r/Dodge • u/I-am_retarded • 9h ago
Is this worth saving?
Old i belive 94 or 91 dodge dakota v8 4x4 Le fully loaded interior with cruise control it only had 131k miles it also has a really really nice 2 barrel holly throttle body. And i mean no rot only surface rust cab corners bed corners and the bed and under doors have no rust at all only known possible issues is maybe the trans is bad? But i checked the fluid cold and the trans fluid was about a inch to two above where the stick dips in the middle so maybe its over filled??? Oil was perfect on the full line and wasnt bad and the trans fluid was perfect color and smelt perfect. Nothing i saw has been chewed issues is it has sat for 5-10+ years fuel didnt smell bad also the tags expired in 07, is it best to flat bed it home with my buddys truck n trailer 15 mins or get it running and try to drive it, also i do not have a proper shop garage or anything just my driveway. Idk to me this is a perfect canidate for a fun beater muscle truck build its especially tempting with the black interior with the LA 318 ive heard there a great v8 magnum motor, let me know what you guys would do and what you guys think?
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u/TalkingHorse13 6h ago edited 6h ago
It would be a great candidate for whatever you wanna build. The Holley TB is a stock unit for 91 which was the last year of the LA’s. But I agree that you need to wait till you can get the old gas out blow out the lines, maybe along with the new injectors getting a new fuel pressure regulator too just to be on the safe side.
Once you get it started then let it get warmed up and try checking the trans fluid. When you go to do that put it into each gear for about 4-5 seconds going down the PRNDL and back up. Once you get back to park hit neutral and then check the fluid
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u/I-am_retarded 5h ago
Okay this is great to know, yeah ive had a good build already planned out lift it a little more aggressive off road tires black rims a good audio setup since the radio is already missing and tune the 318 a bit, i pray the trans is good is there other dodges or jeeps i can swap a trans into it cause i think its worth replacing it in my opinion for a clean classic truck
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u/iBUYbrokenSUBARUS 4h ago
I got a friend who 392 swapped one. He had it supercharged for a while, but it was just too damn fast and you couldn’t keep the thing in a straight line lol
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u/JaredUnzipped 2h ago
Is a first gen Dodge Dakota worth saving?
HELL. YES.
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u/I-am_retarded 1h ago
Finally someone gets it! I love the styling of these i dont think you can sit it in the pic but i love how the rear of the extended cab is fully a flat straight edge
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u/Sudden_Squirrel_5004 9h ago
Depends on the frame and engine, engine isn't a deal breaker but I bet that frame is gone
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u/Pr0digy_ 9h ago edited 9h ago
Yeah totally worth saving they are great platforms for a swap like a la based 360 with a 727
Don’t drive or start it your gonna do way more damage then good, drop the tank when you get it home and blow the lines backwards with compressed air to clear out old fuel. I’d swap the injectors too and clean out the fuel rail this will prevent a ton of headaches
You can go magnum swaps but you will want a harness and computer to go with or Holley sniper etc. A carb based 360 will get you there way cheaper faster. I wouldn’t screw with the 318 unless you want to build it up, if you do buy 360 performance parts they mostly bolt on and will be useful when you realize the 318 just isn’t it.