Third generation Dakota's - Moparts Forums

Register Log In Moparts Forums Unlawfl's Race & Engine Tech Third generation Dakota's

Print Thread

Page 2 of 5

1

2

3

4

5

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Sick 660r] #925045 02/10/11 07:46 PM 02/10/11 07:46 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA Leon441 OP master
Leon441 OP master Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA	Quote: I have more if you need anything else What is the peice of tubing behind the front cossmember for? That crossmember the customer wants it cut out. Then rely on the lower radiator support to hold the framerails apart. Don't think SO. But, there is a lot of cutting down and maybe remove that front crossmember and replace with a moly tube. Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Leon441] #925046 02/10/11 08:11 PM 02/10/11 08:11 PM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 142 Maryland S Sick 660r member
Sick 660r member S Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 142 Maryland	Quote: What is the peice of tubing behind the front cossmember for? That crossmember the customer wants it cut out. Then rely on the lower radiator support to hold the framerails apart. Don't think SO. But, there is a lot of cutting down and maybe remove that front crossmember and replace with a moly tube. Its just the sway bar. I dont see why replacing it with some moly tubing would be a problem but I would never trust the rad support. 2000 dakota 418 magnum paxton novi 2k T56

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Sick 660r] #925047 02/10/11 08:15 PM 02/10/11 08:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 142 Maryland S Sick 660r member
Sick 660r member S Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 142 Maryland	Here is the lower rad support. Its not much! 2000 dakota 418 magnum paxton novi 2k T56

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Sick 660r] #925048 02/10/11 09:39 PM 02/10/11 09:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,256 Salisbury North Carolina 8secDart pro stock
8secDart pro stock Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,256 Salisbury North Carolina	I would cut that front croosmember out in a heart beat.Good god you got that big a$$ crossmember with the rack on it!!!!!!!!!!With a boxed in frame like that it will not fall in on it's self,LOL The Gen 2s frame is no where near that beefy.

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: 8secDart] #925049 02/10/11 09:49 PM 02/10/11 09:49 PM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 142 Maryland S Sick 660r member
Sick 660r member S Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 142 Maryland	Quote: I would cut that front croosmember out in a heart beat.Good god you got that big a$$ crossmember with the rack on it!!!!!!!!!!With a boxed in frame like that it will not fall in on it's self,LOL The Gen 2s frame is no where near that beefy. The gen 3s are pigs! lol Leon, if its not to much to ask could you post pics when you get done with the truck? Last edited by Sick 660r; 02/10/11 09:55 PM. 2000 dakota 418 magnum paxton novi 2k T56

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Sick 660r] #925050 02/10/11 10:59 PM 02/10/11 10:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA Leon441 OP master
Leon441 OP master Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA	Yes, planning on posting pics. Waiting on rear end parts from Strange and Aerospace. A little paint and the pics will come. I agree with you Lenny on the 2nd crossmember being strong enough to elliminate the 1st. I plan to absolutely murder the 2nd crossmember. So we might need a peice of tubing to hang the brake line on. Nothing to be scared of as the frame, once ahead of the control arms, does nothing but hold the front bumper engine and radiator. The frame is also boxed all the way to the rear of the cab. This will not be that way when I am done either. These things are insanely heavy up front. IMO opinion trucks are for towing race cars LOL. But, what do I know. People tell me 65 Barracuda's are for making new beginnings under the moonlight not ripping up the 1/4 mile. Leon Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Leon441] #925051 02/10/11 11:13 PM 02/10/11 11:13 PM
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 9,366 Lehigh Acres, Florida rickstershemi master
rickstershemi master Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 9,366 Lehigh Acres, Florida	Good friend John Taylor's Bickell Built X-Prostock Truck "03 Dakota" this sucker is nice http://www.dragracecentral.com/stories/photos_go_here_10/atlanta3.jpg Rickster

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Sick 660r] #925052 02/11/11 10:16 AM 02/11/11 10:16 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O 70Cuda383 Too Many Posts
70Cuda383 Too Many Posts Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O	Quote: Quote: I would cut that front croosmember out in a heart beat.Good god you got that big a$$ crossmember with the rack on it!!!!!!!!!!With a boxed in frame like that it will not fall in on it's self,LOL The Gen 2s frame is no where near that beefy. The gen 3s are pigs! lol Leon, if its not to much to ask could you post pics when you get done with the truck? True statement! mine weighed 4,000lbs with just a V6 and 5 spd manual!! now with the big block, TKO, and the 9.25 axle in place of the original 8.25, I'm tipping in at 4200. Weight reduction is a good thing on these things! you think it's alright to cut out the fully boxed frame and open it up to just a C-channel? or would that be detrimental on a street truck? in some ways, I want to reduce weight on this thing, but in other ways, I don't want to make the frame weaker and susceptible to twisting and flexing. Photobucket sucks

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Sick 660r] #925053 02/11/11 10:25 AM 02/11/11 10:25 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O 70Cuda383 Too Many Posts
70Cuda383 Too Many Posts Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O	Quote: Here is the lower rad support. Its not much! Definitely not a load bearing piece! I mistakenly started to lift my truck by that one time when I wasn't paying close enough attention, and it immediately started to bend and flex instead of lift the truck. it looks big, but it's made from pretty thin sheet metal. but as said, I see no reason why that big giant cross member needs to be there up front, when there's already one a foot and a half back that sits under the engine. if you're worried about it, cut it out, and add a piece of 2x2 tube steel and save all that weight! Photobucket sucks

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: 8secDart] #925054 02/11/11 10:42 AM 02/11/11 10:42 AM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 226 lino lakes,MN onebaddakota enthusiast
onebaddakota enthusiast Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 226 lino lakes,MN	Quote: Thanks for the info I got tublar lower with the drop pocket and stock uppers.I still had to cut a 1/4 round out of a 6cyl spring to get it down.The upper ball jouint is at more of an angle than I like.It's not in a bind but just not perfect. PS,sorry to hijack the thread Leon,LOL Where did you get the tubular lower with the drop pockets, Lenny? I've tested several different moroso drag springs over the years. I was amazed at how much of a difference they made in weight transfer. The best one seemed to have the most compression and thus stored energy. It was also the longest and was a PITA to get in. Unfortunately, it would easily bottom out on the street so I had to take them out. I'm wondering if the dropped pocket would open up some more spring choices. Did the tubular lower help with anything? Weight savings? Sorry Leon. Tom 10.56 at 125.6, with a 1.43 60 ft. E85, Hyd. Roller 410 magnum,full exhaust, 3500 race weight.

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Leon441] #925055 02/11/11 11:21 AM 02/11/11 11:21 AM
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 1,260 New Mexico A Adobedude pro stock
Adobedude pro stock A Joined: May 2006 Posts: 1,260 New Mexico	Quote: This is a customer truck I am doing. They like generation 3 as they are RT fanatics. Curious about drop spindles for this application. Don't like the lower control arm with the altered spring pocket because it changes the geometry in an unfavorable way. I'm hearing some big prices for the spindles though. The other thing is lightweight lift off hoods that actually fit stock trucks. Pics of front frames as to answer where is it safe to cut weight. Just would like to see some ideas. Already got some plans just would like the added security of seeing what was done in the past. It's not a backhalf 4-link or ladder bar. But, the framerails are very much modified with caltrac leafs and caltracs. An awesome set of shocks. Trimed down Dana 60 with some nice internals. Truck should turn out nice Holeshot Star wheels true 10.5's . I had nothing to do with the engine so we will just have to see how it runs. Leon Glasstek makes a pin on hood http://www.glasstek.com/ 2001 Dodge Dakota 408 All Motor 11.27 @ 117.83 mph 2017 NM Mopar Challenge Series Champion.

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: onebaddakota] #925056 02/11/11 11:39 AM 02/11/11 11:39 AM
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,256 Salisbury North Carolina 8secDart pro stock
8secDart pro stock Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,256 Salisbury North Carolina	Quote: Quote: Thanks for the info I got tublar lower with the drop pocket and stock uppers.I still had to cut a 1/4 round out of a 6cyl spring to get it down.The upper ball jouint is at more of an angle than I like.It's not in a bind but just not perfect. PS,sorry to hijack the thread Leon,LOL Where did you get the tubular lower with the drop pockets, Lenny? I've tested several different moroso drag springs over the years. I was amazed at how much of a difference they made in weight transfer. The best one seemed to have the most compression and thus stored energy. It was also the longest and was a PITA to get in. Unfortunately, it would easily bottom out on the street so I had to take them out. I'm wondering if the dropped pocket would open up some more spring choices. Did the tubular lower help with anything? Weight savings? Sorry Leon. Tom They were on a truck I bought.I used them on mine.When I got it all together it set up high as hell.But I think the problem was I took a lot of weight off the nose.I think the lowers had a FatMan Fab sticker on it. Mine seems to work fine.Not a lot of bump steer and still has a lot of spring to the front.Just don't like the upper ball jounit angle.

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: 8secDart] #925057 02/11/11 03:40 PM 02/11/11 03:40 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 193 MD A ADakotaRTGuy member
ADakotaRTGuy member A Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 193 MD	Leon, Do you plan on running a manual rack on the truck. I am trying to drop weight off my front end and it looks like those two crossmembers are going to go and then I want to try to get a manual rack to drop a little more weight.

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: ADakotaRTGuy] #925058 02/11/11 03:55 PM 02/11/11 03:55 PM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,126 Abilene,Texas R ram87 super stock
ram87 super stock R Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,126 Abilene,Texas	My '97 that I'll probably never finish. Have had a 346" engine with Batten W2 heads that needs putting together. It's taking forever and I don't have the skills to do it myself. I would like to be able to make a couple of passes in it in my lifetime but don't know that I will last that long. 6470126-dakdrft.jpg (215 downloads)

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: ram87] #925059 02/11/11 04:01 PM 02/11/11 04:01 PM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,126 Abilene,Texas R ram87 super stock
ram87 super stock R Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,126 Abilene,Texas	#2 6470135-DSC00550.JPG (165 downloads)

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: ram87] #925060 02/11/11 04:02 PM 02/11/11 04:02 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA Leon441 OP master
Leon441 OP master Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA	I would like to install a manual rack. The owner is unaware of any available on Gen3 Dakota's. We also need a steering column from a manual shift cheap truck. He doesn't think there was a such thing. If someone has a Mopar or Advance auto part number for these items I would appreciate. Leon Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Leon441] #925061 02/11/11 04:06 PM 02/11/11 04:06 PM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 142 Maryland S Sick 660r member
Sick 660r member S Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 142 Maryland	There is no manual rack. Why the need for the manual steering column? When I put my t56 in I just took all the stock shifter stuff out. I need to find manual plastic piece but thats it. 2000 dakota 418 magnum paxton novi 2k T56

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Leon441] #925062 02/11/11 04:08 PM 02/11/11 04:08 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 193 MD A ADakotaRTGuy member
ADakotaRTGuy member A Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 193 MD	There isn't one for the Gen III Dakota's, when I come home in March I am going to be doing a little more research. I have someone that is going to send an old rack to Flaming River to get one made for these trucks, but not even sure if they will make one yet. Do you want the cover or the whole column?

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: Sick 660r] #925063 02/11/11 04:26 PM 02/11/11 04:26 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 193 MD A ADakotaRTGuy member
ADakotaRTGuy member A Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 193 MD	Column shroud part # is 5GW81DX9AE, $28.35 for both pieces

Re: Third generation Dakota's [Re: ADakotaRTGuy] #925064 02/11/11 04:38 PM 02/11/11 04:38 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA Leon441 OP master
Leon441 OP master Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA	The column we have is a tilt wheel with shifter. I found a parts source that showed manual rack and pinion available for a 96-97 4 cylinder truck. Just searched google. It was $129 Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.

Page 2 of 5

1

2

3

4

5

Moderated by Al_Alguire, Hotwheelsjr, moparts, not_a_charger, RangerDan440, tboomer

Hop To

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1