97 +...Dodge Dakota... the good, the bad, the ugly

[HeavyMetal]

Friend of mine had this for a long time. At a milder state (37s?) drove to CO from Rochester NY and wheeled it for like a week and drove it home.

the only one i could think of when this thread came up at all was Maskalans Lol

[Hydra]

I give that guy props, but that doesn't look fun to drive across the country

[SupermanIce-J]

Friend of mine had this for a long time. At a milder state (37s?) drove to CO from Rochester NY and wheeled it for like a week and drove it home.

So they are definitely reliable. That's good. I'm not sure id go to 37's but im sure that when that was done originally it was a pretty well done sas.

the only one i could think of when this thread came up at all was Maskalans Lol

when i saw a lifted sas'd on my way to work that sparked my interest, i thought of this one and this exact picture lol.

I give that guy props, but that doesn't look fun to drive across the country

x2

[SupermanIce-J]

Yes wj has that trans. I blew one up in fact haha.

I've been toying with the same ideas. Dakota, Tacoma, S10, Ranger, Frontier.. looking for a daily or not? Budget?

I found this while searching. Not a bad article!
http://www.fourwheeler.com/vehicle-r...-buyers-guide/

here's one specific to the Dakota

http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/...ta-or-durango/

[Pedro]

Great powertrain with the 4.7 and 45rfe.... I'd run it. Would prefer a Toyota if I were building a small truck, but one in decent shape costs triple what you can probably get a Dakota for.

[SupermanIce-J]

Great powertrain with the 4.7 and 45rfe.... I'd run it. Would prefer a Toyota if I were building a small truck, but one in decent shape costs triple what you can probably get a Dakota for.

Definitely. If i had my druthers id get a TRD tacoma double cab 4x4. However, even the first gen's with over 150K are still going for MONEY!

Example: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...35514767&Log=0

that was the lowest priced TRD DC I found @ any distance.

[SupermanIce-J]

so my mind wanders...

I had no idea they made a colordo/canyon with the 5.3... unfortunately they too are torsion bar suspension so not a lot of 4x4 long travel/ mid travel kits out there. but they are worth mentioning in this thread.

[HeavyMetal]

so my mind wanders...

I had no idea they made a colordo/canyon with the 5.3... unfortunately they too are torsion bar suspension so not a lot of 4x4 long travel/ mid travel kits out there. but they are worth mentioning in this thread.

wish i had remembered this, i recall this piquing my interest at at least some point. Lots of hate for the old colorados out there, but i could see a 5.3 in one being pretty sweet

[Burton58]

Only the 5cyl Colorado Springs sucked. If there is a 5.3 version that would be sweet. Or just an s10

[Pedro]

Or just an s10

That 4.3 doh...still a good engine brought to you by your friends over at Chevrolet.

And there is a 5.3 version of the Colorado...not sure how common they are tho.

[Hydra]

I keep clicking on this thread and humming "The Ecstasy of Gold."

Those canyons are cool, nice looking trucks for sure.

[Buffalo Phil]

I keep clicking on this thread and humming "The Ecstasy of Gold."

I picture a ragged rotten beating and poorly maintained red Dakota on 37s putting along the desert road into the golden sunset with this song playing. Then it explodes.

Roll credit.

Fin.

[CumminsJeep]

I enjoy the Canyon/Colorado platform. For a mild build they are pretty sweet. Clearly the Taco is the best choice, but the price point is definitely higher by far. The good thing is, you can sell it again in ten years for the same price you bought it If you are going for the "EXP" style rig, I see no reason to do an SAS swap either. I would buy your desired platform, do a 4" ish lift, 33" ish tire and at least 1 locker. I'd rather spend money on bumpers, a winch/ recovery items, and badass things like rooftop tents and all that Jazz. Just my opinion.

My roommate in college had an SAS'd Dakota with a full older Bronco setup underneath. Locked 44/9" and 4.56s on 38.5" SX's. Pretty badass rig but I sure wouldn't drive it cross-country.

[Ruepart Hoaxley]

Motor options are good. Only thing I would do is replace the plenum plate, factory is stamped steel bullshit on the aluminum manifold, it'll warp real easy and start sucking oil out of the valley. Hughes Engines makes an aluminum replacement