I thought I should re-post in my area of interest.

Hi my name is Ken and I love trucks!! I've owned both Chevy and Dodge trucks and driven Ford work trucks. I'm almost always thinkin' about trucks...specs....combinations.....and configurations. I'm much more of a thinker than a doer by nature, often "wasting" many hours researching specs, parts, and reading people's experiences and checking out their projects. I'm joining this site to for the Dakota forum area because it seems very active and full of good info and opinions. I have a number of questions and what if's to discuss and often look for answers in other people's post across the net in various forums, reading instead of posting. I've decided it's time to jump in and join the fray in both posting and doing.

I bought a Dakota new in '96 and I still love driving it. It is a regular cab 2wd 5.2L 5-speed with a 3.2 rear gear ratio. To me, it's the perfect driving experience and feels like driving a big block from the old days with modern advantages. A reliable, fuel injected, torque heavy, low rpm, v-8, with a wide ratio 5-speed with tall rear gears in a lightweight mid-size pickup achieving around 20mpg regularly.

For about 4 years I parked my Dakota and owned two newer trucks in the interim: '04 Reg Cab 2wd Hemi and an '02 Dakota Quad Cab 4wd. When I became significantly financially downsized three years ago I blew the dust off the neglected Dakota, needing only a battery and an IAC motor, and having been driving it and loving it ever since. The many years of almost perfect service has come to an end and the truck is in need of some TLC. My financial future looks to be improving and I would love to give it the attention it deserves now and also start building a second 4wd Dakota with utility and reliability in mind. Thanks for letting me join your community.

Ken

 

Welcome to DodgeForum!

2wd 5.2L 5 speed.... sounds like fun! Just get rid of the 3.2 gears and go 3.55 or 3.90! :P

 

The tall gear ratio is part of what I like about the truck. When I purchased the truck there was another at the dealer with low gears. I drove both and the taller won hands down for me. For a daily driver the "slower" reving mixed with the torquey 5.2 and a wide ratio 5 speed allows me to rarely have to break 2K rpm. The low rpm torque is what sets the 5.2 apart from almost all other stock engines on the road. The 5.7 Hemi I owned had noticeably less torque at low rpm and consistently got worse fuel mileage. Without a doubt though the pedal to the metal/***** to the wall driving does benefit from the lower gear ratios when your banging gears and chirping tires, but I guess I'm just a slow driving big block guy at heart! Maybe I'm just old now and have a clear memory of how expensive speeding tickets are!

Thanks for the welcome.
Ken

 

welcome...

 

Lol, the 318 produces peak torque at 3200 rpm.

Me and you have two different views on how to use an engine! I won't hesitate to cross into the 5000 rmp range. 3,200 to about 5,600 is where these trucks really haul!

 

Nice truck. Post up some pics.
But like said above the lower ratio gear WILL give you the torque of a big block. And it is a bast to drive.