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Pakrat
Dodge Dakota
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9/17/2004
12:23:58
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 Subject: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Hi Dakota fans,
I'm new here and seeking some advice. I just made the last payment on my wife's 2000 Dakota 4x4 a few months ago now looking to make some light performance mods. I know that performance and 6cyl's are a bit of an oxymoron, but it seems there are quite a few bolt-ons available out there so I thought I'd get some first hand advice as to what's good and what's junk. I restore classic Mustangs as a hobby so I am not afraid to tackle anything labor wise shy of computer systems and EFI. I am thinking along the lines of just the basics like cold air filter kits, headers with dual exhaust and maybe a chip or something that will wake this puppy up. Of course if I'm headed down the wrong path, please straighten me out, all opinions and advice welcome.
Don't know if this pic will show or not, but it's a pretty nice truck. Loaded and with just about every dealer Mopar accesory added already, otherwise completely stock. She plans on keeping it for a while and the warranty is past so I figure now is a good time to operate.
[IMG]http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/109000-109999/109505_12_full.jpg[/IMG]
![]() http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/109000-109999/109505_12_full.jpg
Homepage: http://www.cardomain.com/id/pakrat
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xmr
GenIII
9/17/2004
15:33:18
|  RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Good looking truck. always did like blue.
If it were mine I would do the following:
Superchips program;
180 t-stat
Cold air kit
f&b or v-8 throttle body
dynomax 177748 muffler (don't do duals you will lose too much low end)
Taylor or msd wires.
try that for awhile and keep reading this board and you will find a lot of other mods that can be done plus you probably will catch moditis.
happy modding
'98 cc auto /Home brew cold air with K&N,Dynomax, Superchip Tuner, 1.7 RR,, F&B tb. NAPA cap and rotor, 3923 plugs,tps mod,relocated & switchable iat, 180 t'stat, Crankshaft sensor mod.,PVI,Ported and Polished manifold, bosch injectors,Black Magic Elec Fan, msd wiires
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Webos
Dodge Dakota
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9/18/2004
23:03:43
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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u do kno they make a 185 t-stat for that truck.
also, i need some torque enhancement stuff. im thinkin super-truck exhaust, cold-air, throttle body spacer, vortec, and eventuall i was gonna take out the automatic tranny and get a manual.
tell me what u think
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xmr
GenIII
9/19/2004
19:57:10
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Throttle body spacers do not work on our trucks if you ever had the intake manifold off you would see why. any thing more than a dynomax with stock pipes in and out is overkill on the 3.9. If you want torque you need to go to 1.7 roller rockers either crower or Harland-sharp. The harland-sharps are an easy bolt on for only $300.
'98 cc auto /Home brew cold air with K&N,Dynomax, Superchip Tuner, 1.7 RR,, F&B tb. NAPA cap and rotor, 3923 plugs,tps mod,relocated & switchable iat, 180 t'stat, Crankshaft sensor mod.,PVI,Ported and Polished manifold, bosch injectors,Black Magic Elec Fan, msd wiires
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Greg
Dodge Dakota
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9/19/2004
21:51:40
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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If money wasn't an issue and you really wan't to go "hog wild" on it, there are many available aftermarket parts for these things, from tuners, stroker kits, superchargers, pistons, camshafts and every other possible thing you could think of... Some good websites to research every mod or what not are ---
- hughesengines.com
- krcperformance.com "pricy and not as friendly in my opinion as others"
- socaldakota.com "very friendly and can hook you up with any crower or tb part that you may need and about the cheepest"
- fiveomotorsports.com "injectors"
- aspracing.com "pulleys or get cheeper through Sam at socaldakota"
- V8performance.com "exhaust, tb's, and soforth"
- mopartsracing.com "valve train type components"
- stylinconcepts.com
- then some website in canada that list all the do it yourself sensor type mods that I can't really remember
- you'll have to talk to Larry for the stroker kit website
- the best, but extremely pricy tranny's can be gotten through keisler automotive and they will last through anything
- gearing through any 4x4 website or local dealer in your area
And most of all the performance parts for the 5.2l or the 318 fit the 3.9l because the 3.9 is a sawed off 5.2... These are just a few so you really need to request part books and info on your truck to really get what is best for you and what you need or rather want... Hope I helped a little...
I could also give you a list of parts and who to get them through if you didn't mind spending about 3 to 4 grand that would give you a very good and stought running motor if you liked... This is just everything I've done to mine and the things that I should have gotten instead of what I wasted money on... It will also give you very decent low end along with very strong power at 3200 on up... Just let me know and I'll take another 15 to 20 minutes to list all of the parts and locations to obtain them...
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Pakrat
Dodge Dakota
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9/20/2004
14:34:29
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Hey thanks guys, some good info there, interesting about the exhaust, I had not considered that. I am certainly not looking to throw too much cash at it since I know we'll keep it only another 2 years or so before somethig new and shiny catches her eye. She's always been fine with it until she recently took my new V8 Grand Cherokee out for a few days while I was traveling and now she thinks her truck is whimpy. I think if I can mainly make it sound better and have just some extra ooomph to it that she'll be happy. Plus all my extra cash usually gets thrown to modding my classic cars not hers, lol, don't want to set a precident here.
So I am confused on the thermostat issue, how is that going to get better performance? What is the stock setting, like 195? I did not mention that we live in New England, and so I don't want to sacrafice any interior heat if it won't really net me anything noticable.
Also, about the cold air kits, any brand in particular proven to be the best? I am familliar with K&N systems first hand but they don't seem to have one for the 3.9, but I see all types out there and for all price ranges really, but they look pretty simillar and my experience tells me the HP rating is just a rating not always true. What's the scoop? I had looked at a couple of items from some sites, but can't tell the good from the bad.
http://www.eautoworks.com/html/auto_performanceSub.cfm
http://www.v8performance.com/pages/view_category.asp?cat=41
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/EndecaCategoryView/tf-EndecaCategoryView/s-10101/ss-10101/th-StoreCatalogDisplay/sct-body/N-111%20100003336%201401001208/Ne-1401001208/c-10101
http://www.dakota.racenet.net/induction.php
Noted on the Dynomax over duals, but what about the outlet? OK to run a double set up on one side there? Any benefit to that?
Thanks again for all the opinions.
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xmr
GenIII
9/21/2004
09:26:34
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Stock t-stat is 195. I have tried several different t-stats and most 180's are not 180 some were as cold as 170. I am currently using the Super stant 180 from pepboys cost about $9 and it runs about 182 and the truck seems to run better than with the colder t-stat or with the hotter stock t-stat.
I made my cold air unit out of pvc pipe and a k&n filter from autozone. The important thing is to get the filter close as possible to the cold air.
Remove the flap on the passenger side that is next to the radiator so the air from the grill can get to the intake. I have a scanner and a iat sensor in my intake tube and the readings indicate that it does not pickup much heat from the engine to the intake tube.
'98 cc auto /Home brew cold air with K&N,Dynomax, Superchip Tuner, 1.7 RR,, F&B tb. NAPA cap and rotor, 3923 plugs,tps mod,relocated & switchable iat, 180 t'stat, Crankshaft sensor mod.,PVI,Ported and Polished manifold, bosch injectors,Black Magic Elec Fan, msd wiires
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Pakrat
Dodge Dakota
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9/21/2004
14:27:47
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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OK, so basically the brand (or homemade) setup is not as important as getting as much cool air to it as possible, got ya. Same as the carburetor set ups I'm used to. So if I choose on of the lesser expensive units (say $100 +/- vs $200 +/-) is going to make little difference. BTW, is that the homemade setup in your avatar pic?
I take it then that if I run the single flowmaster I can run 1 or 2 tips with no basic difference either.
And what about a chip, anything in particular that is better for upping an otherwise stock setup? Also, are they plug and play or do you need a diagnostic unit as well?
Thanks for all your tips John I appreciate it. I have been following along on as many of your threads as I can like the thermostat one, all very helpful.
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Pakrat
Dodge Dakota
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9/21/2004
14:39:36
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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oops, guess you can't edit posts here. I meant dynomax not flowmaster and I know you said Superchip already, just din't know if it's plug and play or not. What about headers though? Are the stock manifolds just fine witht he dynomax, or is that also overkill for a 3.9?
I think I'll put together a list of as you suggest except for the throttle body unless you think it's crucial. I'd rather mess with just the simple bolt ons for now since it's really not for me so much as her.
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xmr
GenIII
9/21/2004
16:20:25
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Yes that is my homemade cold air. The only change since the picture is I got rid of the bellows type stock conector and got a smooth rubber connnector.
If you run two pipes out of the muffler you need to keep the diameter to 2 inch or 2.25 inch.
Superchips is plug and play plus you can read and clear codes with the unit.
I understand that headers are the last mod you need to do. Until all the other mods are done you don't get much bang for your buck.
You should plan on a better throttle body. It really is a very easy upgrade. putting a v-8 tb on is the least expensive,you can get a Fastman modded one for about $200 and the f&b is over $300 but it is a qualtiy item.
check out this thread (http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/v6/6060.html)
'98 cc auto /Home brew cold air with K&N,Dynomax, Superchip Tuner, 1.7 RR,, F&B tb. NAPA cap and rotor, 3923 plugs,tps mod,relocated & switchable iat, 180 t'stat, Crankshaft sensor mod.,PVI,Ported and Polished manifold, bosch injectors,Black Magic Elec Fan, msd wiires
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Pakrat
Dodge Dakota
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9/22/2004
11:52:58
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Thanks again for the info. So the V8 throttle body is a direct bolt on eh? And the reason most choose it seems to be that it is just as good as a V6 performance one for less money then, hmmmm. Ok, seems maybe I should change my plan of attack then and invest the few hindred in the V8TB as oppossed to the superchip. (I can't believe a chip is so frickin expensive just to advance the timing a little, man! That's why I like old cars boy, I can do that with as little as a wrench and my ear to get the timing advanced, this computer crap bites!:)) Thanks for the thread link btw, interesting. I have no plans to go much further than the basic ground level upgrades so I guess headers won't ever enter the equasion then. Thanks for helping me spend my money more wisely. Usually any car I have ever rebuilt started off with a better intake, 4V carb, headers with dual exhaust, better CAM and an electronic ignition upgrade, of course they were always 8cyl's too, but that was the given grocery list without even looking under the hood, lol. I knew it would be worth my time to pick some brains.
Ok so T-stat, V8TB, cold air something, dynomax muffler and 8mm wires, that's my stage one plan and we'll see where we are and if it seems like enough for her or she still want's more. Anymore than this and I have to think that I'm better off just getting her into an 8 and sell this truck, though no car payments for a while is turning out to be pleasant as I hope to repaint my Mustang after I'm done with her truck and that money has to come from somewhere.
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yogibear
Dodge Dakota
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8/21/2009
00:12:04
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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is the stock v8tb any bigger cus im a teen on a tight budget and wanna know b4 i go waistin my money
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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8/21/2009
09:11:01
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Yogi, yes the stock V8 TB has a bigger bore than the stock V6 TB. You'll enjoy it. Just don't pay too much for one. I paid 25 bucks for my V8 TB. And if your truck is post '96 get a TB from '96-up. If it's pre-'96 get one the same.
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well
Dodge Dakota
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8/21/2009
09:59:09
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Hey if you go to a pull your own part salvage yard
get the throttle cable too. There is a good chance you'll need it.
Don't forget to use a new TB gasket they are cheap.
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KJM IN IA.
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2009
09:37:12
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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the tps mod and crank sensor mod seem to work very well with the v8 tb. also cold air kit all work great together
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yogibear
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2009
14:16:33
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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do they make intake manafolds for this engin andwhats the tps mod i no enough bout trucks2 fix the simple stuff
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yogibear
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2009
14:22:08
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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i have a 2000 ram and im shure the throttle cableis long enough cus its reallly long but yeah if not il just go get one
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well
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2009
22:03:54
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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When changing the TB it isn't the cable length that comes into play
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yogibear
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2009
17:31:18
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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the reckin yard by my house wants 100 for a tb and thats pull it your self
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2009
17:51:44
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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Check ebay or www.car-part.com
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yogibear
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2009
17:58:50
| RE: Waking up the Magnum 3.9????
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the reckin yard by my house wants 100 for a tb and thats pull it your self
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