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Josh
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2003
09:20:18
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 Subject: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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OK, I just bought a brand new '03 c/c 4.7 auto dakota (black) sport plus. I'm interested in maybe dropping the stance a little bit and improving the handling even more -- basically trying to make it an R/T with 10 less horsepower. Is the R/T a 1/2 drop from the factory, or 2/3? Are the sway bars different? What would need to be changed other than the suspension drop?
Thanks
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SinCity R/T
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2003
09:38:10
|  RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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The R/T is a 1/1 drop. The difference consists of leafs, coils, and sways. You can sometimes find someone selling an entire R/T suspension after they've upgraded to the Hotchkis 2/3 drop or other system.
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boettli
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2003
16:46:40
|  RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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I have a 2001 4.7l CC auto that I installed a full Hotchkis System. It includes 2" dropped front coil springs, 3" dropped leaf springs, front and rear sway bars and I also got their custom tuned Bilstein shocks. My truck handles awesome and now I tend to take offramps at at least double the posted speed and I have no tire squealing. So much fun!
Tires also being important, I have Pirelli Scorpions, they are the best I can get for the factory wheels. I really want some lightweight 17" wheels to complete the handling upgrades.
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Matt
Dodge Dakota
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1/22/2003
17:34:38
| RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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Message:
Buy an R/T
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R/T Fun
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2003
13:49:51
| RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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Message:
Amen brother....
Should of just bought the R/T in the first place and not hassle with trying to get it to handle like a R/T
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Aaro
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2003
16:48:14
| RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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Message:
Should have baught a R/T , but with some changes and $1500+ you can handle way better than a stock R/T. If you have a 8 1/4" rear gear that is much lighter than the R/T's 9 1/4" gear you already have a small advantage over the R/T ,less unsprung weight!!
1st: sway bars , front and rear, go big.
2nd: shocks , ISA's or Bilstein.
3rd: If you have 16" rims already you are ok but the stock rubber has to go. Try Pirelli Scorpion Zero's in size 255/55VR16 ,they will lower the truck a bit (about 1") and handle great. Car tires roll onto the sidewalls when you put them on a 4000# truck and push it to the edge.
4th: go to a spring shop and tell them what you have in mind , 1-2" drop and higher rate springs. They might install them for less than you can buy them!!
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xplikt
GenIII
1/23/2003
16:53:52
| RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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Message:
About 1100 you have a full Hotchkis and Roadmaster setup which handles better than an R/T (tires not a factor). If you're looking for just that added bit of performance, I say go with an R/T's old suspension. Even brand new R/T's upgrade to drag or Hotchkis setups a lot. Less than a couple thousand mile old parts! Ask around, a lot of people have stuff to get rid off.
Or just get some really nice tires. You can have the nicest suspension in the world, but if it's not connected to the ground in any way, it's worthless. Tires are the biggest factor.
-Mike
http://www.dodgetruckworld.com/xplikt/
2002 2WD RC SLT 4.7L 5spd 3.92 LSD
MBRP Single in/out | straight piped 3rd cat | turndown tip
Full Hotchkis (bars, springs, shocks) and RAS
Shaved emblems and antennae
150BM fan | removed clutch | HD Radiator
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nitroussteve
DakotaEnthusiast
1/23/2003
17:33:43
| RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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Message:
i have been looking to buy a used r/t rear sway bar!i want one in really good condition,anyone got one to sell me?how much shipped.e-mail me!
thanks! as long as it will work on a 2000 sport.
nitroussteve / ns performance
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blak_dak
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2003
18:24:02
| RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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Message:
the hotchkis will make you handle better then a stock r/t..
"Should have baught a R/T , but with some changes and $1500+ you can handle way better than a stock R/T. If you have a 8 1/4" rear gear that is much lighter than the R/T's 9 1/4" gear you already have a small advantage over the R/T ,less unsprung weight!!"
- come again? i dont get what your saying... but just think 1500 dollars of more suspension upgrades to the r/t and...
im not dogging ya for not buying an r/t at all, and who ever said buy an r/t is just a smart ass...
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SinCity R/T
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2003
19:24:25
| RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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Message:
Just like all aspects of performance, the more money you throw at it the better you can get.
There is an R/T suspension on E-Bay right now (keyword search: R/T will bring it up), last I saw it was at $50 but I didn't poke through to see if it had all the parts plus sways. You can usually find someone with an R/T who upgraded to the Hotchkis system who is willing to sell their old stuff.
The Hotchkis system rocks for handling performance, but you're looking at around $1000-1200 plus labor for the whole set including sways/shocks.
- Steve
http://www.dakota-durango.com
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Josh
Dodge Dakota
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1/24/2003
09:23:02
| RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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Message:
Thanks everybody,
I'm going to get a Hotchkis 2/3 drop for it. I've got the 16" tires with 255/65R16 Goodyears on now, so I'll keep those for a while.
And as far as buying an R/T...I didn't want to pay $5,000 more for 10 more horsepower and 5mpg worse gas economy (commence flaming). Especially since I probably would have taken off the stock R/T suspension anyway to put on the Hotchkis 2/3. I figure eventually I'll spend about $2500-$3000 upgrading the suspension, wheels and tires, and I'll get a dakota that handles better than an R/T in a truck that cost thousands less.
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Buzz
Dodge Dakota
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1/24/2003
12:54:13
| RE: Make my V8 Sport handle like an R/T
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Message:
I am selling a full R/T suspension kit right now... I was the one that had it on ebay.. no takers though... I was asking $250.00 if anyone is interested please let me know... or if you think this is too much. you can email me at
mxblue23 @ aol.com
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