I thought I could make a thread to show my progress. There has not been much done to it yet. I am going slowly but surely. I plan on doing some body work, a lot of interior work, I want to do a two tone of some sort. Probably white. Most of this work will be done by me, I am not incredibly mechanically inclined, or my Dad who is pretty good at almost everything with a automobile, but he lives over two hours away. Also most of this will be very inexpensive seeing at this vehicle is my winter beater.

What I am starting with:
1989 Dodge Dakota, 3.9L V6, <97,000 miles, Manual Transmission, 4X4, Regular Cab, Long Box.


Work to make it run:
New PCM, New Fuel Pump, New Fuel Injector, New Fuel Injector Wiring(long story), Jimmy rigged belt to bypass seized AC compressor.

Plans:
Possible lift, Fender Flares for rusted out wheel wells, New speakers in order to get the stereo to just work, clean up the rust on the doors, fill interior cracks and possibly two tone the interior. possible new outside paint job.

Original Pics:





Took the side steps off:


Speaker work:
Simple Matching Pioneer 5 1/2" and 4" speakers from Pawn America marked at $40.00 talked them down to $30.00 for all 4.






I plan on putting the little speakers in this weekend and doing some fender flare work.

I got 4 practically new fender flares from the Junk Yard for $50.00. That should take care of the wheel well rust almost completely. I think we are going to paint them so they will look brand new.

Any advice or ideas feel free to let me know, I am open to suggestions.

 

Sounds like a good project! I didnt know those speaker grills came out. I always just removed the entire pannel. So right now its running good for you? Post up more pics as it goes along!

 

It is running pretty well as of right now.

I didn't find out about the speaker grill until I took the whole driver side door off did the speaker and then I went over to the passenger side door and as I was pulling the panel off the door it twisted and the grill popped right out hahaha it is held in with some funky clip things.

 

Nice looking truck. I am all for the regular cab myself!

One comment on the fenders. The rust needs totally cut out and the clean sheet metal painted. Or, the easier route, which I took, is to get a rust stop product such as Rust-mort, which stops the oxidation chemically and prevents the rust from spreading. Usually the chemical is applied and left to sit for a few hours to a day, turning the rust a black or grey color, then you prime over top of that before putting on the flares.

 

yea..for sure thanks man, I will def do that!

 

Who would want to work on a truck that looks like that..........
Sorry I could not help my self ,yours is a perfect copy of my 88. The only difference is mine started out a 2wd 4cyl short box. Keep us posted on your progress

 

hahah trust me I do NOT want to work on this dumb thing hahaha but it is my winter beater and i might as well try and make it close to my summer dream car!

My summer ride below!



This dodge is basically a chance for my dad to teach me body work and for me to have a vehicle to do interior work on! I think I am a interior guy by heart.

 

That summer ride of yours looks pretty cool (for a Chevy, na just messin'). You got that thing on bags? That's not draggin' frame is it.

That Dak don't look bad beside the rust, body doesn't look badly dented or anything, usually you see these in that shape and the body is trashed with dents as well. That'll be a good winter truck for you.

Oh, I apologize, it's a Jimmy, not a Chevy, may not like the brand personally but I gotta respect the badging, just who I am. looks good

 

haha thanks man, actually its a GMC Sonoma

I don't drag it at all. I like to keep my vehicle looking good. It has airride tec 2b6's in front and slam specialties RE8's in back it has ten switches front back side to side each tire Seesaw, and all wheels at once. It has a train horn it is crazy fun it really has too much to list and yet I still find things to do on it!

The dodge well its the dodge, there are two smaller palm sized dents by one of the doors otherwise the rust is the main issue but I mean its going to be a classic next year and it will have really low miles on it so why the heck not drive it ya know!

 

So the project took a pretty big hit today, literally.... haha not funny. I rear ended some guy today in his 88 c1500... Both of use are ok his truck was barely damaged a little dent on his steel bumber and a window break in his back slider. Me on the other had, its gonna take some crow bar work just to make it so my door doesn't make god awful sounds when using it. All my damage was done on the left side of my front end so I lost pretty uch evertything the bumper support went right through the bumper so both I am sure are screwed both signal lights are either out of place or broke... but the cop came and the guy was cool we are handling it out of insurance since his damage was just that glass mainly. ill get pics soon and then the project is pretty much over