the truck is about as 'rust free' as it could be 
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'02 Dakota QC 4x4 SAS - "Oxx" (...exhaustage...)
well we picked up our 'new' off road machine...so time for a fresh thread 
Thankfully this one doesn't require two years of build time to use and just a few 'tune up' items that need to be addressed Not sure what it's name will be....so for now we're just calling it the 'Dak'.
It's a 2002 Dakota quad cab, with a 5.9/360 Magnum, auto (46re), AWD (full-time 4wd just like a NP203), 3.92 gears, a limited slip rear, and has just over 129k miles on the clock. Not a bad little machine and real nice inside.
We're gonna wheel the truck pretty much just as it is for a few years, but down the road the plans are to go decently big with it by doing a front solid axle swap (SAS), probably an Atlas t-case, Ford D60 front and GM 14 bolt rear, 5.38's, and 40" radials.
Some starter pics -
and here are a few cool comparison shots to the truck it's replacing
- interesting (and deceptive) is both trucks are nearly the same length while the Dakota (currently) has about a foot shorter wheelbase -
Thankfully this one doesn't require two years of build time to use and just a few 'tune up' items that need to be addressed Not sure what it's name will be....so for now we're just calling it the 'Dak'.
It's a 2002 Dakota quad cab, with a 5.9/360 Magnum, auto (46re), AWD (full-time 4wd just like a NP203), 3.92 gears, a limited slip rear, and has just over 129k miles on the clock. Not a bad little machine and real nice inside.
We're gonna wheel the truck pretty much just as it is for a few years, but down the road the plans are to go decently big with it by doing a front solid axle swap (SAS), probably an Atlas t-case, Ford D60 front and GM 14 bolt rear, 5.38's, and 40" radials.
Some starter pics -
and here are a few cool comparison shots to the truck it's replacing
- interesting (and deceptive) is both trucks are nearly the same length while the Dakota (currently) has about a foot shorter wheelbase -
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...found this nice pic of a guy's Dakota on 40s - I edited it just a little to move the rear axle rearward a little, hence lending to my 'artists rendition' of what our little Dak wants to be like when he gets all grow'd up -
Nice lookin truck - Looking forward to watching it transform!
Gave the truck a real close inspection yesterday and found a couple items that need to be addressed. First the trans dipstick tube was 'loose' and could wobbling around up at the handle end - the retainer tab to the block had broken the spot welds loose - so pulled the tab, drilled a hole in it, reinstalled it, and used a hose clamp to keep the dipstick rigid - primitive but effective.
Also noticed coolant oozing down the edge of the timing cover/block and a couple drips on the floor, so looks like the engine needs a water pump. I just don't feel like doing it so called my local mechanic and a water pump R&R is only $350 soooo made an appointment for that
Other than that everything underneath looks to be in decent shape. First trail run is in two weekends so we'll see how well the little dude does there.
Also noticed coolant oozing down the edge of the timing cover/block and a couple drips on the floor, so looks like the engine needs a water pump. I just don't feel like doing it so called my local mechanic and a water pump R&R is only $350 soooo made an appointment for that
Other than that everything underneath looks to be in decent shape. First trail run is in two weekends so we'll see how well the little dude does there.
Thanks to our own RCC member Ed 'RXT', he's done some fun photo-shopage and I've made a couple personal touches, and come up with the next evolution of our family trail machine - the lift may be a little tall but it's pretty close to what we're thinking -
...and a few more comparisons with the Dak on 40s -
...and a few more comparisons with the Dak on 40s -
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Soooo, cutting the top off of this one?
I like the name Bud Lite, though with that color it should probably be "Bud Light".
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I like the name Bud Lite, though with that color it should probably be "Bud Light".
NICE!Mad Max said:
....as much fun as a true soft top is....I'm gonna have to go with "no"Elwenil said:Soooo, cutting the top off of this one?
Good info Ed. I've actually got a couple ideas for the bed floating around: 1) wheel well extension on the existing quad cab bed, 2) swap to a regular cab bed (more centered wheel wells to begin with...but doesn't exactly 'match' the quad cab back wall), modified M101 bed again, custom bed all together. We'll see - long way from either option
If you don't mind my opinionsMad Max said:Good info Ed. I've actually got a couple ideas for the bed floating around: 1) wheel well extension on the existing quad cab bed, 2) swap to a regular cab bed (more centered wheel wells to begin with...but doesn't exactly 'match' the quad cab back wall), modified M101 bed again, custom bed all together. We'll see - long way from either option
#1) I'd do that with the glass sides, if it were me
#2) You'll hate life after you try cutting and adapting
#3) Ah! That one sounds just right
And what I love about that idea the most
It kinda reminds me of another Dakota floating around here somewhere 
Ed
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hey that looks pretty badass with the M101 bed....hmmmmm 
........
...and don't mind at all
........ Copy that! that looks pretty killer with the bed shopped onRXT said:If you don't mind my opinions
#1) I'd do that with the glass sides, if it were me
#2) You'll hate life after you try cutting and adapting
#3) Ah! That one sounds just right
And what I love about that idea the most
...and don't mind at all You can easily make the bed look like that by chopping the skins off. Well i'm not sure what a dakotas guts look like but the 2nd gen rams look pretty cool with the skin off:
Here is a picture I found on the internet
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I once saw a 2nd gen ram in a magazine that someone removed the skins and mounted an old square metal military gas can and an E tool. Look pretty good.
Here is a picture I found on the internet
I once saw a 2nd gen ram in a magazine that someone removed the skins and mounted an old square metal military gas can and an E tool. Look pretty good.
that's a cool idea too . I'm really thinking hard about a fully custom tube-style bed - armored 'edges' yet fully skinned for hauling stuff etc. Might be easier to do that than to modify an existing bed...and I wouldn't need a rear exo cage - the edges of the bed would 'be' the rear cage....hmmmmm - likin' that idea....
. I'm really thinking hard about a fully custom tube-style bed - armored 'edges' yet fully skinned for hauling stuff etc. Might be easier to do that than to modify an existing bed...and I wouldn't need a rear exo cage - the edges of the bed would 'be' the rear cage....hmmmmm - likin' that idea.... 
blaze_rt said:
Are you serious? It looks like a truck without fenders, i.e. not cool.
so Homer n me mushed our way through a decent winter storm on our way over at our buddy Alex's place for a club event... - gotta say - having an off-road truck that is fully 'sealed' and warms itself up in a few minutes suuuuure is nice
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