Awesome. I didn't see the frame when I was looking at that picture earlier, but I see it there now.
I flipped my rear hangers when I was installing the body lift since I already had the bed unbolted and I cranked the front bars but haven't re-keyed them. I'm still running 235/75's, so just a few small things make a big difference! Glad I'm on the right path. I'll have to track down some smaller bump stops too.
Thanks!

As soon as my before and after pictures don't look like they were taken the same day I'll back in here!

 

Updated. See farther below.

 

Hello everyone here is the before and after on my Dakota. My dad bought it new in 1992. He drove it about 20,000 and in 1997 he gave it to me. It had served me well and only has 118,000 miles now. But as a spare car I left it at a buddies shop for 3 years getting the AC worked on. Time just slips by. I always had the intention to bring it back to life.
Well as a birthday surprise my wife and friends got her running like a top. And a friend put a killer paint job on it. I was totally surprised. It seems that all my friends worked on it right up to my party. They called me outside and there he sat. That truck means so much to me since it was my dads and he passed away in 2009. Just wanted to share my story. Hope it didn't bore you too much.
But I do need to find all the rubber seals, window sweeps, all of the weather stripping for the two doors. I have jumped from website to website. Some have some of the parts. Maybe for one door but not the other. All of the Vintage Dodge sites are out of stock.
I don't even know what the rubber seal that goes all the way around the door/window on the out side is called.
It's had to tell all the sites show the weather strip all rolled up. I know what the felt sweeps are and what the window channel is. But some of the moulding attaches to the door and some to the door frame. And I can't seem to find a good diagram showing each piece and what it's called.
But I have a lot of wind noise from having some it removed for painting.
Thank you for your patients here and any help you can give me. And the new paint is showing reflections of clouds in the hood. One proud Dakota ower.

 

Hi, Wesmc55!

I enjoy hearing the stories behind some of the vehicles out there. It's nice to have continuity between you and your father like that.

Now- weatherstripping. I find Precision Restoration ( http://precisionrestorationparts.com...-door-kit.html ) has a kit with everything but the interior belt line strip, and the belt line strip they also have (just not as part of the kit!)

The ONLY parts diagram I found worth mentioning is at http://www.factorychryslerparts.com/...category=20301 .

I hope that helps some.

RwP

 

Yeah nice truck, and awesome that they put that work into it...good tribute.

And RALPH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for that link. ****, I didn't think I'd be able to find that stuff anywhere.

 

Hello RalphP and tbugden.

I enjoy watching people bring old cars and truck back to life. Thank you for the information of a parts source too. I am still looking. It has been so hot here in Dallas it's not fun to work on a vehicle and sweat all over it.
But today a light rain and much cooler I'm getting the bug.

Again thanks for replying. It feels like I have friends out there. And you can never have too many friends.

Take care.

 

For what it's worth on the window seals...they came quick and they look REALLY nice. I have yet to install them but that's the next project on the list.

 

So I finally got my 315/75/16's, so let's update my before and after!

So, right now, tires are 6.91" taller than stock, so divide that in half, round up to 3.5" from the stock tires, 2" body lift, v8 torsion bars (around 1.5"), keys cranked (about 1.5"), 2" lift blocks on rear axle, and flipped shackle hanger (around 1"). So... I'm estimating the total lift at around 8.5".

It's a beast, and definitely needs the axles re-geared now, and looking into some other options to reduce rubbing from the massive tires. I'm surprised it doesn't rub more to be honest.


Back when I bought her.





After she got the nick name of Lil Foot



As of Today

Thank you to everyone who contributes to this forum! I love checking out what everybody is doing to their trucks, and having a great community to bounce problems off of, and just browsing around trying to help anybody with an issue I may have dealt with already!

 

Here my 96 5.2 auto 4x4 long bed when I first got it. It was a grandpa farm truck putter with lowish miles for the year.




The only thing it had was a bug shield. So I hadded a hoopdy brush guard for cheap, grill inserts and some driving lights.



Then a deer got it but only did cosmetic damage. Found the sport valance and put in proper led driving lights. They're not supre bright as to where I can't use them on the road without blinding people but do the job nicely.



Over time I've replaced the rear bumper (twice) , the tailgate and the drivers side door, as well as removed the rubber molding, added a headache rack, lights on it, rare clear tail lights etc



Then I found the piece de resistance, an aar 3" fiberglass cowl hood for $250! Painted the grill inserts body color.



Here she is all cleaned up and a good pic of the aftermarket wheels. As she is now without the cowl hood here.



Lol, and people say you can't find anything for these trucks anymore. Just gotta wait, look constantly, have the cash and willing to make the drive.

 

I feel like I've finally made enough progress to post in here.

Before:







New frame:



After:













It's a never ending project. Engine swap is next.