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Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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9/22/2002
21:38:55

Subject: My 3.9L mods begin...
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After several months reading and learning, and, hopefully contributing a bit here and there in the process, I've begun to procure the parts that I'm planning on installing on my 2002 V6 Sport+ RC. They are...

B&M Supercooler trans cooler (already installed)
JBA silver ceramic headers (soon to be ordered)
Magnaflow #14256 stainless muffler (soon)
F&B 48mm billet TB (ordered)
Crower 1.7 roller rockers (ordered)
Intense Performance intake w/7" Powerstack (ordered)
MSD Superconductor or Taylor Spiro-Pro wires...haven't decided which ones just yet
Brass cap and rotor...also soon

That's it. I'm not planning on doing the 3923's, 180 T-stat or IAT relocate just yet. I've heard a few reports (thanks, DakotaDan), that these mods may not work especially well on the new trucks. I'm also considering replacing the stock fan with a high-RPM reverse rotation Flex-A-Lite, in an effort to maximize water pump longevity.

I've got an AT in my truck, and I don't race and don't want to race. I'm not interested in smoking or "chirping" my tires (it's been a long time since I was 18). But, I want to play a little and see if I can use these parts to provide some more punch when I'm accelerating up an on ramp, or just starting out from a red light, and want the truck to feel like it has something to give.

I have to say thanks to Sam at socaldakotas.com. He worked with me on the rockers and F&B, and he even answered my emails at 10:00 on Friday night. Sam's the man if you want these things.

Let the games begin...P






DakotaDan
*GenIII*
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9/22/2002
23:21:52

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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"WOW"

L@@Ks like Santa is coming to town!

I'll be keeeping an eye on your Mods Pistol just incase I might want to try some of those.


BTW I updated my photo album at DTW.com,I posted photos of most of my Mods.

CROWER RR's


I'm also trying Bosch Super 7562 plugs, only have 100+ miles on them.


Dan

"Can You Hear Me Now"........................................GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SloDak39
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2002
10:16:23

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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i hope you actually get a power increase......i';ve done a few things to my 3.9 that added no noticable power......headers, dual exit gibson exhaust, 180 T-stat,3923,s......didn't notice any power increase and the exhaust actually made it lose power...i'm afraid to spend any more money cause it probably won't help knowing my luck...700 dollars in the hole and no extra power....



Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2002
10:53:50

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Slo, that's my biggest fear, too...that I'll spend the money and hardly be able to tell the difference. I'm not looking for miracles, but would like to feel like it wasn't a total waste of time and $$. That's why I've spent so much time researching and listening to try to figure out what's worked for most folks, and what hasn't.

Dan (chuckle)...yeah, Santa did come to town, sort of. I shed a couple of firearms that I didn't shoot much any more...legally, of course...and did some freelance work, so I figured I needed to spend the extra cash before my wife got ahold of it, and spent it on stupid things like groceries, light bills, etc.!



jDoug
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2002
11:01:41

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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SloDak-
You have to remember that an internal combustion engine is basically an air pump- air needs to get in and get out. It looks to me like you have concentrated on the exhaust side of the motor. Now that the spent gasses are exiting more freely, you need to un-choke the intake side.

I put on a Magnaflow muffler and felt some loss in both low-end power and gas milage. Putting a K&N FIPK on woke it up a bit. I'm guessing that the V8 throttle body I have sitting on my workbench will REALLY wake it up.

It seems like you have laid some nice groundwork for some semi-radical intake mods. Don't lose faith just yet!



Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2002
11:05:49

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Slo, that's my biggest fear, too...that I'll spend the money and hardly be able to tell the difference. I'm not looking for miracles, but would like to feel like it wasn't a total waste of time and $$. That's why I've spent so much time researching and listening to try to figure out what's worked for most folks, and what hasn't.

Dan (chuckle)...yeah, Santa did come to town, sort of. I shed a couple of firearms that I didn't shoot much any more...legally, of course...and did some freelance work, so I figured I needed to spend the extra cash before my wife got ahold of it, and spent it on stupid things like groceries, light bills, etc.!



Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2002
11:07:49

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Excuse my double posting, I got interrupted and then couldn't remember if I'd pressed the button...don't get old.



Dale
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2002
11:34:38

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Pistolero, I think that should deff waken up your truck. I have done lesser mods, and noticed a difference. Only other thing I might suggest is a asppower crank pully. As for plugs, I bought a set of prototype plugs back in the day from a friend who started a new company, kinda expensive. If you wanna try them its halosparkplugs.com or halosparkplug.com. I am thinking of putting them back in since all my mods, I wanna see if they will work. Didn't notice much of a + with the 3923.


http://downndirty10.tripod.com/downndirtywithjay/id13.html



Deep Purple
Gen III
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9/23/2002
13:22:05

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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I've not been 18 for some time now. Did the rockers, throttle body,cat back,and a little more myself. A lot of fun and it will bark the tires. You will like those mods. Let us know how everything turns out.



jay
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9/23/2002
14:08:21

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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hey dakota dan how hard was it to put in your rr? im pretty good under the hood but i got natios just looking at all the stuff in the way of my heads how long did it take you to complete the job and was there any big problems in getting access to the heads or getting the v covers off?



SloDak39
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2002
17:39:17

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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I would think that the stock exhaust is good enough, flow wise, since i think it is the same one used on the V-8's. It s already a large exhuast but just doesn't have the sound some people are looking for. I already took my cat back dual exit gibson off since i think it sucks. Its for sale , by the way. I'm looking for a 4x2 V-8 dakota now, which is hard to find in the buffalo,ny area. I'm through messing with this gay V-6. And its starting to ping again, too!! Arghh....



DakotaDan
*GenIII*
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9/23/2002
18:06:20

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Jay

The Rockers are not hard to install, but they are no bolt on an go thing, You have to set the adjustment on the valves. I was in no hurry, I took about 8 hrs to do mine over 2 days.

I've copied links to some of the threads that might answer some ?'s for you


http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/v6/1756.html

http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/per/4673.html

http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/per/5319.html

http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/per/1049.html

http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/v6/2164.html

http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/per/4215.html

http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/per/4597.html

http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/gen/807.html

http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/per/4440.html


Dan

"Can You Hear Me Now"........................................GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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9/23/2002
23:24:53

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Dan, thanks for the link to the pics of your rocker install. They came just at the right time for me. My rockers should be showing up tomorrow or the next day...the Intense intake came today.



DakotaDan
*GenIII*
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9/24/2002
07:03:11

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Sounds like your going to have fun this weekend !!

Don't forget to stop by AutoZone or someplace to get you a 2nd set of valvecover gaskets, Felpro VS50420R (the "R" meens they are Rubber) $17.



Dan

"Can You Hear Me Now"........................................GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deep Purple
Gen III
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9/24/2002
08:34:55

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Follow Dan's instructions. They are very good. Be sure to use the washers or pushrod plates under the studs. On mine; I readjusted the valves after about 500 miles. Mostly just wanted to see if everything was doing ok. It could make a difference if a lifter wasn't pumped up good. Take your time, I did mine by myself and somehow survived. Good luck, let us know how it turns out.



Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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9/24/2002
13:43:56

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Thanks for the input and info, Dan and Purple, I'm looking forward to working on the Dak for FUN, and just glad that it's not because the thing is falling apart for some reason or another. That may be a different story, if and when that happens. I may run the truck in its stock condition for a little while longer before I do the rockers and TB, since it still has less than 2,000 miles on it. But, I wanted to go ahead and get the parts while I had the money.

I'm a fairly competent wrench, so I don't anticipate any insurmountable problems. I've done quite a bit of this stuff over the years. Dan, I was planning on dimpling the valve cover baffles 1/4"...do you think that I'll still need to double up on the gaskets? Have you had any leaking or seeping with yours? Thanks again, guys!



DakotaDan
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9/24/2002
17:54:40

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Pistol

The 1/4" thing is what I did but you still have to double the gaskets at that, The baffle is shaped like a "V" with the point down so the oil will drip off. 1/4" is about all you can get without closing all the airway off. I haven't had any leaks with mine.

I took a straight edge and laid it across the valve cover and measured down to the baffle, then took a piece of 2x4 and a 3 lb. hammer and pounded them in the 1/4" all the way across.

You'll have to ask John (Deep Purple) about his Powder coated valvecovers, they look nice I seen them at the OH Dak meet.

Dan

"Can You Hear Me Now"........................................GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pistolero
Dodge Dakota
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9/24/2002
23:43:21

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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I'd like to see some black powder coated tall valve covers for the Gen 3 3.9's. I think that there'd be a market for them.

I take it that the stock valve cover bolts are plenty long enough with the double gaskets? Did you use any RTV between the gaskets? Thanks again for the info!



DakotaDan
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9/25/2002
07:13:55

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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The factory bolts are long enough.

No RTV needed, the factory gaskets are rubber so if you don't tear them up that is your other set.

If you look at my photos you will see the factory ones stuck to the heads, That's the way I left them while I changed my rockers, Just don't get TQ happy on the valve cover bolts.

Dan

"Can You Hear Me Now"........................................GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deep Purple
Gen III
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9/25/2002
20:48:26

RE: My 3.9L mods begin...
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Power coat come from KRC Performance. They did the valve covers and sent the set to me. You can get almost any color. You might want to be creative. Call them for price. I got mine when they just started doing them. With the investment in the equipment they have, I'm sure the price has changed. They did a good job, and they're a good source of parts too.



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