Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: stumpy]
#3197052
12/12/23 08:39 PM
12/12/23 08:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,766 Holland MI Ottawa
2boltmain
OP
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OP
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Posts: 4,766
Holland MI Ottawa
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Looks good. Be sure to check out tire and turning clearance if you decide to install the dropped spindles. . Thanks. I didn't install the drop spindles for that very reason. There is 3 inches of clearance between wheel lip and outer top of tire tread. I think the 2 inch drop provided by the spindles would be too much.
Keep old mopars alive.
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: Neil]
#3197095
12/13/23 12:08 AM
12/13/23 12:08 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,201 Someplace you aren't
SomeCarGuy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 10,201
Someplace you aren't
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Following!
I never found one of those trucks local, wanted to do a hot small block for once. Sport package looks killer on these! Mopar action did a build on one many years ago that I really liked. 318 truck swapped to 360 mag.
I want my fair share
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: SomeCarGuy]
#3197143
12/13/23 11:07 AM
12/13/23 11:07 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,766 Holland MI Ottawa
2boltmain
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I'm fortunate I live not far from A-B Springs who I had de arch the springs and Drive Train Specialists in Ionia MI who narrowed the rear end. The rear end is an 8.75 originally from a late 60s C body. It was purchased from a member here and has Moser axles, a suregrip and 4:30 gears. I was hoping to not have to narrow it- its actually slightly narrower than the stock 8.25" But I would have had to go with a custom made wheels- like a 15x14 with 10-10.5" of back space to fit. Rons Rims could make me Torque Thrust Ds in this configuration but I didn't want that much back space. After the narrowing the 15x12s with 5.5 back space fit nicely. I will add some .200" inch spacers I will have just over .6" clearance from sidewall to frame. Dual exhaust will be short as the gas tank is in the way. I absolutely did not want the additional work of relocating the gas tank in the bed or adding a fuel cell in the bed to make space for exhaust. I have a Hooker Blackheart transmission mount with the 2 provisions/humps for exhaust tu bing to route thru. The trimming an additional pair of coil springs is a good idea and is what I will do if I decide I want a little lower in the front end.
Keep old mopars alive.
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: SomeCarGuy]
#3197153
12/13/23 11:28 AM
12/13/23 11:28 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,766 Holland MI Ottawa
2boltmain
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OP
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Holland MI Ottawa
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Following!
I never found one of those trucks local, wanted to do a hot small block for once. Sport package looks killer on these! Mopar action did a build on one many years ago that I really liked. 318 truck swapped to 360 mag. Realistically they don't exist in clean condition anymore. My retired father lives in Florida. I am in Holland MI. He inherited this truck when a retiree friend passed away. He didn't need it and gave it to me. I hired Rhindart here on moparts to haul it to my house. Here it is when I first got it.
Keep old mopars alive.
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: Fat_Mike]
#3197461
12/14/23 01:31 PM
12/14/23 01:31 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,766 Holland MI Ottawa
2boltmain
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Man, that looks great! Perfect wheel tire combo for that truck, front and rear. Drive the wheels off that thing.
Thanks! The plan is to drive it this summer- stock OBD1 190,000 mile 318 and all!
Keep old mopars alive.
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: 2boltmain]
#3197694
12/15/23 10:45 AM
12/15/23 10:45 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,405 Michigan
MarkZ
Worthy
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Worthy
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,405
Michigan
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Looks absolutely menacing. Love it.
1987 Fifth Avenue - 512/518/D60
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: SILVER67]
#3197821
12/15/23 09:17 PM
12/15/23 09:17 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,766 Holland MI Ottawa
2boltmain
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Holland MI Ottawa
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Thanks for the compliments fellas! I drove near 3 hours to get those front wheels and tires. I had to buy the front and rear as a set but it still came out $550 less than buying brand new front skinnies and Draglites. Those front runners are brand new BTW. They are a height that MT no longer makes. 27" tall. I'm gonna sell the rears that came in the set. Those are brand new Sportsman SRs 28x10x15 on 15x8 Draglites.
Keep old mopars alive.
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: 2boltmain]
#3198234
12/17/23 08:01 PM
12/17/23 08:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,837 Central Missouri Fort Leonard...
mopar65
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Central Missouri Fort Leonard...
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Damn your Dakota looks great. I would love to get my 91/96 to look like yours. Got any pictures of the tear leaf springs moved in? Here is a pick of my pro-junk yard dakota I had taken. This was at the last race of the year at my home track.
3520 pound race ready 1973 Street/Strip Dodge Dart - Stock stroke 440/727
10.49 @ 125.0 on 93 pump gas & ET Street Radials. More to come...
( SGT Miller) Proudly served 12 years in the US ARMY RESERVES
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: mopar65]
#3198457
12/18/23 07:58 PM
12/18/23 07:58 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,766 Holland MI Ottawa
2boltmain
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OP
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Holland MI Ottawa
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[quote=mopar65]Damn your Dakota looks great. I would love to get my 91/96 to look like yours. Got any pictures of the tear leaf springs moved in? Here is a pick of my pro-junk yard dakota I had taken. This was at the last race of the year at my home track. [/quote
Nice ride. I sent you a PM.
Keep old mopars alive.
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: 2boltmain]
#3199178
12/21/23 04:53 PM
12/21/23 04:53 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,355 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,355
north of coder
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really nice truck ! good looks, and great stance ! if i'm figuring correctly, the A518 has a .68 overdrive. with that said, you 4.30 gear should be a 2.92 in OD 4th gear. that's a pretty good cruising gear in my stupid opinion. the rear tires should be at least an inch or so loaded diameter, plus an extended roll-out circumference,larger than the factory size tire, so that should add to the lower cruising rpm as well. what guys seem to forget, your engine needs to be in a good rpm range that allows it to use the fuel efficiently as it is able. too low an rpm and the engine lugs, even with more footie on the gas pedal, which causes lower fuel economy. too high an rpm and the engine runs good, but you have it eating more fuel than necessary. you need to find a happy medium where the engine vacuum is very high, or as high as you can get it, and your footie is just touching the gas, thereby giving the best possible gas mileage at the least possible rpm. timing plays a HUGE part in this as well, so don't be afraid to start playing around with this, either by distributor modifications or playing with a laptop. just my opinion. your "mileage" will vary. [ ]
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Re: My 1995 Dakota 2wd 318- UPDATE
[Re: JD340]
#3209229
01/30/24 03:14 PM
01/30/24 03:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,307 Land 'O Lakes
RoadRunnerLuva
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Land 'O Lakes
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That's an awesome Dakota you have! It reminds me so much of my first Dakota. I bought a '93 Dakota Sport brand new when I was working at a Dodge dealer back then. I bought a 2wd short bed, regular cab, all black sport model.... since I loved the look of all blacked out trim. Mine had the Magnum 318 automatic also, with grey bucket seat interior. Only mods I did, was change to 3.91 gears, in the factory axle, MP engine controller, and K&N air filter. I only had it for a couple years, because of my growing family at the time..I had to sell it. I have never seen it since I sold it... I loved that truck, and I miss it. I had plans like you, to do a subtle lowering kit... and better intake, cam, heads, etc...but obviously never happened. Please hang onto yours! As you know... those trucks are hard to find in decent shape nowadays. Good luck with it!
Plymouth Makes It!
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