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Cfor25
Dodge Dakota
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9/02/2010
17:13:42
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 Subject: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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I recently picked up a 2001 dak v6 3.9 sport. I have already wrapped the wheels in 31inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain KM2's. Eventually I will put a small 2-4 inch lift on it but I'm not worried about that just yet. First I want to beef up the motor and replace some worn suspension parts. In the end I want my truck to be fastish on the street and be able to do some dirt driving and some small mud puddle bouncing on the way to fishing or camping or whatever. But I don't just want to slap any parts on there. I figure if i'm gonna buy new stuff anyway I might as well buy the stuff that will forward my progress in making the truck be what I want it to be.
So I guess my question would be:
Does anybody have any suggestions on what should be done first? While saving money for the bigger more pricey stuff, i.e: lift kit and possible supercharger (supercharger is just a thought while the lift kit WILL happen), I would like to get some of the smaller tasks done.
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Sorry
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2010
00:45:43
|  RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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I've sadly owned two 3.9's and still have a ram 150 4X4 with one. They are gas hogs and slugs truthfully. They make an ok 4X4 engine though if geared low enough. But don't expect it to be anywhere near "fastish" without lots of "cashish" and there really isn't many modifications to be done on one. Better off to start looking for that 4.7 or better yet 318 Dakota for your go fast fantasy.
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Cfor25
Dodge Dakota
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9/07/2010
15:03:44
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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ok well first of all I would like to thank you sorry for keeping all aspects of positivity completely out of your response. I've had my truck for almost a year, I bought with 119k on it and I've pounded it pretty good with no trouble. And as far as my "go fast fantasy," I never even hinted at the fact that I wanted a race truck. Thinking I want a 10 second truck was your terrible interpretation. On that note I would apreciate it if you didn't respone to my post with you negative prospective, you know what dont even repond to my posts at all.
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Sorry
Dodge Dakota
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9/08/2010
00:14:00
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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Sorry just being honest. The most bang for the buck I've had with the 3.9 is the crank position sensor mod. Advances base timing some. It's detailed somewhere in this forum, you should be able to find it with a search.
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Rich
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2011
19:46:09
|  RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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@ Sorry.....
you are 100% right....I have a 3.9 and it is a sluggish little gas hog...
I have not had it that long, but it is a nice little truck. I was planning on starting with the cap/rotor plugs/wires, possibly a different intake.....i just want her so that she hums when she runs.....Eventually I would like a MUCH beefier front end I have already had the front ball joints replaced (FAIL for dodge on that)
I have found with the stick shift, I am able to keep the RMS low and coast/roll as much as possible and it seems to help my gas milage....highway miles 65-70 mph are not that great mpg
@ Cfor25
If a person wants "the fastish" truck on the street.....the easiest and quickest way to get there is to buy a fastish truck and make ur mods from there....
3.9 is NOT a performance motor....you can dump ALOT of time and $$ and the results are not that great.....
by the time you mod-out your 3.9 engine, install better suspension/brakes (to handle all this new found power).....you WILL find that your truck still is NO WHERE NEAR as fast as a 5.7 and with all the money and time you spent, you should have just gone out and got a faster truck or at least a different motor.....
you sound kinda young and inexperienced.....once you have been around the block a few times you will learn to NOT re-invent the wheel....you will learn to take good advise when it is given....
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2011
08:13:33
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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What do you consider a gas hog? My 3.9 V-6 with club cab, 4WD, auto and a cap gives me 20 mpg highway and 16 city, unmodified. For a truck, I don't consider that a gas hog.
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mark sliman
GenI
8/24/2011
13:32:01
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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Fine a 360 from a ram, it will bolt right up because it is the same as a 318, except the computer. It has a stronger bottom end, the 360 has 2 bolt mains as opposed to the 318 single bolt main. The money you would spend trying to make your 3.9 a powerhouse woudl be better spend on a differnet motor. A 360 will give you the most power out of the 'box'. if yo ustay out of it the mog isn't too bad either. There are now a lot of performance mods for the 360 motor. Cams, heads, intakes, etc.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2011
13:38:41
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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I would love to see these "single bolt mains" you mention.
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Cfor25
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2011
16:24:05
|  RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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So I'm getting from all this that money spent on my 3.9 should be maintenance only. That a motor swap would be my best bet as far as making decent power. But which motor is the best bang for the buck? What about suspension mods? From what I've heard it's hard to find a good lift for these dakotas, is that true?
@Rich
Yes I am young and inexperienced, hense why I'm on here asking such a general question. I'm not trying to "reinvent the wheel." I'm just wanting to make my wheel a little stonger and a little faster.
"If a person wants "the fastish" truck on the street.....the easiest and quickest way to get there is to buy a fastish truck and make ur mods from there.... "
I bought the nicest truck I could with the money I had...Yes, it would be easy to go buy a nice brand new truck with all the bells and whistles I could want, but I don't have it like that. I have to live within my means.
As far as taking "GOOD" advice, I assure you I do it very well, when it's given. Unfortunately, sorrys first post had NONE in it. He basically told me to go buy a new truck. Again, I'm trying to live within my means.
"I have not had it that long, but it is a nice little truck. I was planning on starting with the cap/rotor plugs/wires, possibly a different intake.....i just want her so that she hums when she runs.....Eventually I would like a MUCH beefier front end I have already had the front ball joints replaced (FAIL for dodge on that)"
This is more of what I was looking for, and for that I thank you.
@Bob Lincoln
Agreed...I get roughly the same mpg which seems ok to me.
@Mark Sliman
Thank you for your input. What are some of the major differences between the 318 and the 360? If I was to get one of these, what would be some odds and end I can expect t have to replace?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2011
17:02:22
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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If you want the most bang for the buck to wake up a 3.9 here are the top 3.
1) V8 Throttle body(cheap) or aftermarket 48mm Throttle body(about 200-300 bucks)
2) Harland Sharpe 1.7:1 Roller Rockers about 300 bucks
3)CPS mod. It cost just a little of your time.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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8/26/2011
08:09:30
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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If you don't mind a slight gas mileage penalty, swap out the 3.55 axle for a 3.91 ratio. That will wake it up some.
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SlowDOWN
Dodge Dakota
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8/26/2011
18:04:10
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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Speed kills...
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Gus
Dodge Dakota
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9/12/2011
16:42:55
|  RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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Speed does not kill, but stopping suddenly while going fast by hitting a solid object does.
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AmishOffroad
Dodge Dakota
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9/25/2011
20:50:44
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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I agree with the idea of the 5.9l being the supreme dodge engine. I have one in my Ram and there is nothing you can do to kill it or slow it down. But as far as the 3.9 dakotas go I own two a 97 2wd and a 01 4wd and they have both been very good trucks. When I built the 4wd truck I decided to go slightly modified and see where I could get it. It has roller rackers from harland-sharpe and the intake and heads were polished while I had them out. The intake is from a 5.9l ram that I modified and polished. I have a K&N intake, accel 9000 series wires, autolite copper plugs,and an accel supercoil. That engine now has 98k miles since the rebuild and I can still squall the tires with a quick stomp of the gas in my automatic. I liked the difference the upgraded ignition made so much I put the identical setup on my 97 and it even gave that old truck more pep and better fuel economy. The 97 may just have been in need of a good tune up too, though.
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AmishOffroad
Dodge Dakota
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9/25/2011
20:56:06
| RE: 3.9 first performance mod suggestions?
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Hughesengines.com has some pretty awesome tech articles on performance mods for the magnum engine series great site to pick up ideas
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