Off-Road Ranger I
- 3,435
- First Name
- Terry
- Last Name
- Shackelford
- Member #
14817
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KO6EFA/WSBC854
Anyone building a Dodge Dakota
- Thread starter T.Shack
- Start date
Off-Road Ranger I
- 3,435
- First Name
- Terry
- Last Name
- Shackelford
- Member #
14817
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KO6EFA/WSBC854
No I sold that one back in 2009. That was a 1997 3.7L 2WD I had in high school. Thing could keep up with most 4x4’s back then loved it!
Influencer III
- 5,079
- First Name
- Drew
- Last Name
- Hawley
- Member #
1537
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- WRBZ674
- Service Branch
- USN veteran
Off-Road Ranger I
- 3,435
- First Name
- Terry
- Last Name
- Shackelford
- Member #
14817
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KO6EFA/WSBC854
I
Not much in the body nor suspension either. Good thing I am kind of handy with a wire feed & tig welders.
Totally understand that I was goofing around looking for after market parts no intakes nor Camshaft sets listed.
Not much in the body nor suspension either. Good thing I am kind of handy with a wire feed & tig welders.I
Totally understand that I was goofing around looking for after market parts no intakes nor Camshaft sets listed.
Yea I pulled the cam shaft out of the 4.7 and put in a diesel. Best mod yet! ;)
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
back in 1999 I had a 98 4wd extended cab sport with the 318 in it. I LOVED that truck, I had 32's on it, rear cap for carrying stuff, Waag front guard, and tail light guards, 2 sets of lights, a shelf it with vhf and cb installed. In the rear, I had a come along winch etc. I had 2 " of lift in the rear with the torsions cranked in the front to give it some extra height as well. It was the perfect size truck. I would love to find another JUST like it but they are rare now!
Enthusiast III
I was a while back until a tree missed me by feet and turned it in to a taco truck..The light on top was centered, just a bad picture angle.. Not that it matters much now. The tree destroyed the bed, canopy and top light, the frame is still good. I have a cab and frame now, still runs like a champ. I haven't made up my mind what to do with it, considering fabricating a built in camper, similar to a small/midsized Earthroamer.
Traveler III
Contributor II
I built one back in ‘09, a ’98 sport. Loved that thing. Manual everything. However, it was having issues 10 years ago I can’t imagine what it would take to keep one on the road today.
Traveler III
Mine has over 210k on the ticker. Just did a water pump. Carry a spare ignition coil and a few other things that just like to quit. Beside minor issues of age it just keeps going. It get driven everyday. When it sat for a month it had more issues then when I drive it. Love the thing.
Ok 2nd gen Dakota peaple I need some new head lights. Do I just grab some high dollar bulbs and a factory junk yard stock housing to replace my drivers side that busted? Or is there a complete housing LED setup that dosent suck?
Pathfinder I
Or you can upgrade and add HIDs to the new projectors.
Looks like people are reporting the housings are melting in some instances. Think I might stick with the stock headlights and add some aux lights later. kinda like the understated stockers.
If my FJ Cruiser ever hs some sort of catastrophic failure and I decide to do everything new on the cheap, the 2002 to 2004 Quad Cab Dakota is at the top of my list. Lotsa parts to repair the stock components and I wouldn't be so hesitant to take my wrenching to the next level. I would be hesitant if I had a Gladiator or TRD Pro. At the time of this post, Dodge Dakotas are going for:
I would not get one though if I didn't enjoy a little wrenching on the weekends.
- $5k ish U.S.
- 2004
- Quad Cab
- 130,000kms or 80,000 miles
I would not get one though if I didn't enjoy a little wrenching on the weekends.
Last edited:
Yea thats the atitude to have with these Dakotas. they are super cheap. but they will need some love. I love fabing but I love saving money even more. Last month marked the 4 year mark on my engine swap and in just fuel savings alone in 4 years paid for the diesel swap. So I will kill most of that savings with a SAS swap now. ;)
Enthusiast III
I may be building another one soon. My father whom is getting up in age, just called and offered to give me his 2004 Dakota Ext cab 4wd with matching canopy 22,000 original miles. Hard to say no, even though I have a driveway full of vehicles and keeping something stock is really difficult for me. I could pull a lot of the parts off my "taco" truck and swap them over. I suppose I need another project truck, I need to make more space in the driveway, might get rid of 1 of my Jeeps, it hasn't been licensed since 2010.
