Why must finding wheels/tires be nearly impossible...

to fit decently and be acquired cheaply? I know I am asking a lot already when I require the quirky 6x4.5" bolt pattern. But what I do find ain't going to fit jackE36 M3 with no positive offset/backspacing. I don't drive some 4by mulletmobile jacked up 14' with straight pipes on a V6 engine and needing the wheels and tires to stick out 3' away from the body.

Even the factory wheels aren't any better. Grrr....

Viper.

As much as I would love some first gen sawblades, they violate the first rule: cheap.

Dodge Dakota?

Ranger50 wrote: and tires to stick out 3' away from the body.

Box flares make everything better. :)

Swap the front rotors out for '87-90 Dak rotors, and the rear axles from the same.

Or just start with an earlier Dakota like me.

In reply to novaderrik:

Yessir.

Rob_Mopar wrote: Swap the front rotors out for '87-90 Dak rotors, and the rear axles from the same. Or just start with an earlier Dakota like me.

Already have the rotors, thinking about returning them for 6 lugs. I can't wait any longer to get rid of the warped Advance junk that is on there right now. I don't have the budget to get any wheels and tires to match. It is a one or the other can't have both deal.

Also, on the rear, have you seen the prices for a set of axles and drums? Hold on to your wallet! Plus IF I did that, I would jump over to a set of KJ rear rotors and calipers, in place of the drums. The spacing is supposedly the same as a Dak from the axle flange to the housing flange, at least according to the people thinking of swapping to the ZJ disc setup. The KJ is a no modification bolt on disc brake setup for the 8 1/4.

I have driven many first gen Dakotas, I'll stick to my 2nd gen.

No luck finding a junk yard 1st gen to swap from? Wheels and axles?

In reply to RossD:

There is ONE yard worth a crap within 2-3 hrs drive of here and it isn't a u-pull-it. The rest are garbage to deal with on anything. That one yard doesn't really have anything Chrysler related out back.

Ive got a 2000 Dakota in my stable, and have had the some problem. My solution: Keep the stock wheels. I heard that early viper front wheels work, but that would cost a ton. I didnt want a black American Racing "D" wheel, so I just didnt swap.

Stock wheels for me are 15x6's...... So they don't have much selection for tires.

nice wheels are hard to find for most anything these days. Just a few "classic" designs or bling-bling crap.

BTW I have installed the wider 15x8 Durango/Dakota 4x4 wheel on many Daks with lower profile/wider tires and they work very well.

^ those are great.

What about the regular old 15x7 or 15x8 black steelies? You can get em in various offsets for $50-60 a piece and they look good.

The 15x8's pictures stick too far out for the old straight side 2nd gen for my tastes. Basic black steelies are in the same boat, stick out too far. Right now, I like the look of the stock 15x6's and how they sit in relation to the body and don't want to ruin that. So, deeper offset I must go. I don't mind 1/2" out, but all the stockers are at least an inch or more to the outside, same with AM steel wheels.

Ranger50 wrote:

Rob_Mopar wrote: Swap the front rotors out for '87-90 Dak rotors, and the rear axles from the same. Or just start with an earlier Dakota like me.

Already have the rotors, thinking about returning them for 6 lugs. I can't wait any longer to get rid of the warped Advance junk that is on there right now. I don't have the budget to get any wheels and tires to match. It is a one or the other can't have both deal. Also, on the rear, have you seen the prices for a set of axles and drums? Hold on to your wallet! Plus IF I did that, I would jump over to a set of KJ rear rotors and calipers, in place of the drums. The spacing is supposedly the same as a Dak from the axle flange to the housing flange, at least according to the people thinking of swapping to the ZJ disc setup. The KJ is a no modification bolt on disc brake setup for the 8 1/4. I have driven many first gen Dakotas, I'll stick to my 2nd gen.

I've got one 1st gen in the fleet, 1 2nd gen I've had since new (Feb '96), and two 2nd gen parts trucks. Mix a little from each into one and get the best of both worlds.

I've always considered them all 1st gen with running changes, and the '97 the real 2nd gen. But the Dak community seems to like to split the earlier trucks up.

All the KJ's/ZJ's in the yards around here have the rear disk assemblies plucked before I find them. But they both should have the 8 1/4 and it should be a direct bolt on with the 5-bolt axles. Otherwise disks with the 6-bolt could be tough to sort out. Maybe a front disk from a 4x4 Dak could be adapted?

Rob_Mopar wrote: I've got one 1st gen in the fleet, 1 2nd gen I've had since new (Feb '96), and two 2nd gen parts trucks. Mix a little from each into one and get the best of both worlds. I've always considered them all 1st gen with running changes, and the '97 the real 2nd gen. But the Dak community seems to like to split the earlier trucks up. All the KJ's/ZJ's in the yards around here have the rear disk assemblies plucked before I find them. But they both should have the 8 1/4 and it should be a direct bolt on with the 5-bolt axles. Otherwise disks with the 6-bolt could be tough to sort out. Maybe a front disk from a 4x4 Dak could be adapted?

I consider the big changes with the core support, 6 lugs, composite lights/grill, and an overall increase in interior quality with the same parts, that continued on to the "mini-Ram" version as a generational change.

I'd just have the rotors either redrilled to 6 or just order from one of the many outlets selling rotors online with what I want. The ZJ swap is different then a KJ swap, as you can get away from solid rotors and a bunch of different machining to get it all fitted together.

Have you talked to any of the circle track wheel suppliers for a one-off or maybe something off the shelf? Aero or Basset, etc.