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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2008
22:37:54
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 Subject: RE: improve acceleration
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Or just get a real truck a V8. The 4.7l is the best motor ever made. I have one and you don't.
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spkdtch2
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2008
00:01:24
|  RE: improve acceleration
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a v8 would be nice, but im plenty happy with my v6, and ive raced a v8 n destroyed it, so i dont feel the need to trade to a v8
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2008
11:30:31
|  RE: improve acceleration
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Must have raced me then because I can't drive. I might have been out picking up little boys that night.
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spkdtch2
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2008
13:16:05
| RE: improve acceleration
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you too?!?
wow
small world
prolly y we were racing, 2 get 2 the little boys b4 the other guy
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SDave
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
16:30:17
| RE: improve acceleration
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1. Adjust the injector sync to a setting of +12. This will allow the engine to make more power and spin up more quickly. Really easy to do. Doesn't require a scanner. Loosen the positive cable to the battery so you easily connect and disconnect to the battery. Loosen the distributor hold down bolt. Turn the distributor counter clockwise. Move it an 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch the first time. If needed, only move the distributor only say an 1/16 of an inch at a time after that. Reconnect the positive battery cable. By disconnecting the battery the computer resets and allows you to move the distributor changing the injector sync without the computer knowing and trying to compensate for the change. Drive the truck. You want to get to a distributor setting where the truck will act as though you hitting the rev limiter when you try to accelerate. Pick an area where there is very light traffic or none at all because you will have to use a very light throttle to get it back to where you are working on it. When you reach this point slowly a little at a time move the distributor in a clockwise direction until it will run properly. The second time (if necessary) you move the distributor only an 1/16 of an inch at a time. Some people I know that know this trick will get it close and stop. I keep moving it back and forth ever so slightly until I can't move it any at all counter clockwise without it geting to setting where it will not run. I put it right on the edge and bolt it dowm. This is good for a good 2-3 tenths on a V-8 truck.
2. If you can run a 14 open element air cleaner with a k@n filter on your truck do so instead of running a CAI with a cone filter. Because the 14 inch open element will flow way more air and make more power.
3. Run Autolite racing sparkplugs. They have the ground electrode cut back exposing the center electrode allowing the spark to become much bigger. These plugs (from my experience) run better with a stock computer. You pick up at least 2 tenths with these plugs. With my mods on my truck, it is more than that. I would run either AR3935's or AR3934's if I were you. Available at Advance AutoParts. Engine spins up much faster than with stock plugs especially if you have your injector sync set at +12. Colder plugs help with better mileage.
4. Replace your pvc valve on a regular basis. A bad pvc valve can severely affect you performance and gas mileage.
5. Replace the stock muffler with a good free flowing high performance one that has a straight through design. If you want it to run good no chambered mufflers.
6. Install shift kit and trans cooler. Trans runs cooler, last longer, and can cut your 0-60 times down as well. I have change the fluid in the trans every 30000-40000 miles. Never found any metal or band material in trans.
7. When the time comes replace the stock cat with a good aftermarket high flow cat.
8. Magnums as well as a lot of late model engines have heads that are light castings and prone to developing hairline cracks that adversely affect the running of the engine. If the engine runs a slightly rough idle or has a skip that you can't seem to get rid of even after changing plugs or wires, it could very well be due to hairline cracks in the heads. Especially if these cracks have occured in a combustion chamber. Easy fix. Get a bottle of liquid glass. Sold at most parts stores. Available at Advance. Bars liquid glass formula. Drain and flush radiator to remove all anti-freeze. Liquid glass is not compatiable with antifreeze. Refill radiator with water. I use two bottles of the Bars formulation. Start engine and allow to warm up. Once it becomes hot enough for thermostat to open within 15 minutes all hairline cracks will be filled and will be as good as new. Permenent fix.
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spkdtch2
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
17:02:34
| RE: improve acceleration
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wow SDave, thanks for all the help, i did new plugs, new muffler soon, pcv valve for certain ill check, the injector sync seems like advancing the timing, and then id have to run more expensive gas to avoid a ping right?
and im going to run the glass stuff, so if there are any cracks, it will take care of them, if not, oh well, no harm in being careful
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spkdtch2
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
17:05:31
| RE: improve acceleration
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and a side note, on the passenger side head, i have noticed some sludge/dirty oil on the head near the pcv valve, so that could be a crack, or just a bad seal around the valve
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
18:03:17
| RE: improve acceleration
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if you set the injector sync to +12 if it runs at all it will trip a code. the proper way to set it is with a DRB scantool. there is a procedure that Larry @ J&J came up with and posted on here that will get you close to +3 on the sync. anymore than + 6 and it will porbably start to run crappy and throw a code.
an open element filter 14" diameter filter won't won't fir on the v6. a 10" will. ask me how i know.
injector sync is nnot like setting the timing. it willnot affect the timing at all so no ping to worry about.
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spkdtch2
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
18:05:54
| RE: improve acceleration
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hm, maybe ill give it a shot, and im fine with my CAI, i wasnt going to try and fit a round filter on there anyways, just more money that i dont need to spend if i already have an upgrade CAI
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jjj
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
18:23:57
| RE: improve acceleration
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daddio not quite true.
+6 deg sync will get you most overall power/ping reduction without killing mileage.
It will run with +12 but mileage will drop, if you get too far from spec then it will trip the light, but stock specs allow -10 to +10.
I think I've gone as far a +15 without the light but don't quote me on it.
-6 and up will usually cause a ping as well as possibly slightly better mileage.
It does affect the timing, but not ignition timing, just fuel timing :)
You are right the DRBIII is the best and quickest way to set it.
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spkdtch2
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
18:27:32
| RE: improve acceleration
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well it seems +3 to +6 seems to be the best/safest bet, since i dont have a scanner, where can i take it to be done the cheapest? since i know the dealer will cost an arm and a leg over what they should charge
the injector sync caught my eye, but i dont think im ready to try and do it myself
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
18:39:34
| RE: improve acceleration
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thanks for setting me straight on the sync jjj. i knew over +6 wouldn't help any.
i didn't use a scantool to set mine but i did tweak it and it's probably around +3 to +4.
spkdtch2, if you search this site there is a write up on how to do it.
copy & paste this address into your browers address bar: http://mark.dodgedakotas.com/
you can search this site from there for "injector sync".
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spkdtch2
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
19:01:12
| RE: improve acceleration
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i know, ive seen them, but theirs certain things i dont feel comfortable doing myself, if some1 else messes it up, they are liable and have to fix it, if i do it and screw it up, then im 2 blame
i might give it a try, but not sure yet
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jjj
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2008
23:16:42
| RE: improve acceleration
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No problem, it seems to be almost impossible to get a straight answer as to how much and what all it does to the fuel curve.
I ran +9 for a while, while it does help suppress ping some, the mileage dropped with it.
I wanted to mark my distributor housing at -10 and + 10 so I could do a quick change without the DRB, couldn't find an easy to get to place to mark it. LOL
Not sure if any other scan tool can do it as I've always used the DRB3.
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SDave
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2008
21:53:33
| RE: improve acceleration
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You can use a snap-on scanner if you have the right cartridge that applies for your year model truck. I can honestly say that it doesn't seem to affect my gas mileage at all. I live in a small town in Georgia so most of driving is a mixture of city and highway driving. I get about 19-20 mpg mixed driving and about 23 on the road driving 65-70 mph. At -10, it would run like a dog. And there is a difference in how it will run between a setting of +10 and +12. I have set the injector sync on many trucks. If you use a scanner, you will notice that the values are constantly changing when in the sync mode. If you set it at +10 it is changing between a value of 9 and 11. You want to set it where the center value is at least 11 fluxuating mostly back and forth between 11 and 12.
Depends on the dealership you go to get it done. They shouldn't charge more than a hour labor. If you know them well they may do it for a half hour. As it will take them all of ten minutes to set it. As much as they are charging for shop rates now they should do it for a half hour. It is quick easy money to them.
When you are setting the injector sync, all you are doing is changing when the injector fires in relation to the crankshaft position sensor. +12 is the ideal setting as far as power and accleration are concerned. Techs know all the injector sync and what effect setting it at +12 does. If you go the dealership, act as though you are very famaliar with this procedure. If they act like they don't know what you are talking about just let them know you are going to take it to another dealership and that they are missing out on some quick money. They will do it if they think you will just go else where to do it.
But I don't know how you could screw up myself. That is why I suggest to people they take a straight edge and magic marker and mark the firewall and the top of a sparkplug boot. If you happen to move the distributor cap 2 or 3 inches because you loosened up the hold down bolt too much you just put it back in its original position and start over. The only way you are going to screw up if you don't reset the computer once you move it to a new position. If you move it counter clockwise 1/16 of an inch at a time, it will take like three or four times before you reach the point where the engine won't run. Then you simply move it back as little as humanly possible each time until it will run and then bolt it down.
Supposedly setting the injector sync will have an adverse effect on the engine and cause it to ping more. I have never seen it cause a truck to ping more afterwards. As we all know these trucks when stock have issues with pinging. But once you install at least two steps colder plugs, 180 degree thermostat, and install a k@n filter of some type it goes away or is very minimal.
My current truck is a 94 Dakota extend cab with 318 and automatic trans with 3.55 gears.
Mods are:
1. Trans cooler and shift kit.
2.Injector sync set at +12.
3.Autolite racing sparkplugs 3932's with brass cap and rotor button.
4. 14 inch open element with K@N filter.
5. Modded intake with runners cut back 1 3/4 inches.
6. Modified throttle body.
Runs low 14's in the quarter mile. Never raced at the track. Ran a 96 Z-28 on the street and beat it by 1 1/2 car lengths. that is how I came up with low 14's.
My first Dakota was also a 94 model regular cab with 318 automatic trans and 3.55 gears.
Mods were:
1. 14 inch open element with K@N filter.
2. Injector sync set at +12.
3. Autolite 3922's.
4. MP cam .456 intake .467 exhaust 114 centerline advanced 4 degrees.
5. 2 1/4 inch dual exhaust with super turbo mufflers.
6. MP high performance computer.
7. Trans cooler and shift kit.
Truck ran very low 13's at 106 mph. Raced it on the street all the time. The locals where I lived have a road where they have a 1/4 mile marked off. Me and a friend checked it with a 100 foot tape to be sure. Turns out it was a little long. Always is. Why is that? Anyway, we sprayed some lines in the road across the centerline to mark the correct distance for a 1/4 mile. That is how I know the truck ran 106. Later.
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spkdtch2
Dodge Dakota
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4/14/2008
20:41:41
| RE: improve acceleration
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ok, everywhere i look, people say gears is good for acceleration
so, how much of a hit 2 my wallet are we talkin? and what ratio? i know different ratios will cost more or less
just lookin for a ballpark price/range both new and used
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2008
10:41:32
| RE: improve acceleration
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I LOVE LITTLE BOYS!!!
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spkdtch
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2008
14:18:22
| RE: improve acceleration
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it seems that you can go two ways, power, or milage, sometimes both, but rarely. say i wanna do the injector sync and set it at about +5 or +6, ill get better milage, but will i get better power? or will i get better milage n the power will suffer? i dont want to set it any higher than +6, just curious if this is 1 of those mods where you choose power or milage
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simplyjesse
R/T
4/29/2008
21:55:18
| RE: improve acceleration
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gears are quite expensive but they do the trick if you want to trade top end for low end. say anywhere from 200$ and up for just the ring and pinion (approximate) check this out for the long version.
http://www.differentials.com/faq.html
01 R/T x-cab
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SDave
Dodge Dakota
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4/30/2008
11:30:47
| RE: improve acceleration
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Just like with any mod that improves power or performance, the mileage you get depends on your driving style and how much your right foot likes the new mod. I have never seen a reduction in gas mileage in normal everyday driving due to adjusting the distributor sync. I have owned two Dakotas that I have performed the mod that I drove myself daily and set the sync for at least two dozen other trucks. I am not saying it is not possible, but the people I know have not experienced any loss of gas mileage due to this mod. You will get some additional power. How much is anybody's guess. Depends on what other mods you have done. Most trucks if checked with a scanner are set at the factory at a setting of 0 to -6. Setting the sync at +12 will give you an increase of two to three tenths to an otherwise stock V-8. A tech at a dealership played a trick on me once and adjusted my sync from +12 to -11 or -12 when I had it in the shop for some repairs I couldn't do myself. The truck loss 6 mph in the quarter and was noticeablely slower from 0-60. If you don't believe me get someone on this board that is a tech to do the same thing to his truck and see what happens to the performance and drivabliity of going from +12 to -12. Pretty dramatic. And again I don't think you would see any difference in gas mileage at a setting of +5 or +6 compared to a setting of +12. I never had anybody say that they wanted the sync changed back because their gas mileage suffered after the mod was done to their truck.
If you install gears, it will accelerate much faster but mileage will definetely suffer. This is roughly an average of the best gas mileage on the highway you can expect with different gears for 318 engines. Don't know about the V-6's.
V-8 3.21 gears 25 mpg
V-8 3.55 gears 23 mpg
V-8 3.91 gears 21 mpg
Good luck. Later.
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