V8 powered trucks like the Dodge Dakota generally demand a higher price than V6 models but with an abundance of V8 engines in salvage yards around the country – swapping the stock V6 for a more powerful V8 is a great solution for those V6 Dakota owners looking for a project. DF member varsis went through this swap a while back and he took step by step pictures of the process from beginning to the end and while this thread has a great deal of technical information, it is a project log more than a DIY which is why it’s a “cool thread” rather than a “tech thread spotlight” piece.
In addition to varsis providing step by step notes and images of his V6 to V8 Dodge Dakota swap, he offers information on challenges that he came to while performing the swap. Over time, this thread had others posting questions about doing the swap on their own so while this isnt in our Tech Thread Spotlight, this piece has a ton of great information for those looking to get more power out of their V6 Dakota.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
