Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: SeventyGTX]
#2135546
08/18/16 12:22 AM
08/18/16 12:22 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 281 Bennett, Colorado
Charger69RT8
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 281
Bennett, Colorado
|
Agree with Daytona on 1992 forward. I can't speak to the 4X4's but I've had two 5.2, auto RWD's.
First a '92 bought in Jan of 95 with 50K on the clock. Drove it until 2002 putting 265K on it. Very dependable! Engine and trans never touched. Replaced coil and water pump a couple of times, plus consumables including rotors and calipers around 190K. Starter at 230K. Mostly highway miles. Undoubtedly one of the best vehicles I've ever owned.
Second was a '93 bought in Aug 2008 with 145K on the clock. Previous owner said the transmission had recently been rebuilt. Drove it until October 2014, when I got my SRT at which time I handed it off to my daughter. We retired it last year when it began to miss and plugs and wires didn't fix it. I suspect the intake gasket issue, but just didn't see putting money into it. Coincidently, It had 265k on it too.
2012 Challenger SRT 2012 Charger SXT AWD 69 Charger R/T 78 Chrysler New Yorker 440CI 89 Dodge Daytona ES 2.5L Turbo 99 Ram 2500 4X4 5.9L6
|
|
|
Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: Charger69RT8]
#2135565
08/18/16 12:50 AM
08/18/16 12:50 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,547 Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart
Rhinotruck
|
Rhinotruck
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,547
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
|
I bought 92 V6 5-speed new and still miss that truck. Never an issues in 90K miles except for a trans output shaft seal while towing a 68 Dart 300 miles at 85 MPH. 92 was the best year as they downgraded the camshaft in 93.
The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.
JB Rhinehart, Realist
A-Body's RULE!
|
|
|
Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: Rhinodart]
#2135579
08/18/16 01:01 AM
08/18/16 01:01 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,378 KY USA
mopargem
master
|
master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,378
KY USA
|
I just got this 96 sport V6 5 spd from friends of ours. He had owned it since almost new and never any problems just normal maintenance. 105k miles on it now, a/c still blows cold. My daughter will be turning 16 soon and I'm hoping to teach her to drive a stick and the Dakota is hers.
Last edited by mopargem; 08/18/16 01:03 AM.
68 Polara 500...LL1 Y7 M6X 69 Hemi road runner...X9 X9 M6X 69 A12 road runner....R4 R4 M6X 69 ModTop FLORAL Super Bee...F 70 AAR 'cuda...EW1 EW1 H4X9 71 Duster 340...FJ6 V24 L6X9 71 road runner FC7 V1X M6X9 72 Rallye Charger B5 V1W 74 'cuda 360...KB5 V1X A6X9 08 SRT Challenger #234
|
|
|
Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: parksr5]
#2135606
08/18/16 01:41 AM
08/18/16 01:41 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,003 Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
|
Moparts Proctologist
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,003
Salem
|
Swept under the carpet by as many of the car mags as possible, the Dodge Dakota is one of the most reliable trucks made alongside the Ford Ranger. It pains them greatly to admit this since the POS Tacomas are apparently the greatest truck ever built. Transmission is your only worry, look for a 5 speed and the real deal 318 Magnum. The tbi anythings and v6's are all crap. The 46re's are okay, but look for a low-mile one or something without a trailer hitch and abusive owner. Faithful trans oil changes at 60 thou or less is a plus. The IFS, transfer case, rear-end, and V8's are all trouble-free. So much is written about the Magnums that issues are usually cap, rotor, plugs, throttle-position sensor, intake air temp sensor, water pump and sometimes the intake plenum. That's it. You have no worries, it's a Dodge truck: that's why they are still on the road today. How about a pic of your Cobra?
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
|
|
|
Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: parksr5]
#2135619
08/18/16 02:11 AM
08/18/16 02:11 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,209 Someplace you aren't
SomeCarGuy
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,209
Someplace you aren't
|
People seem to like them in general. Never heard any venom. Not sure about this hate for the v6. Had early daks for work trucks, a stick and auto. Werent bad. Not hot rods, but no reason not to love.
I want my fair share
|
|
|
Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: SomeCarGuy]
#2135724
08/18/16 11:08 AM
08/18/16 11:08 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318 Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
|
Not sure about this hate for the v6. Not that the V6 is unreliable, however the V6 when installed in these trucks yeilds the same mpg and significantly less power than the 5.2 magnum.
|
|
|
Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: Dcuda69]
#2135765
08/18/16 12:01 PM
08/18/16 12:01 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,067 Irving, TX
feets
Senior Management
|
Senior Management
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,067
Irving, TX
|
The TBI was a solid engine but absolutely gutless when doing work. My bro-in-law had a D150 that struggled to pull a lightweight sprint car on an open trailer.
We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind. - Stu Harmon
|
|
|
Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: parksr5]
#2135826
08/18/16 01:32 PM
08/18/16 01:32 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,680 Raleighwood
2Bad360sfromNC
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,680
Raleighwood
|
I just got a '91 318 TBI with 250k. The R12 a/c still blows cold. It was garaged when not in motion, so it's in really good shape for the miles. I'm actually thinking about selling my '01 R/T. I put colder plugs in the '91 and turned the timing up some. It actually seems to have some decent midrange power. The main thing I'd change about it at the moment is the rear end. It needs a sure grip, so it'll actually move on wet grass and such. Once I find a couple more R/T wheels and caps, I'm going to put them on it.
1968 Charger project. I don't have a fender tag or a buildsheet, so it's getting a 440. Help me decide on a color--most everything looks great! (NOT white. My Challenger is white. Need some variety :D) 1974 Challenger 360 2012 Challenger R/T 1991 Dakota 5.2
|
|
|
Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: parksr5]
#2136312
08/19/16 12:05 AM
08/19/16 12:05 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,562 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,562
Freeport IL USA
|
Like any old ride, if you get one that has been abused, it will be junk. If you get one that has been well taken care of, it will likely be a great truck.
I've had a few different Dakotas. The 90 V6, TBI, 5 speed, with a 3:55 limited slip was a fun truck (and was a grate donor for hot rod chassis). Not a race car by any means, but it is fun. I blew up the V6 at around 165K. The 91, V6, TBI, auto was a great work truck, until a patch of ice did it in. That motor went into the 90 chassis. It got 21.8 mpg on a recent 3402 mile trip. The 93 Magnum V6, auto, 4x4, currently has around 160K miles. It gets 13 mpg in town, and around 17 on the highway. The 93 spent a lot of its time over the past 4 years just sitting (only driven about 3,000-4,000 miles per year), and as you can imagine, its getting pretty rough. I will replace it with another Dakota, maybe I look for a V8 this time, but the V6s are a lot easier to find. At least the early Dakota were great trucks, some of the newer ones seem to have issues. Gene
|
|
|
Re: Early 90's Dakota
[Re: poorboy]
#2136355
08/19/16 01:03 AM
08/19/16 01:03 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,819 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
|
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,819
Between Houston & Galveston TX
|
While not a 4X4, I picked up my '93 Dakota last year. It currently has 166K on it. It has the V6 and auto. I don't think it spent its entire life used and abused, but, I know the last owner wasn't too 'kind' to it. I did the usual maintenance to it when I got it, updated the plenum gasket, and repaired a few things outside 'normal' wear. It still has a couple of quirks that I haven't been able to figure out if they are electrical or fuel related, but, it has never left me stranded. Biggest issue until recently was the AC not working. Now I may have to redo the intake gasket BUT, despite its quirks, and its scars, I love this thing. It rides decent, its comfortable (to me anyway) and its not 'stupid big' like anything new. The V6 is no powerhouse for sure, but has no issues keeping up with or passing traffic. I admittedly drive with a heavy foot and it gives me consistent 14MPG in almost 100% in town driving.
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
|
|
|
|
|