Moparts
4.7 in Dakota
Posted By: Crazy68Dart
4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 03:23 AM
Is this a good engine? I don't know much about them. Found a 2000 Dakota with this engine, auto, 2wd. How are the transmissions in this truck? Has around 80k miles.
Thanks.
Posted By: 70Cuda383
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 04:27 AM
100k on mine
Everyone says they're great till 100k then they're junk. We'll see!
I like mine. Great engine for a mid-sized truck. Gets me 17 mpg overall, and on the occasion that I do tow, it does ok as long as total trailer weight is 6500 or less.
I tow on average.... Once a year. Mines an 04 auto, 2wd quad cab.
Posted By: Mr340
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 04:34 AM
I'm @ 113,000 still ok. I tow with mine about 4 or 5 times a year. 2000 quad, 2wd auto 3.55.
Posted By: Brian_wo
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 06:12 AM
My 02 was at 165k when I sold the 4.7 and dropped in the Hemi but you sure hear a lot of horror stories about them.
Oh yeah,mine was still running great.
Posted By: slantzilla
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 08:07 AM
I just traded off an '06 Dakota with a 4.7. It loved oil. I bought it with 20K on it and it had just under 60K when I got rid of it. Ran good, had decent power, got between 15 and 18 for mileage, just used oil from the day I got it.
Posted By: buildanother
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 12:05 PM
I've had great luck with them and with consistent oil changes, the rocker arm tossing seems to be a non-issue. Trans coupled to the 4.7's are good as well.
Posted By: Crazy68Dart
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 01:14 PM
Hmm. Right now I have a 95' GMC 1/2 ton with a 350. Hard to beat the reliability of this. Starting to get some rust, so either need to handle that and keep driving, or was thinking about picking something else up that got a little better mileage. I don't drive much (8 mile round trip to work).
Always like the Dakotas but am a little shy of this 4.7 after doing some research, especially with this one being the 1st year with the engine.
Posted By: Mr340
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 02:07 PM
the 4.7 was first used in the 99 grand Cherokee so a 2000 dak is actually the 2nd year if that makes you feel better
Posted By: Crazy68Dart
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 02:16 PM
Quote:
the 4.7 was first used in the 99 grand Cherokee so a 2000 dak is actually the 2nd year if that makes you feel better
I stand corrected. 
Posted By: Chris2581
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 09:06 PM
177,500 on my 4.7/ AT/ 3.55 2002 Ram 1500....still getting 20-21 on the highway unloaded.
Posted By: parksr5
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 09:18 PM
123,000 on ours; it's in a Durango. I like it a lot. The thing has great low end and does very well towing a car trailer for what it is. The gas mileage sucks but we don't drive it that much. I was speaking with one of my mechanic friends last year and he said that he sees failure with the 4.7 when people do not keep the oil changed on a frequent basis. He said that the oil pick up is very close to the bottom of the oil pan and the ones he sees that have issues are gunked up at the pick up due to people not changing the oil when they should.
Posted By: MoparforLife
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 09:26 PM
Have 136000 on ours and use it. Towed race car enclosed before I sold car and trailer. Still tow a lot with it and get 9 & 10 loaded driving 60ish. i know the load is a little to far ahead with the hay but we made it home about 35 miles driving accordingly.
Posted By: ademon
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 09:32 PM
03 quad cab Dakota with 189k on mine, does not burn one drop of oil, about 18.5 MPG with 70/30 highway/city. change oil every 5k with rottela usually, never touched the trans not even an oil change.only engine work done was new exhaust manifold gaskets and hardware, and fan clutch had some play so replaced that along with a new water pump and belt at about 150k. Great truck!
Posted By: Crazy68Dart
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/09/13 10:20 PM
This Dakota is a "Sport" trim level. Anyone know what gearing it would have? Standard cab no extended or quad cab. Kind of a no frills truck, has A/C but no power locks or windows, etc.
I'm not especially worried about towing.
Just need something to get me to work. Little nervous about leaving my GMC behind. I really like the 88-98 C/Ks. Had an '89 Chevy before this one. Rust is just starting (pretty good for a '95, but was really clean when I bought it 8 years ago), if I don't get it handled it will take over. Truck has 143k on it and runs great. Sucks on fuel, but I don't drive that much.
Posted By: ademon
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/10/13 05:40 AM
maybe 3.55 or right around there
Posted By: buildanother
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/10/13 05:46 AM
And your 350 tbi is a good engine although still not roller cam equipped through 95 (many cars had the roller cams and the 4.3's, but the trucks("K" engine etc), did not get them until after 95), but a 2000 dakota will be right behind with some body rust issues most likely.
Posted By: Jim_Lusk
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/10/13 06:59 AM
I rented one nine years ago. I was impressed with the power, but this particular one got horrible mileage (12 on the highway). It prevented me from buying one at the time. For towing I think I prefer the 5.9 that is in my Durango, but we never towed with the 4.7.
Posted By: Crazy68Dart
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/10/13 11:49 AM
FWIW, '88 was when the 4.3/5.0/5.7 went to the roller cam. '96 is when they went to the Vortech heads on the v8s. I think the 4.3s were a few years earlier, maybe '94 for the Vortech heads.
On the rust, yeah I know... It is not worth it if there is any indication of rust starting. I am going to go look at the Dakota this week. I tend to crawl all over (and under!) vehicles when I buy, so I'll take a good look at the under side, brake/fuel lines, cab corners, rockers, doors, wheel openings, etc.
Posted By: 70Cuda383
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/10/13 12:41 PM
No way to know for sure on gearing. the standard gearing in the 8.25 axles was 3.21 with 3.55 and 3.92 being options, along with optional LSD available in all gear ratios.
however, being a V8 truck you PROBABLY have the 9.25 axle, and I've not come across a 9.25 with 3.21s, so chances are, it has 3.55 gears, with 3.92 being an option available. Again, LSD was available as an option in both ratios.
Dakotas have a sticker inside the glove box door that has the paint code, some trim codes, but it will also have the rear axle size, and gear ratio, as long as nothing has been changed from stock.
being a used, 13 year old truck, how knows if a prior owner swapped gear ratios, added a LSD, locker, etc. (my toy Dakota now has 4.56 gears
)
Posted By: Crazy68Dart
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/10/13 12:46 PM
Thanks for the tip on the glove box. That helps.
I've talked to the owner. This truck is all stock, original owner, etc.
We'll see...
Posted By: G_bob
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/10/13 03:13 PM
165k on the 4.7 in the wife's 01 2wd Durango. Great power but mpg is nothing to write home about. No issues with oil usage or anything like that. Had to replace the auto trans at about 135k.
Posted By: Crazy68Dart
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/12/13 03:22 AM
Looked at the truck tonight. Pretty nice little truck. Overall solid, driver's side door has some rust in the front lower and rear lower corners. Underside of the truck is really clean.
Engine sounds perfect. No signs of anything unusual. Oil looked good, no signs of coking oil on the dip stick or fill reservoir. Sure looks a lot different than my 350... lol.
Mileage is not much better. Has 3.55s in the rear.
Top of the bed rails looks like the clear coat is starting to go, had a white-ish look to it. I think I could hide most of it with a set of stick on bed rail caps from Summit. Little concerned if the rest of the truck will start to do the same.
Needs an exhaust (original) and will need tires sooner than later. Probably would get the rust in the door handled too before it gets out of control.
I just need to decide now WTF to do. Decisions... decisions...
Posted By: 70Cuda383
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/12/13 03:40 AM
Dodge used crappy clear coat in those years. Clear coat peel is common on these trucks, especially if they are used as trucks and parked outside all the time. If the bed rails are going, the other horizontal surfaces are not far behind. Only fix is to sand down past the clear, and re-shoot color/clear
...if that helps you decide
Posted By: Crazy68Dart
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/12/13 11:55 AM
It actually does, thanks. I think I am going to pass and get my current truck fixed up a bit. Or, just drive it until the wheels fall off and not worry about what it looks like.
Thanks.
Posted By: babarracuda
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/12/13 01:26 PM
2001 Durango 2wd and 135,000 miles. Had to replace both ex manifold gaskets and fan clutch. Gets around 12 mpg around town and abount 18 mpg on the road. Tows beter than my 78 camper special did. I wish I had a later model so I could tune it more. all in all it's been a good vehicle
Posted By: denfireguy
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/12/13 02:15 PM
My 4.7L Durango SLT Plus AWD has 176K on it. I bought it used with 12K on it. Replaced water pump, replaced radiator, three batteries, two sets of tires, one set of plugs. Nothing else has been touched. 15.5MPG mostly city. Passes the second most strict emissions in the country. Towed with it 5 times a year in the Rockies, once over Trail Ridge road, the highest continuous road in the nation. Oil changed seasonally (four times a year), about 5500 miles between changes.
All in all, the best vehicle I have ever owned.
Craig
Posted By: HotRodDave
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/12/13 07:52 PM
Quote:
FWIW, '88 was when the 4.3/5.0/5.7 went to the roller cam. '96 is when they went to the Vortech heads on the v8s. I think the 4.3s were a few years earlier, maybe '94 for the Vortech heads.
On the rust, yeah I know... It is not worth it if there is any indication of rust starting. I am going to go look at the Dakota this week. I tend to crawl all over (and under!) vehicles when I buy, so I'll take a good look at the under side, brake/fuel lines, cab corners, rockers, doors, wheel openings, etc.
Chevy truck 305 and 350s did NOT get the roller cam until 96 when they went Vortech, I have rebuilt quite a few including one last week and another (95) on the stand right now.
Posted By: moparsquid
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/12/13 10:08 PM
I have an 03 with 5 speed and quad cab had 20,000 on the odo and now 93,000 still has all original stuff other than changing the t-stat and some wierd air pockets in the cooling system it has been a really reliable truck for me and it has tons of torque ,drop the clutch and hammer it its an e ticket ride..
Posted By: Crazy68Dart
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/13/13 02:39 AM
Quote:
Quote:
FWIW, '88 was when the 4.3/5.0/5.7 went to the roller cam. '96 is when they went to the Vortech heads on the v8s. I think the 4.3s were a few years earlier, maybe '94 for the Vortech heads.
On the rust, yeah I know... It is not worth it if there is any indication of rust starting. I am going to go look at the Dakota this week. I tend to crawl all over (and under!) vehicles when I buy, so I'll take a good look at the under side, brake/fuel lines, cab corners, rockers, doors, wheel openings, etc.
Chevy truck 305 and 350s did NOT get the roller cam until 96 when they went Vortech, I have rebuilt quite a few including one last week and another (95) on the stand right now.
Looks like you are correct. Sorry about the misinformation. The 4.3s were roller and evidently autos, but not trucks until '96. Good to know. I did heads and intake on a friends '88 350 in his 1500 and I would bet money that it had roller lifters. This was 10+ years ago. Guess my memory is getting bad.
Back to the Dakota... took the '95 GMC to a few shops for rust repair quotes. One wanted 2200 the other 3200. This is a 20' truck, with very little visible rust. Just happens that the cab corners need done, and some rust is just starting on three of the four wheel openings. Also was to blast and paint the bottom of the door edges which are just starting to show some corrosion. *sigh*
I might be getting the Dakota after all and just deal with the clear coat issue. We'll see. 
Posted By: buildanother
Re: 4.7 in Dakota - 06/13/13 03:49 AM
The roller cam thing was odd, as I worked on chevies at a chevy dealer from 1984 thru 1998 and did just eng work. Saw all the things that they improved on and all the things they messed up, and had to correct. Still good trucks, and I drove old dodge 4x4's the whole time I was there. Was simply my preferance.
