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Joshua Lafond
Dodge Dakota
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5/14/2006
01:11:07

Subject: Dakota Buying Guide
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Hi all,

I have a Dakota I'm going to go look at soon. It's a late 80's (I think an 89), 4WD, 318, Auto, longbed.

I was curious if anyone could tell me some of the weak points I should be checking out? I only care about the motor, trans, and t-case though. I just want a strong running drive train. I don't want to buy it and then find out that the 318's are partial to getting cracked heads or something like that. The front suspension will have a SAS, and the rear will get a Ford 8.8 out of an Explorer or something, new springs and shocks, etc. So no need to talk about them having crummy gearing or what have you.



cuzindoug
GenIII
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5/14/2006
11:28:57

RE: Dakota Buying Guide
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T-case likes to leak at the tail shaft output, and the synchros occasionally don't like to help engagement, and the internal shifting linkage on some is kind of stiff.

Tranny...of course auto trannies weren't the dodge engineers strong point, but the ones they used in 89 (A727?) were better than the computer controlled ones in the later years.

Engine...pretty much a bullet proof block. The only problems you will find will be the EGR system likes to funk up, along with that bimetallic spring "flutter valve" they put on the exhaust manifolds.

If it doesn't fit, you're using the wrong hammer!

Joshua Lafond
Dodge Dakota
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5/14/2006
12:39:11

RE: Dakota Buying Guide
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I tried to dig up some stuf on the A727's, but can't find much. It looks like they used the A727, A904, and A999 until 1990? The truck I am looking at is deffinetely pre-90, so am I guaranteed a non-computer controlled tranny? That would be nice since I want to wheel the ever loving puke out of it and want as little electronics as possible.



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