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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
00:03:33
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 Subject: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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I saw another basically same topic about two days older than mine, but its run wild on other subjects, but I'm looking to fix up my truck, but I'm on a serious budget, and can only go a couple hundred bucks every other week. I'm going mostly for speed, but a little noise wouldn't hurt either. This is what I'm planning on doing (thus far), please tell me what order, or what different things I should do instead of what I'm posting. I'm far from an expert mechanic, but I have friends who are pretty good, but they all drive cars, not trucks, and I don't know what's different between the two. Cosmetic changes are way secondary.
It's a 3.9 v6 club cab SLT.
1. Exhaust: splitting to two three inch pipes right behind the cat, and no muffler (my Trans Am buddy does this (smaller pipes though) and has no cop problems), then some cool looking tips.
2. Jet Series 2 chip
3. Thermostat: I just bought a 160 thermostat, I'm putting it in this weekend.
4. Throttle Body (not sure what kind, I'm looking at the one from Jet, but like I said I don't know much about this stuff)
5. Air intake manifold (once again not sure on what brand)
6. Lift kit (not sure on height yet)
-Joe
www.ragecomics.com
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kryp2nite
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
00:26:57
|  RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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1. im thinking 3 inch duals are too big
im going with 3 inch but not duals
2. heard nothing but bad things about the jet 2
3. forget the 160 and buy a 180 degree
4. again nothing but bad things about jet products
www.car-parts.com search for a TB off of a 5.9L
5. i like the ones from intense intakes the round ones www.intenseperformance.com
6. is your truck a 4 wheel drive? mabye lay off the lift and mabye just bigger tires?
hope this helps
and as always if i am wrong let me know :)
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Todd W
GenIII
7/27/2002
01:05:01
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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No muffler is going to rob you of some needed back pressure and cause a loss of low-end torque. So will having too big of pipes.
As for the Jet II? I love mine, but it moved the power band higher in the revs. You can really feel it now though once you get above 2500.
Go with the 180, some people have problems with the 160 triggering off MIL codes. It's just a little low for the engine (stock is a 195).
Check out flowmetrics or any of the ones Bernd carries at www.speedtweaks.net for the TB. I personally just took mine off and dremeled it, that helped.
Intake? You mean a cold air intake? You can build your own you know for a lot cheaper. I wish I'd done that. At the same time, consider putting your IAT sensor into the air intake tube for a more accurate reading.
As for the lift kit, I can't help you there. :0)
'00 RC Sport Forest Green, 3.9L, 5-speed 3.55, Hurst Comp-Plus Shifter, Clear-Corners, Speed-Glo gauges, Airaid Intake with relocated IAT, Autolite 3923s, Ported Throttle Body, Borg & Warner Cap/Rotor, Accel Coil, JBA 9mm Wires, JET Stage II, 185 T-stat, Flowmaster 40 w/dual out
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
09:49:35
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Thanks for the advice, okay to revise my plans up to this point.
1. Exhaust: I'll get one of this mufflers that split to dual exhaust. reading a lot of other posts this seems to be the way to go then.
2. Jet Series 2 chip, for the most part every mod I read has this
3. Thermostat: thank god I saved receit, 180 here I come.
4. Throttle Body not the Jet, I have a dremmel is there any specific way I should dremmel it, or I'll buy one for 5.9
5. moving the IAT, abd I was already thinking of building my own cold air intake.
6. Lift kit probably wasn't gonna, but I just wanted one more thing to write into here.
Is there any other relatively cheap mods anyone can think of that I should try?
I use bosch platinum plugs, why are the autlites better?
-Joe
www.ragecomics.com
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Dale
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
16:28:18
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Next time you do a tune up, go to the autolite plugs, 3923, brass dist cap and rotor, and 8mm plugs. Will get you better mpg, and slight notice in performace. I noticed quite a bit of power from just a power crank, 70 bux, aspracing.com, easy to install to :). If you want to, get some 97 ford mustang injectors, and put them in. Do this as a last modification. Getting a dodge 5.2 or 5.9 thottle body used will be much better on your pocket book, and gives you about same performace on the engine. I bought a honda civic intake tube from a friend and slapped it on, and seems to give me a little more, but im sure if you spend some time, you can make a better one cheaper.
http://downndirty10.tripod.com/downndirtywithjay/id13.html
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jimx
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
17:37:37
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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DON'T GET DUAL SPLIT EXHAUST! The exhaust pulses will fight each other to get out and you will have a loss in power. Get a single exit exhaust system that comes with the pipes on the muffler. Don't get custom bent pipes because they don't stay the same shape inside. When they bend the pipe the volume on the inside of the pipe decreases(not good).
Autolite 3923 plugs are the best for the V6 Dakota. They showed a 4-5 hp increase on the dyno test.
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Todd W
GenIII
7/27/2002
22:59:13
|  RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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The exhaust pulses will... what? What the heck are you talking about?
The only place I can see that happening is where the two exhaust manifolds join (the Y-pipe), and then it's a good thing called 'Back Pressure'. If he goes with a single in to the muffler at stock size, then two out of the muffler, it'll be fine.
BigJoe,
Check out fast4x4.net, he's got a tutorial up :0)
Look into the Borg and Warner cap/rotor too, and the JBA wires. The Accel coil I put on smoothed my idle a bit, but not much. You might want to check the TPS voltage mod that speedtweaks.net has up on their site as well, it's simple to do. :0)
Oh! And right in front of the air box (or your cone filter when you get the intake) is a plastic or rubber flap. You can pull that off and get better airflow into the engine compartment (you'll be able to see the air filter through the grill). I've also heard that removing the weather stipping on the back of the hood decreases under-hood temps, but I haven't tried that so I can't confirm.
'00 RC Sport Forest Green, 3.9L, 5-speed 3.55, Hurst Comp-Plus Shifter, Clear-Corners, Speed-Glo gauges, Airaid Intake with relocated IAT, Autolite 3923s, Ported Throttle Body, Borg & Warner Cap/Rotor, Accel Coil, JBA 9mm Wires, JET Stage II, 185 T-stat, Flowmaster 40 w/dual out
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
23:39:02
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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First is thanks to all ytou guys giving me your input, I really appreciate it.
I did the 180 thermostat, moved my IAT sensor to the hose between the air filter, and the TB, and changed my PCV valve today, I ran my friend around in the truck today, and he noticed it ran a little better.
So new recap of what is to be done
1. Exhaust: I'll get one of this mufflers that split to dual exhaust, but keeping the pipes stock size
2. Jet Series 2 chip: seems to be the standard, only one guy has bitched about it that I have found
3. Thermostat: 180 degree already in (freaked out because I didn't tighten one bolt tight enough, and it leeked a enough for a lot of coolant to get out and my truck to heat way up before I tightened it)
4. Throttle Body calling the junk yards this week. I cleaned my current one up today while I was waiting for my truck to cool
5. Moved the IAT, I never thought of pulling an intake tube off of another type of car... hmmm....
New things
6. No lift kit, but I thought that pulling that flap off the air box would be good. I was actuallly thinkng of extending it the other day, and widening the intake, but I see there's a lot I could do right there that would help quite a bit that I hadn't realized.
New questions
If I rigged a fan onto the air box with a screen to prevent big things from getting in, would that work well (remember I'm pretty dumb about a lot of technical things,but I can rig like a M.F.), not sure how I would yet, just a hypothetical question.
Thanks again
Joe
www.ragecomics.com
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Dale
Dodge Dakota
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7/27/2002
23:50:56
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Good, your on a roll. The fan on the front of the air box, waste of time and $$, wont help a bit. Let us know how it goes. If you find two throttle bodys, get me a phone number!!!!
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2002
00:10:01
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Thanks Dale. I'm two weeks from the throttle body (waitin' on next pay day), but if I find another I'll let you know. Took a peak at your site, how did you makew your cold air intake (just telling me the materials woould be cool).
Yet another dumb idea/question...
I know the chips in our PCs run better cold, what about in our trucks, what if we heat sinked/cooling fanned them would it help?
-Joe
www.ragecomics.com
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Todd W
GenIII
7/28/2002
01:06:04
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Nah, heatsinks wouldn't do much except maybe heat the engine compartment up more. :0)
Let me know how things go with the TB! I've been thinking of getting the V8 and porting it out with the Dremel. There is a Pay-n-Pull junk yard just down the road a few miles... hm. Might have to visit.
'00 RC Sport Forest Green, 3.9L, 5-speed 3.55, Hurst Comp-Plus Shifter, Clear-Corners, Speed-Glo gauges, Airaid Intake with relocated IAT, Autolite 3923s, Ported Throttle Body, Borg & Warner Cap/Rotor, Accel Coil, JBA 9mm Wires, JET Stage II, 185 T-stat, Flowmaster 40 w/dual out
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2002
01:13:19
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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I figured as much on the heat sinks/fan, but its one of those never hurts to ask things.
My neighbors got a 5.9 Ram, I'm waiting for him to go to bed... then the throttle body is mine HA HA HA HA.....
Porting a V8 TB sounds like a good idea. I might Dremmel out my V6 one this week.
-Joe
www.ragecomics.com
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Todd W
GenIII
7/28/2002
03:09:32
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Hey BigJoe?
You got an Auto or a 5-speed in that?
If it's the stick, I really recommend getting the Hurst shifter for it. I love mine.
'00 RC Sport Forest Green, 3.9L, 5-speed 3.55, Hurst Comp-Plus Shifter, Clear-Corners, Speed-Glo gauges, Airaid Intake with relocated IAT, Autolite 3923s, Ported Throttle Body, Borg & Warner Cap/Rotor, Accel Coil, JBA 9mm Wires, JET Stage II, 185 T-stat, Flowmaster 40 w/dual out
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2002
10:59:05
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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automatic, I was gonna get a 5 speed, but I do a lot of city driving
-Joe
www.ragecomics.com
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Dale
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2002
22:34:53
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Wanna know the sad part on my intake, its a ricer part, bought at autozone, its for a honda civic. then I used a cut up bike tire to attach it to my tb hat, and bent the bracket with my had, and bolted it to the fender with a bolt off a nissan hardbody. If you want, I can take a pic and email it to ya. email me with your addy if you want a pic. downndirtys10@yahoo.com
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LiveDakota
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2002
22:39:33
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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jimx, i was curious. Have you ever heard of a mandrel bend??
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jimx
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2002
02:21:39
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Yes... they are good. Only custom bent pipes are bad.
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2002
20:14:51
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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If ya'll are curious I took it out on a good stretch of road today, and got it up past 100 today (not sure on the distance, less than a mile though, I get it up to about sixty in about a block though).
-Joe
www.ragecomics.com
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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8/18/2002
01:50:30
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Heyyyyyyyy I haven't fallen off the board, but I've been keeping a low profile while I was getting the cash to, and getting my trans rebuilt (stupid sister), but I'm getting paid on Wednessday, and I wanna get some modding caught up, but I wanted to get you guys's advice (as per usual because I'm an idiot (hence a blown trans)). Now I got a few bucks (two to three hundred bucks) and want to do something fairly substantial (not necessarily a lot of work, but with some kick).
This is what I've done:
IAT in Airbox
180 thermostat
Bosch Platinum, plugs (next tune-up it'll be autolites)
ripped off that g-dang rubber flap by the radiator
and some cosmetic stuff (foot print gas pedal, musical horn, just dumb stuff...)
This is what's a given for the next few days:
TPS adjustment
home made cold air intake
possibly porting out my TB
This is something cheap(?) I'd like to do if I could have it explained
I read from someone's truck profile they rduced a lot of weight, where, what, and how?
What my debate seems to be for the big $ Mod
Jet 2 chip (roughly $250 from Summit)
Pre-modded TB (fastman 50 mm) conversion kit from Speedtweeks (roughly $250)
CD Player (around $250)
Any other fairly similarly-priced mod
I'm going to do more smaller mods, and my exhaust, and several other things in the coming weeks, but while I got this kind of cash I want to do one really big thing because I rarely got this kind of cash just laying around, and I want to do something big with it.
-Joe
www.ragecomics.com
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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8/18/2002
12:48:49
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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okay cd player isn't a mod, and I have some cash for that laying around besides this cash anyhow.
Just need help which comes first Jet 2 chip or TB. Which one is the better to put in first?
-Joe
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dartman666
Dodge Dakota
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8/18/2002
16:20:54
|  RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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skip the JET chip----forever! nothing but bad feedback from most users, myself included- real expensive paperweight. the TB is a definite must do , got the v6/v8 cable converion kit from SPEEDTWEAKS and love it .the 50mm may be a little big ,depending on future mods tho.an MSD blaster3 coil might be good or an Accel unit your choice they're both good. CROWER 1.7 roller rockers are my personal next choice followed closely by the 19# injectors from five0motorsport( reasonably priced too- less than 130.00 last time i checked . hope this helps - good moddin
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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8/18/2002
19:52:51
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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I've been reading about the Mopar Performance PCM, but I can't seem to find one for the 3.9L V6. Do they make it?
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dartman666
Dodge Dakota
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8/18/2002
19:56:11
|  RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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no not any more - custom flashes are about the only option. there has been a few posts about this - anybody know more? you could also check the archives.
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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8/18/2002
21:21:31
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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remembering that I'm an idiot I keep seeing to put on ford fuel injectors is it okay to put on 24# ijectors or should I only do the 19# ones
-joe
www.ragecomics.com
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FlameRed01
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
08:24:46
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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stay with the 19's, 24's will hurt performance
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Dak318
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
13:29:00
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Easiest way to mod your truck. Rip the V6 and put a V8 in it's place will fix alot of shit.
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
20:53:33
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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If only I had the cash 318
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2002
00:40:28
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Dartman what is the web address for fiveomotorsports just adding the .com, or .net isn't working....
-Joe
'97 Dodge Dakota Club Cab SLT with a 3.9L V6 4-speed auto trans. IAT in Airbox 180 thermostat, Bosch Platinum plugs (next tune-up it'll be autolites) ripped off that g-dang rubber flap by the radiator and Air Box fender boot, Borg & Warner plug wires (soon to be JBA).
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dartman666
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2002
18:56:32
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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so sorry - it is fiveomotorsport.com . no "s" . brain glitch- took me a while to find the site b'cuz of that. thankfully my dak still loves me.
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BigJoe
Dodge Dakota
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8/25/2002
11:12:43
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Made my cold air intake (or Homenbrau Racing as the sticker I'm going to print to put on it will say). Next up TB....
-Joe
Blue '97 Dodge Dakota Club Cab SLT: 3.9L V6 auto. IAT behind headlight 180 thermostat, Homenbrau cold air intake with K&N filter, Bosch Platinum plugs (next tune-up it'll be autolites) ripped off that g-dang rubber flap by the radiator and Air Box fender boot thing, Borg & Warner plug wires (soon to be JBA).
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tony
Dodge Dakota
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8/25/2002
14:34:50
| RE: Moddin my truck... need advice.
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Why bother. The V6 is such a joke, just wait until you can get a V8 Dakota if you like the truck style so much!
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