11 Miles to the gallon and 3 speed automatic tranny :/ but I fixed the lack of headrests on my 87 by putting seats from a 93 in!

 

I hate that I've never been able to locate 6th gear on my manual trans on my 95 5.2 litre Dakota (nv3500). I know it should be there. I know I want it there but it just isn't there. I've reached over to shift into 6th many a time, always with the same result. Oh, and somebody mentioned aftermarket part availability earlier, excellent point.

 

there is something wrong with that truck; 11 MPG? I got 20 out of mine... with the 3 speed trans you probably have a rear end ratio in the 2s probably 2.71/2.76 or 2.94

 

I hate that my son went behind my back and bought another truck (a Dodge but not a Dakota) so due to driveway space, license/title fees and insurance costs, I had to sell my 2nd Dakota a truck I saved specifically for him to drive, as I knew he was parking his ramcharger for the winter (rustfree from the desert near Vegas, truck has never seen salt or snow) bought a truck that did not even run because he claims a Reg cab Dakota is ":claustrophobic'.

 

Its old & ruff around the edges, but I like that in a truck..

-Its an automatic (soon as the auto trans dies im gonna 5spd swap it)
-Rear end kinda sucks
-Brake light on tailgate

 

more about Dodge in general.. limited aftermarket support- wish Dodge also enjoyed the huge aftermarket Chev and Ford has..ie how much aluminum heads are available for chev or ford?? dodge? what one? as I already mentioned doors for my dakota are $1000 plus from dealer and no aftermarket...same era gm.couple hundred bucks brand new..gotta basically settle for used doors

 

I hate the one wheel peelers out of my 5.2 5speed 2wheel drive..why no posi lol?

 

Some came with LSD. If yours didn't you can get one and install it. Or get a locker.

 

No After-Market for pretty much anything...although I love how sturdy these were built..nice and solid.

 

I hate that the chain cover housing gasket is weak, how I am always replacing the thermostat and the headlight/dash/dome switch. How I am always on the lookout for some replacement seatbelts to replace the replacements. Does anyone know if gen two works with gen 1?

Although I recently had someone pull the heads on this 5.2l and they were shocked, after 240k they said it looked as if it came right off the assembly line without even a edge on the cylinder. All 8 was around 150-170psi too. Honestly I was a bit shocked as well knowing that this Dakota has probably been worked harder and more irresponsibly than most.