 I believe. It had an electric fan. It also had the engine with a fuel pump on it. Also had a carb
Wrong - the first V-8 Dakota was the Shelby in 1989 which had fuel injection. There was no V-8 Dak in 1990. 1991 Started regular v-8 production in Dakotas, with 5-speeds available in 1994.
2000 4.7 5- speed, 1989 Shelby #799 White
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92dakotahd
GenII
11/16/2002
18:15:29
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Dakotas began in 87. Am I right thinking that if Shelbies were the first v8 daks that the 360 actually made it in the dak before the 318?
My SWEET PAGE
If you want your Dak on my site just email me!
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cudashoe
DakotaEnthusiast
11/16/2002
20:33:19
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Shelbys had the 318
2000 4.7 5- speed, 1989 Shelby #799 White
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DAHEMIKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2002
23:15:22
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Don't tell me you guys don't know what "prototype" means. At Chrysler engineering, we build vehicles four or five years ahead of production. Now read the post again and let it sink in that the Dakota we built was NOT PRODUCTION. You guys or Shelby did not have one. In fact we at Chrysler only had two of them at that time. We don't give the public untested one of a kind vehicles. So quit comparing it to your ride, OK? P.S. It had a hood scoop on it too. Where is yours?
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cudashoe
DakotaEnthusiast
11/17/2002
00:24:44
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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prototype means nothing!!!!! They should NOT be considered in the discussion.
2000 4.7 5- speed, 1989 Shelby #799 White
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Marks DQC
GenIII
11/17/2002
08:38:11
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Prototypes are important! If it weren't for the prototype Dahemikota is talking about you wouldn't have your Shelby Cudashoe.
The original question was how did the Dak come about. Prototyping is how it's done. Do you think a car company just decides to build and whammo it starts making copies?
Thanks for the info Dahemikota!
2001 Dakota Quad Cab SLT , 4.7L, Auto, 3.55, Garnet Red over Slate
Zaino, Tint, Vent Guard, Gaylords Lid, Hotchkis, Bilstein, Wet Okole Covers, Painted Grill Shell w/ Ram inserts, S/S Bumper/Valence Cover, Billet Antenna, Precision Roll Pan, APC Clear Corners, Airaid, Gibson
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Steve
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2002
09:24:40
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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DAHEMIKOTA, if you truely work for Chrysler, maybe you can explain why you guys don't put grease fittings in the ball joints, wheel bearings and U joints. We're talking nickles and dimes here.
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91DakotaFreak
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2002
14:36:51
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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ok if you worked for chrysler you would know that it is TBI but you also did not mention anything about the LA's or 360 beeing carbed. also i just looked at how the engine is mounted in my truck and it does not have mounting ears it has the mounting pads that is why a magnum can be transplanted into my 91
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DAHEMIKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2002
23:56:36
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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The Dakota prototype we built used a 360 four barrel (Thermoquad) out of an Aspen car.Again I am talking about old engines that did not have fuel injection. At the time we built it, we used new stuff, but fuel injection for that engine was not developed yet. We did have it in the labs, but not in production yet.Thats why factory guys have an advantage over street people,we get good stuff the public can't get. Take a wild guess how many 5.7L Hemi Dakotas are running around from Auburn Hills Tech Center. They got them, why don't you? I have 22 years at Chrysler power plant development.(Engineering)
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nabobz
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2002
00:10:32
|  RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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that is sooooo not fair. I'm jealous. i want one. :)
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DAHEMIKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2002
00:15:40
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Sorry I forgot, nickles and dimes on a few million vehicles is a lot of money. Breaks down that the company is just too cheap to install quality parts. Probably wont last long enough to need grease anyway. My 94 needed new tierod ends after 45000 Miles and they were greased at every oil change.(2000 miles) My 1984 Ramcharger went 145,000 miles and never needed any steering repairs, and I beat the sh!t out of it.
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DAHEMIKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2002
00:34:43
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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91DakotaFreak, Read my post from 11/15/2002.
I don't have anything else to say.You don't want information,you just want to argue. You know so much about your 91 then you tell everyone about the history of the Dakota...outa here
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hh
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2002
09:46:20
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Not off on a tangent...the 1987 Dak filled in a niche that GM, Ford and the imports chose to ignore, a mid-size (i.e.perfect) pickup. Chrysler must have liked Shelby's excercise in'89, because the firewall and front end were changed in '91 to accept the V-8. Let's all just hope that the Dak doesn't die out when the new Durango is produced.
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91DakotaFreak
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2002
16:00:29
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Hey man sorry i really wasnt trying to start an argument I was just saying that the LA that i have doesnt have some of the things that you talked about. Is my truck some sort of mutt or something? Again sorry if i gave anybody the notion of me wanting to argue go ahead and keep telling us what you know thanks
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mddak
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2002
16:15:21
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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In the same vein.... How many dakotas have they made. I was sitting at an intersection and I counted six sitting waiting for the light. They seem to be everywhere.
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92dakotahd
GenII
11/18/2002
16:52:05
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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That depends on where you are. In my home town which has basically been built around a dodge plant there are 100s of dakotas and 1000s of rams. And the other dodges simply dominate. But I talked to a buddy of mine in North Carolina 2 years ago and they didn't even know what a dakota R/T was and in my home town we already had 30+ of them and many of them already were being tweaked on. It's very regional.
My SWEET PAGE
If you want your Dak on my site just email me!
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kcmm
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2002
19:19:25
| RE: Who created the Dakota ??
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Hey, DAHEMIKOTA thank you for posting all the great info. I've have my 92 forever and love learning new stuff about it.
Oh, ya... I don't believe you have a 5.7 dakota in the labs. You're fibbing and the only proof I'll accept is some track times ;)
mm
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