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swilliamson
Dodge Dakota
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2/23/2004
22:47:44

Subject: Maximum towing power
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Unlike most of the people here, I do not race my Dakota, and I am not necessarily looking to be the fastest out there. However, I am looking for the same thing as far as maximum torque and horsepower, however I want it at 2000-3200 rpm for maximum power towing down the highway. Right now, the truck is a bone stock '97 Dakota CC with the 3.9l Mag and automatic transmission. This truck tows my 2000 lb. popup camper fairly well but is sluggish on the hills. I am still in still in college, so I am looking for some budget solutions to increase horsepower and more inportantly torque.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated.



Randy
Dodge Dakota
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2/24/2004
01:18:08

RE: Maximum towing power
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I put together a hot setup wish list for myself a while back, because I'm going to be getting my father's 2001 v6/manual as a graduation present. I've decided I want to concentrate power from idle to 4,000rpm, which sounds like your cup of tea. Get some underdrive pulleys, the colder thermostat mod(do a search), cold air intake, and possibly get rid of that clutch fan for an electric setup. If you know how to set valve lash, get some 1.7 roller rockers, or even just 1.6(stock ratio) rollers.



Deep Purple
*GenIII*
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2/24/2004
08:06:41

RE: Maximum towing power
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Many people here aren't racers but are peolpe who just like to enhance the performance of their trucks. Probably the most effective improvement to a truck that tows is to change the gears in the rear end. It is a little bit expensive and it is best to let a shop do the work, but it will help your low end a bunch. I just changed to a 3.92 gear set and it has my power right were I want it. Very little change in mileage. It was 16.9 on my last fillup on mixed highway and city driving, plus cold weather warmups. So that isn't bad at all. Good luck.



GB2000
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2/24/2004
12:23:26

RE: Maximum towing power
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Since you tow stuff, invest in a transmission cooler...it'll prolong the life of your transmission. Prolly a shift kit too. Both aren't very expensive. Basically most of the mods we talk about on here are mods that will help where you're wanting it.

Josh

Red 98 RC V6 2wd Single in/dual out exhaust (soon to be switched to a flowmaster 40 single in/dual out), s-bolt "mod", Edelbrock 10" round air cleaner w/ K&N air filter, removed rubber flap...and more to come

swilliamson
Dodge Dakota
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2/24/2004
13:15:16

RE: Maximum towing power
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I guess I should not have assumed everyone here raced, but it seemd the first page of topics I was looking at the other day were about somebody dragging somebody else, LOL. Today's topics look more like what I need.

Thanks to everyone so far with the help. Any and all help is appreciated for sure. I am a newbie to the mod world, so consider me a virgin for most of this information.

GB2000: Is there a shift kit most people prefer here?





GB2000
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2/24/2004
14:42:41

RE: Maximum towing power
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Larry can prolly provide more info on shift kits if he sees this topic, but the two that are both pretty good that I recall are the TransGo and the Mopar one (i think it's also made by TransGo).

http://www.truckperformance.com sells the TransGo kits...you'll need to know what transmission you have though. Somebody else here can prolly tell ya that if you don't know.

Josh

Red 98 RC V6 2wd Single in/dual out exhaust (soon to be switched to a flowmaster 40 single in/dual out), s-bolt "mod", Edelbrock 10" round air cleaner w/ K&N air filter, removed rubber flap...and more to come

daffydak
GenIII
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2/24/2004
15:05:38

RE: Maximum towing power
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i think even the club cab 3.9s have the 42re auto tranny (my 98 rc does) i am thinking about a shift kit for my truck as well. oh speaking of transmissions, do either of your trucks bang/clunk into reverse. more often when warmed up? mine does sometimes, and i found a tsb about it. i dont know where though (lost the link lol) i have herd that some trucks do it and some don't (just turning over 51,000 on my dak)

thanks

Dan

mopar=mopower

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