Dakota fender interchangability?

Posted By: SattyNoCar

Dakota fender interchangability? - 03/28/15 12:34 AM

Went by the Pick-N-Pull in Pasadena today.....

Apparently one of the oil refineries turned in their fleet of trucks. Aside from this line of Dakotas, there were at least double this amount scattered thru the yard. Interiors are beyond trashed on all of 'em, but, quite a few still have good body panels.

All are '89-'91 vintage.

My question is, is there a difference in the fender of a '91 that has the sealed beam head light rather than the areo one?

How about the radiator support? Can an aero headlight be installed in a rad support that had a sealed beam mounted to it?

Mine is smacked on the left front corner. I haven't pulled it apart yet to see the extent of the damage but, I'm thinking the rad support may need to be swapped too.

(OR, would you pony up a few more dollars and just buy a new fender?)

As usual, thanks!

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: Dakota fender interchangability? - 03/28/15 12:42 AM

I don't know about the deatails of interchangabiity but I would take my time and find one the right color from the factory so I did not have to paint it and have one shiny fender on an old dull truck.

Posted By: SattyNoCar

Re: Dakota fender interchangability? - 03/28/15 12:56 AM

Quote:

I don't know about the deatails of interchangabiity but I would take my time and find one the right color from the factory so I did not have to paint it and have one shiny fender on an old dull truck.

The pictures of my truck hide a LOT. My truck needs a repaint (brush and roll?

), so, I'm not too concerned about it matching.

The roof on mine for example (and its been repainted at least once already)..

Posted By: poorboy

Re: Dakota fender interchangability? - 03/28/15 02:56 AM

I believe in 92 Dodge extended the nose out to make more room for the V8. I think the fenders are the same 87-96, but the bumper & grill extend farther forward then the 87-91 grills. I suspect the rad support is likely different between the two series, but with a V6, the complete nose from the older trucks might bolt on to your truck. There might be wiring changes between the two series as well (not that that would matter to you), didn't the OB II come out around 92 or 93 as well? Gene

Posted By: 79powerwagon

Re: Dakota fender interchangability? - 03/28/15 03:56 PM

OBDII was later (1996 if I recall right, my 97 needs emission testing and that requires OBDII).

Dodge didn't have a bunch of money for tooling, I'd suspect the older fenders and parts are the same basic shape and size to each other, with perhaps feature details being different (bolt hole locations, that kind of thing). And Dakotas came with inline 4's, so a V8 isn't much of a stretch, length wise.

Posted By: RodStRace

Re: Dakota fender interchangability? - 03/28/15 07:32 PM

Our local U pick it has an interchange in the office. Use that to confirm. That way if it doesn't bolt up, they are more likely to exchange/refund.

I'd grab a bunch of sensors, look over service items and if they appear recent, grab them too if they are pennies on the dollar.

Posted By: TrxR

Re: Dakota fender interchangability? - 03/28/15 09:07 PM

As far as aftermarket is concerned they use the same part number from 86 to 96.

Posted By: hp383

Re: Dakota fender interchangability? - 03/28/15 09:09 PM

The flat nose Dakotas and the round nose share fenders, but the hoods, radiator supports, bumpers, and grille assembly are different between them.

If you have a V8 you cannot put a flat nose on without mods to the fan assembly on the waterpump.

If they have any with a good clean, and solid rear bumper I would be interested in one if it could be shipped. I would prefer a painted bumper over chrome, but as long as its straight, and not rotted out I would be interested in a quote.

Posted By: SattyNoCar

Re: Dakota fender interchangability? - 03/28/15 09:59 PM

Thanks for the feedback.

hp383, you have a PM.....