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03:29:16 - 12/29/2024
Dakota Performance
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Opie
Dodge Dakota
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4/02/2004
17:31:15
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 Subject: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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After being a ghost on this site for months, I have gathered enough information, opinions, "Butt Dynos," etc. to go ahead with all the "cheap mods" including:
1. Autolite 3923s
2. 180* T-stat
3. Homebrew PVC intake w/plastic flap removed
4. Relocated IAT
5. "Relocated" 3rd cat (moved it to the garage)
6. Adjusted TPS
I have a '01 4.7L CC 4X4 and I have to say that it really came alive after all these mods. I am looking to make the exhaust emissions legal by getting true duals with a side exit when the tax check comes in... then getting the Hypertech programmer when they release it in May (per dakota-durango.com) to time everything right. The last mod will probably be a NOS bottle, but that is down the road a bit.
I have learned some pretty important lessons in doing all of this:
1. Duct tape doesn't last at 180* OR 90mph.
2. Use a torque wrench when replacing spark plugs. Your arm is NOT a calibrated instrument.
3. When you replace your t-stat, make sure to fill the resivoir AND the RADIATOR with antifreeze. Your new t-stat won't do diddly if it doesn't have any fluid to circulate.
4. You can make ANYTHING out of PVC.
5. Invest in a SAWS-ALL, a propane torch, and a DREMEL TOOL. These are three items every guy should have in his collection and can solve all kinds of problems.
6. Give yourself a reason to use 4X4, even if it's just to go from the freeway to the feeder road in a rainy traffic situation.
and lastly,
7. Your local Dodge / Mopar parts salesman is a moron. Sorry if you are said person, but you are a moron.
You all have been a HUGE help in making my daily driver into a stop light drag-strip hoss. Thanks for all your information, tips, tricks, etc. and keep them coming. No offense, but people like me wouldn't have the courage to awaken the horses in our trucks if it wasn't for peeps like you trying these mods out first.
Thanks!
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uh opie
Dodge Dakota
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4/04/2004
11:44:08
|  RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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a dremel tool is not a very powerfull tool it only produces about one tenth of a horsepower, Sears and some others sell grinders simular but much more powerfull, to the range of 1/3 to 3/4 hp that, when you consider that a dremel does not last very long till it burns out are pretty good buys. Also a samll pertable Acetylene torch is much better then propane, it gets hot enough to silver solder or braze, which propane wont do unless the metal is very thin, sorta like foil. Plus you cannot cut anything off,like a rusted nut for the shockes with propane.
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Opie
Dodge Dakota
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4/05/2004
12:43:46
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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I had the Acetylene torch, but found it was not as idiot-proof as the propane.
I just put about 200 miles on all the mods and got about 13mpg on the highway. I will do a longer-term "driving to grandma's" mpg test this weekend for Easter, but I don't expect much of a deviation. It is running pretty rich right now, but sounds amazing.
Worth every penny.
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2004
21:59:03
|  RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Message:
Opie,
Barney here,
Another FREE, HP/TQ producing mod, is
remove the belt clutch/fan.
Since you been doin some searching, I know you came across that one!
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1234
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2004
20:25:32
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Are you saying replace it with a flex fan or an electric one? What is the gain ( app. HP-TQ ).
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00R/T CC
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2004
22:22:57
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Just remove the belt driven fan. If you've got A/C you've got an electric on there.
Gain: 4 or 5 HP.
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2004
23:56:18
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Yep,
what 00r/t said.
Don't put anything else! If it get's hot idling in traffic, turn on the a/c button, turns the elec. fan on full time, even without the compressor engaged.
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b1llyw
GenII
4/09/2004
08:04:58
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Roflmao, that is a great post Opie. "relocated 3rd cat to garage". I love it.
Bill White - KRC Performance
'95 CC 4x2, SLT - 408 is done, truck isn't
'03 Neon R/T - No mods...yet
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Opie
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2004
16:30:59
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Thanks, B1llyw.
About the fan deal... everything I have read (and done) has been to get more air in, and out of my engine and make it run cooler. Taking off the fan doesn't make a lot of sense to me... Especially in HOUSTON, the city with the worlds worst traffic, worst air, tropical (100* +) climate, and craziest drivers.
I think the cooling effect of the fan down here is more healthy for my truck than the HP gain.
the biggest fan change I would make would be getting a flex fan to lighten up the weight.
On another note, I saw a little deal that attaches to an oil filter and dissapates heat. I did a little Google search and found that it is being used to wrap around motorcycle oil filters to protect them from road debris, as well as act as a heat sink. Do you think this little dude could help cool down our Daks?
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=1734&prmenbr=361
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Matt Blough
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2004
02:03:55
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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By removing the fan, you're reducing drag, mainly. it's gonna improve HP AND how fast your RPM's build up, that's why they dropped the fixed fans back in the 60's for the clutch style, and why now most cars have electric fans. (i.e. NO front wheel drive car has a driven fan on it, only electric fans..) typically the fan doesn't do anything anyway, its just dead weight on the front of your drive belt. ANYTHING that causes drag hurts HP, and fuel economy... THe electric fan alone works great, you really don't need that "extra" fan, unless you're sitting in rush hour traffic in LA. I live in MIami, and with a 180 thermostat, I haven't even heard my clutch fan go into operation, I'm pulling it off tomorrow....I just haven't had the time to do it until now....
anohter "trick" if you have a auto tranny, get the auxilarry cooler, it'll help elongate the tranny life, and drop underhood temp too.
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Jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2004
11:52:15
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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"No offense, but people like me wouldn't have the courage to awaken the horses in our trucks if it wasn't for peeps like you trying these mods out first."
^I totally agree Opie.
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2004
21:30:07
|  RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Opie,
You mentioned Houston. Are you in Houston?
Me 2.
Todd Bouton
01, slt, Quad, 5spd, LSD,
two tone paint, OEM fender flares
Tire and Handling pack, Trailer towing pack,
infinity sound, cab high Leer color matched shell with pas thru sliders on truck and shell.
All side and rear windows with deep tint,
4.7, HO cams and intake, ported 68mm TB,
No belt clutch/fan, IAT adjuster,
homebrew 'true' CAI w/ K&N element
Heater water bypass, mobil 1
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/11/2004
21:31:58
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Message:
Opie,
BTW,
Where can I get my 3rd cat, uh, 'relocated'?
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T-Beck
Dodge Dakota
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5/11/2004
21:43:20
|  RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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I don't understand about removing the fan. Won't you over heat without it? I must be retarded or something.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
05:17:54
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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If you live in a real hot climate don't remove the clutch fan. I live in Las Vegas and it get's 110-120 degrees in the summer. Last summer the fan clutch was engaging at freeway speeds (75-85MPH) to cool the engine, could hear the fan roaring as the clutch engaged.
Engine started to get hot one day at freeway speeds and I checked the fan clutch, it was bad. I replaced the fan clutch and resolved the overheating.
Opie, I have the same mods you do except the Autolites and 180 t-stat and I get about 17-20mpg on the freeway.
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Jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
16:59:15
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Doesn't the clutch fan run all the time? Everytime I put the engine on and the hood up the fan is running. Maybe I'm not understanding what you guys mean. Any help?
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Opie
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
19:57:05
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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TexasTodd, I am in North Houston/Spring area. I have the same stuff but the HO Cams. How are they working for you? Where did you get them from / installed at?
I just got the true dual exhaust from GS Motorsports done and it sounds SMOKIN! I'd be a whole lot cooler without that stupid check engine light on all the time...
I have mixed emotions about the whole install expierence. After a bit of soul searching and a little modesty, I think a cat back is the best way to go on the 4.7 4X4s. I shudder when I think about all the stress and mess putting the duals in... until I start 'er up and hear her roar.
The 3rd cat was moved with the coercion of a Saws-all, 3 clamps, and a trip to Pep Boys for some flex hose and a straight 1ft pipe. You can add a hanger if you like, but it is not necessary. It was getting close to inspection time, so I went ahead with the duals (stupid Harris County emission controlls).
DSW: I get about 17mpg in my 4X4 on the freeway, but it is about 14mpg around town. It is even worse with the exhaust... the darn thing isn't very fun until you give it a little gas :)
Opie
-------------------------------------------------
Autolites, 180* T-stat, Homebrew K&N Cone Intake, True Duals, relocated IAT sensor, home-bored IAT sensor (the next step is a fastman and a Hypertech when they come out).
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/12/2004
22:41:32
|  RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Opie,
I live in Pearland, work etc. in Houston. The HO cams are worth it. A friend and I installed them. I paid about $112 shipped for both cams, but that was three years ago, they went up almost double that now. I got them mail order from a dodge dealer in Rhode Is., and delivered to my door UPS. The Ho manifold really helps in the Higher r's, like real high, over 5k, probably work well with your GS duals.
Don't the GS dauls get rid of the cats on each header pipe? Then your check engine light is on cause of the no cat, you need a sim box, or make one with a resister.
Have you got it inspected with the GS duals? NOw they just hook up your OBD2 port under the dash, and if no codes, good tires, lights, etc, you pass! NO more sniffer or dyno run.
If you want to install your HO cams, or other cams, let me know. e-mail is under the envelope on the side.
I've tried several places around here to cut out my third cat and weld a piece in. The only one that would do it wanted $80! I said no thanks, I'd have paid $40, not $80. I should probably do it like you did.
My Dak is a QAuad cab, White over silver, with the factory 16's, fender flares, and a matching white leer cab high top. If you seem me, try and get me to stop and talk.
Later,
Todd
Oh, I forgot, I have
Autolites 3923's, and a 180 t-stat too!
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another mark
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
23:30:12
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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T-Beck yes you will overheat without some kind of fan. When you pull the clutch fan out you typically replace it with an electric fan.
Jeremy while the fan spins it's not always engaged. It has a fluid coupler built in which doesn't engage until a specified temperature has been reached. When that fan turns you will hear it, it's really loud. Normally it just free wheels. Kinda like your air conditioning compressor. When the engine is running the pulley free wheels. When you turn on the a/c then the clutch engages and it causes drag.
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Jeremy
Dodge Dakota
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5/14/2004
12:44:33
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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Oh ok, I gotcha now. Everyone was sayin how it never engages, and I was like, umm, mine's always spinning. Ok, so that makes sense then. Thanks
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
09:55:26
| RE: I just finished all the cheap mods...
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another Mark,
are you saying that the viscous clutch engages when you turn the a/c on? Don't think so. If working properly, just after start up, it's temp controlled, there's no wires to it.
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