Anybody building/ racing a First gen Dakota??

[68dodge]

Nice build. Make a set of traction bars for it. Put them about an 1/8-1/4" away from the front eye bolt. They will work like Cal-Tracs. A lot cheaper too. My 76 D100 short bed had problems off the line. I did not want to buy Cal-tracs and find out they still do not work. So I made my own traction bars (slapper bars) and they work great. If you lower the truck, make sure your shock angle is not to far.

 

[mopar65]

Well looks like I haven’t updated my post in a long time. I got the engine and transmission installed. Had a hell of a time trying to fit a electric cooling fan and electric water pump to fit in the same place with out hitting each other. Lol so now working on getting the ford exploder 8.8 ready to go under the truck. Then just have to get a drive shaft, fuel system and a ingtion sysyem and I will be ready to go. Lol well at least I hope I will be. Lol oh I finally found that a fan off a 05 Dodge Charger with a 5.7 Hemi fit the Dakota radiator great. Just had to make to small mounting brackets for the bottom. The water is for the 91 318 Dakota sport. It is reverse rotation but has a removable belt pully. Here are a few picks of my truck.

 

[mopar65]

Picks of the electric fan and water pump

 

[mopar65]

Also my Friend with the black 87 Dakota. Built a 6.1 Hemi useing stock parts and with a new set of home built headers. Is allmost in the 10.50 in the 1/4 now. They did away with the claimer class I was going to run in. So next year he is going to raise the compression and put a bigger cam in his engine. Can’t wait to see what it runs next year. All I know is I will be bringing a Dull butter knife to a gun fight. lol

 

[Jadaharabi]

Did not see where you got the cal trac but here is a link to the how to section to build a set.

How to Build Modern Traction Bars

You can get the rear plates here from Andyf

CalTrac Plates | AR Engineering

 

[1995dak]

Nice! Coming along good. The black truck is killer! He have a build thread or anything?

 

[mopar65]

Nice! Coming along good. The black truck is killer! He have a build thread or anything?

As far as I know he doesn’t. I haven’t seen him post much on here in awhile. But I will ask him next time I see him.

Yea just scored a brand new 16 jallon JAZ fuel cell with foam and mounting brackets for $150. Now if I could just find a ignition system that cheep. Lol

 

[mopar65]

well looks like i haven't Updated my thread in a long time.my truck build is talking a lot longer than i thought.lol well i hope to have the truck running in a few weeks.but still have a few things to get done before i can race it. which i hope to have it ready for a race in June.i am trying to get my Dakota as light as i can get it, so i removed a lot of the factory wiring i didn't need.I must of removed 5 pounds worth.lol here are a few pics of what i have gotten done so far.

 

[1995dak]

Looks good. You cleaned it up well. Cant wait to see some "first drive" videos.

 

[mopar65]

Looks good. You cleaned it up well. Cant wait to see some "first drive" videos.

Thanks it's coming together slowly. Lol I am trying to get it done for a race in June. Dont know I'd i am going to make it, but hope so.

 

[dodgedifferent2]

Slowly pecking away on a 96 3.9l auto reg cab sb 2wd dakota.
Planning on a 383/727 big block swap.
Picked up a 04 dakota 9.25 rear axle to swap in with 3.55 and limited slip plus disc brakes.
She was on the road till the day I drove her to this current location.

 

[BVoelzke]

Slowly pecking away on a 96 3.9l auto reg cab sb 2wd dakota.
Planning on a 383/727 big block swap.
Picked up a 04 dakota 9.25 rear axle to swap in with 3.55 and limited slip plus disc brakes.
She was on the road till the day I drove her to this current location.View attachment 1715335675

I always liked the Dakotas if I didn't have my original owner D150 I would build one, I bracket race my 92 D150 it's only a 5.2 318 that runs low 15s with a few boltons but 60 fits well in the low 2.0s. Due to a trick converter, 4.10 sure grip rear, and M/T drag radials. I picked up a cheap set of traction bars at Carlisle a few years ago and they really helped as I was getting a lot of wheel hop.

 

[1995dak]

I always liked the Dakotas if I didn't have my original owner D150 I would build one, I bracket race my 92 D150 it's only a 5.2 318 that runs low 15s with a few boltons but 60 fits well in the low 2.0s. Due to a trick converter, 4.10 sure grip rear, and M/T drag radials. I picked up a cheap set of traction bars at Carlisle a few years ago and they really helped as I was getting a lot of wheel hop.

View attachment 1715336000

Nice! My first Dodge truck was a 91 D-150. Just a set of longtubes on the throttle body 5.2 with 3.91's and 295/50/15 tires it would run 15.8. Wish I would have kept that one.

 

[mopar65]

Well I got my old Pro Junk Yard Dakota Running last night. I think it sounds awesome. I used my cell phone to record a video of it. So the video isn't that great. Lol I have two kinks to fix. One for some reason the truck quit charging and my fuel pressure is only 6 psi. I will get them fixed just haven't had time to check them out yet.
My next big thing is building the 8.8 rearend

Damn it it keeps saying the file is to big for me to post the video.

 

[TheGrateRonzini]

Hell yea!! I just bought a set of 94-95 clutch pedals. My parts stack has afforded me a 74 833, bb Lakewood bell, and many random clutch and flywheels. So somewhere in the near future I’ll shed the 727 and get serious

 

[mopar65]

Hell yea!! I just bought a set of 94-95 clutch pedals. My parts stack has afforded me a 74 833, bb Lakewood bell, and many random clutch and flywheels. So somewhere in the near future I’ll shed the 727 and get serious

Cool dont forget to post pics of the build.

 

[o1heavy]

Glad to see it running
Have you ever got a weight on it
I’m curious
I found a 90 model cheap and in great shape

 

[mopar65]

Glad to see it running
Have you ever got a weight on it
I’m curious
I found a 90 model cheap and in great shape

Thanks. Yes very happy it's running now. Its taken me almost two years to get it to this point. I. The weight I am not sure. I hope ti get it to weigh around 3000 pounds with me in it.

 

[mopar65]

Glad to see it running
Have you ever got a weight on it
I’m curious
I found a 90 model cheap and in great shape

Also don't know if it's a big deal to you or not. But the 91 was the first year for the extended out grill to. 90 and down there isn't as much room for electric fans etc like on my 91 Dakota sport

 

[smithchargers]

mopar65 what headers are you running?

 

[mopar65]

mopar65 what headers are you running?

I Don't Remember the part number right now, But they are Hooker super comp headers I be leave. they say they fit up to 91 LA V8 in a Dakota. but they fit my 2000 5.9 magnum and my 91/96 Dakota great.

 

[mopar65]

I Don't Remember the part number right now, But they are Hooker super comp headers I be leave. they say they fit up to 91 LA V8 in a Dakota. but they fit my 2000 5.9 magnum and my 91/96 Dakota great.

ok I am pretty sure these are the ones I have on my truck. I want the ceramic coated ones, but damn for almost $900 I will wait till I put a gen three hemi in it and have a set made.

1991 DODGE DAKOTA Hooker Super Competition Headers 5803HKR

 

[simpleman64]

Well looks like I haven’t updated my post in a long time. I got the engine and transmission installed. Had a hell of a time trying to fit a electric cooling fan and electric water pump to fit in the same place with out hitting each other. Lol so now working on getting the ford exploder 8.8 ready to go under the truck. Then just have to get a drive shaft, fuel system and a ingtion sysyem and I will be ready to go. Lol well at least I hope I will be. Lol oh I finally found that a fan off a 05 Dodge Charger with a 5.7 Hemi fit the Dakota radiator great. Just had to make to small mounting brackets for the bottom. The water is for the 91 318 Dakota sport. It is reverse rotation but has a removable belt pully. Here are a few picks of my truck.

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[simpleman64]

I know this is an old thread, but I am building a Dakota also. Could you tell me what your electric fan came from? Thanks.

 

[mopar65]

I know this is an old thread, but I am building a Dakota also. Could you tell me what your electric fan came from? Thanks.

Hi what year dakota are you Building? The fan i am useing is from a 06 dodge charger with the 5.7 hemi