So last year i bought a 1995 Dakota 2wd club cab with a 3.9 v6. It needed a trans and i finally got enough money together to get it built the way i wanted, I know a few of you have had these tell me what the strengths and weaknesses are.
So last year i bought a 1995 Dakota 2wd club cab with a 3.9 v6. It needed a trans and i finally got enough money together to get it built the way i wanted, I know a few of you have had these tell me what the strengths and weaknesses are.
I bought mine with 74k on it 5 yrs ago. It currently has 125k on it right now. In that time, I have put in a few sets of spark plugs, caps, rotors, two sets of front brakes, ball joints, rear u-joint, water pump, thermostat, hoses, a few broken exhaust manifold bolts, rear brake hardline and a radiator. Basically all neglected stuff that eventually broke and got fixed. Right now, I still have yet to replace the broken ignition lock cylinder, AC compressor clutch, heater core, headliner, or found the reason for the cold shake in back.
Besides all that, it is a put gas in it and maybe change the oil when you feel like it kind of vehicle for me. I really don't do anything to it except drive it.
I had one. It's primary weakness was the transmission. Mine never shifted right, even when it was new.
Oh, and the fuel gauge never worked.
What would you like to know?
Did you get the trans fixed yet? Is it an auto or stick?
Auto trans may be considered weak, but it's not. Just needs proper maintenance. With the truck being a V6, if it's an automatic it's probably the A500 4-speed automatic. There's plenty available for it.
Front suspension is decent. They were still using the older, and better, ball joint design. The 2WD were rack and pinion. I can't remember the ratio now.
Rear is going to be an 8 1/4 Chrysler. Ring gear is really 8 3/8". I can't remember what year they upped it. But it's the 8 1/4 design. Your gears are going to be one of three options from when it was new: 3.21, 3.55, 3.91. There are plenty of other ratios available but any of those three would be fine. Most of my Dak's have been 3.55's. The Shelby is a 3.91.
Rear springs are pretty stout. The tail will be in the air a little bit. It's spring under axle in the 2WD trucks.
The 3.9 isn't a bad motor, but it isn't any record setter either. It's 3/4 of a 318/5.2L. Gas mileage isn't great, but is better in the 2WD trucks. It's a torquey little motor.
Both the Magnum 5.2 & 5.9 V8 will bolt in and bolt up to your trans. Lots of other engines will fit in there too. I've seen one with a old school 426 Hemi in it. It fit without cutting anything on the truck.
The extended cab gives you the long wheelbase. Parking feels like a much larger truck.
You aren't in the salt belt, so rust probably isn't a problem on yours. But look for rust at the lower front fenders. I've seen plenty go where the front spoiler attaches. Look for rust at the cab mounts too. If there's a hitch on the back look around the back of the bed/tail of the truck to see if there's any rust. I've seen one rust in weird spots back there. Turned out the original owner would put a boat into salt water and not rinse the truck.
The door latch is a weak point. There's a plastic piece in there that will eventually deform and jam the mechanism up. Usually the inside door handle still works but the outside doesn't. If the manual lock button is difficult to press down the latch might be on its way out. Good ones can be hard to find in the yard.
The spare tire is held under the bed with a winch mechanism. They tend to jam up too.
There's not much out there in the way of tuning an OBDI Magnum. At this point I don't know if there's any. There's some support for the later OBDII systems. I've heard of people retrofitting them into the earlier trucks, but haven't done it myself.
Impressive. I am running around town without a fan clutch. I have yet to see a temp rise sitting at a light for at least a minute. Every other vehicle I have owned have had the temp rise in that time.
Rob_Mopar wrote: The 3.9 isn't a bad motor, but it isn't any record setter either. It's 3/4 of a 318/5.2L. Gas mileage isn't great, but is better in the 2WD trucks. It's a torquey little motor. Both the Magnum 5.2 & 5.9 V8 will bolt in and bolt up to your trans. Lots of other engines will fit in there too. I've seen one with a old school 426 Hemi in it. It fit without cutting anything on the truck.
Quit giving all my Challenge ideas away. JMO, the 3.9 is a steaming pile of excrement. My old 2.3 Ranger was better.
Rob_Mopar wrote: You aren't in the salt belt, so rust probably isn't a problem on yours. But look for rust at the lower front fenders. I've seen plenty go where the front spoiler attaches. Look for rust at the cab mounts too. If there's a hitch on the back look around the back of the bed/tail of the truck to see if there's any rust. I've seen one rust in weird spots back there. Turned out the original owner would put a boat into salt water and not rinse the truck. The door latch is a weak point. There's a plastic piece in there that will eventually deform and jam the mechanism up. Usually the inside door handle still works but the outside doesn't. If the manual lock button is difficult to press down the latch might be on its way out. Good ones can be hard to find in the yard.
Mine is rusting under the doors at the seams and various other spots from rock chips and dings. Plus the tree limb that fell on the cab behind the door.
When my driver's door latch decided to quit working, I just bought a new one for the dealer for $40.
Rob_Mopar wrote: There's not much out there in the way of tuning an OBDI Magnum. At this point I don't know if there's any. There's some support for the later OBDII systems. I've heard of people retrofitting them into the earlier trucks, but haven't done it myself.
MegaSquirt!!!
Yea mine has lived in Atlanta all of it's life so it's rust free , @rob mopar it's an auto and it hopefully will be out of the shop this week, it's a 42rh which ive read is the same as the A500, I'm not really planning on modifying it just needed something better suited for towing than a 3.0 caravan. Just was curious how they hold up
Ranger50 wrote: Quit giving all my Challenge ideas away. JMO, the 3.9 is a steaming pile of excrement. My old 2.3 Ranger was better.
Hey, I said old school 426 Hemi. No way is one of those happening for Challenge money.
And Fit_Is_Slo has the 3.9, I didn't want to make him feel bad. I had an early one (pre-Magnum) that was great. Poor truck got totaled. Had a '93 that had issues and would agree with your assessment on that one.
I've known other people who have had them with no real problems. No fondness for it either. It was just there.
Ranger50 wrote: Mine is rusting under the doors at the seams and various other spots from rock chips and dings. Plus the tree limb that fell on the cab behind the door. When my driver's door latch decided to quit working, I just bought a new one for the dealer for $40.
I didn't even check the dealer to see if they were still available. I probably should and grab a couple if they still are. Was on a junkyarding run for some other stuff and my father-in-law needed one for his Dak. Found a bunch of Daks that either had broken ones or the latch was already missing.
Ranger50 wrote: MegaSquirt!!!
Agreed.
Nice looking truck.
Fit_Is_Slo wrote: Yea mine has lived in Atlanta all of it's life so it's rust free , @rob mopar it's an auto and it hopefully will be out of the shop this week, it's a 42rh which ive read is the same as the A500, I'm not really planning on modifying it just needed something better suited for towing than a 3.0 caravan. Just was curious how they hold up
So does this get added to all the other scores found on the Atlanta Craig's List?
Put a trans cooler on that 42RH/A500, and a shift kit in it (while it's getting built) and it should tow fine. How much are you trying to pull?
Rob_Mopar wrote:Ranger50 wrote: Quit giving all my Challenge ideas away. JMO, the 3.9 is a steaming pile of excrement. My old 2.3 Ranger was better.Hey, I said old school 426 Hemi. No way is one of those happening for Challenge money.
I never said it was going to be a gen2 Hemi..... I was thinking the cheapest 5.9 I can find, flipped manifolds, carb intake and carb, and a Chinese T76. If there was budget left, pop the heads off and give them a quick polish and chamber rework.
Ranger50 wrote:Rob_Mopar wrote:I never said it was going to be a gen2 Hemi..... I was thinking the cheapest 5.9 I can find, flipped manifolds, carb intake and carb, and a Chinese T76. If there was budget left, pop the heads off and give them a quick polish and chamber rework.Ranger50 wrote: Quit giving all my Challenge ideas away. JMO, the 3.9 is a steaming pile of excrement. My old 2.3 Ranger was better.Hey, I said old school 426 Hemi. No way is one of those happening for Challenge money.
Now who's giving secrets away?
Actually a friend of mine had it and decided it was time to let it go when the trans dumped .. I'm ahead of ya on the shift kit, trans cooler, and getting upgraded clutches and a sonnix valve per ranger50s reccomendation a few weeks ago. As far as towing I have a small boat that I would like to trade up to a bass boat or an old Tri Hull with an outboard, and just be able to tow random flip/project cars
Sounds like the Dak will do what you want it to do. Enjoy. Worst case post a "How do I install a 5.9 Magnum in my '95 Dakota" thread.
Rob_Mopar wrote: Sounds like the Dak will do what you want it to do. Enjoy. Worst case post a "How do I install a 5.9 Magnum in my '95 Dakota" thread.
If ever swap i want to do a 4 cyl diesel like a 4bt or Isuzu npr swap
Rob_Mopar wrote: Sounds like the Dak will do what you want it to do. Enjoy. Worst case post a "How do I install a 5.9 Magnum in my '95 Dakota" thread.
Mopar Action already did that and wrote extensively how to do that. It's even out on the web.
We loved our 93 extended cab 6 cyl. Mileage sucked, 15-20 mpg. Great ride and huge bed for a small truck. The ranger we bought next got better mileage but no where near as comfortable. Always toyed with putting a mercedes 6 cylinder diesel in the dodge, decided a truck was not worth the time. Way more fun cars to work on instead.
If the radio doesn't work take the truck over 105(at least that's what it said on the speedo)
That fixed it in a friends 3.9 Dak back in high school. We were being stupid and the damn radio came on for the first time since he bought it. Speed is magical.
Other than that I have no advice. But I do kinda want an old shortbed Dak with a 225 and 5 speed swap.
Hey, my dad has a truck like that. I put a few water pumps on it. Never an alt, starter, or ac compressor in 250k. Went through the trans at 200k not because it broke but because seals aged out. Finally wore the motor out at 250k and now putting a 5.9 in it (putting it in for 3 months and counting, project fail ).
Still on original ball joints, u joints, never changed the rear end fluid! Did have to put inner tie rods once!
What a pain. We must have put at least $1000 into this truck over the last 200k!
I bought my 93 club cab 5.2 with 53k on it, never did much to it except a fuel pump and crank position sensor a couple of times. I ended up swapping a mopar performance 340 horse 360 crate in. It was a lot of fun with belltech 2" lowering all around. I towed some with it but really used it my dd for about four years. Excellent little trucks.
Rob_Mopar wrote: Now who's giving secrets away?
Not I..... I still have something else on the engine stand I can install for Challenge money.
Ranger50 wrote:Rob_Mopar wrote: Sounds like the Dak will do what you want it to do. Enjoy. Worst case post a "How do I install a 5.9 Magnum in my '95 Dakota" thread.Mopar Action already did that and wrote extensively how to do that. It's even out on the web.
Yep, but I didn't want to plug the other mag here. Don't know if the GRM folks know MA, but Rick is familiar with GRM.
The Scat Dak is Rick's daily driver. He drove it down to the show at Maple Grove last year. I believe at those radio repairing speeds too...
When I was in college I worked for a civil engineering firm, and we had a couple of early pre-Magnum V6 Dakotas as survey trucks. IIRC, they had about 125hp, and with a full load of gear in the bed, they were so slow they were literally almost dangerous to drive in traffic, and this was by early-90s standards.
A few years later my dad had one with the Magnum V6, that was OK. Typical 90s Chrysler build quality, though. It looked like they stood 10 feet away and threw the parts together to build the truck.
In short, I don't have a high opinion of them. Seems to me there are plenty of better alternatives out there for the money.
The only hard thing to fix on one (including up to 2004) was the heater core. I believe it is the first part they start with and build the truck around it. Good thing is parts are very reasonably priced so they aren't bad to fix.
My dad has a 92 5.2L he bought new, still going strong. I had a 2000 5.9L R/T (both extended cabs) and really liked that. If you do a V8 swap either the 5.2L or 5.9L is a good choice, both seem to get about the same gas mileage.
Oh, and they share the same wheel bolt pattern as Vipers, just to stir the pot some.
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