Anybody racing a 1st. gen Dakota?
Champion
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,839
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From: Apex, NC
The ball joints are by far the weakest point on these truck!! They've been notorious for eating through them all the way through the first and second generation. But, if you get a good quality brand ball joint and keep them greased, they should be fine. I think the biggest reason the ball joints go out is because people don't keep them greased.
The biggest problem with the transmissions in these trucks is keeping them cool. So if you get a really good transmission cooler, you should be fine.
About the transmissions... the TF 727 is a 36rh. Same transmission, different name. The 46rh is a TF727/36rh with an electronic overdrive unit in its tail. So if you turn off OD, you have a 727. But the overdrive unit IMO would be way to weak for a racing application!
I don't know about the front differential. Maybe you could get the 2nd gen differential in with a little bit of work (not sure what they used in the gen 2s), but chances are it would have to be a custom built application. In other words, get a dana 35 or maybe even a 44 and shorten it, get custom half shafts made for it, and fabricate the mounts required to hang it and weld them on. But yeah, I would definately replace the 7.25"... its weak and the gearing options for it are very limited.
Oh, and I mentioned how tough my 318 is because the 3.9L is a 5.2L minus 2 cylinders! Same pistons, rings, bearings, etc. Only the camshaft, crankshaft, heads, intake (everything that spans one end to the other) is different in that its shorter.
The biggest problem with the transmissions in these trucks is keeping them cool. So if you get a really good transmission cooler, you should be fine.
About the transmissions... the TF 727 is a 36rh. Same transmission, different name. The 46rh is a TF727/36rh with an electronic overdrive unit in its tail. So if you turn off OD, you have a 727. But the overdrive unit IMO would be way to weak for a racing application!
I don't know about the front differential. Maybe you could get the 2nd gen differential in with a little bit of work (not sure what they used in the gen 2s), but chances are it would have to be a custom built application. In other words, get a dana 35 or maybe even a 44 and shorten it, get custom half shafts made for it, and fabricate the mounts required to hang it and weld them on. But yeah, I would definately replace the 7.25"... its weak and the gearing options for it are very limited.
Oh, and I mentioned how tough my 318 is because the 3.9L is a 5.2L minus 2 cylinders! Same pistons, rings, bearings, etc. Only the camshaft, crankshaft, heads, intake (everything that spans one end to the other) is different in that its shorter.
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Registered User
Joined: May 2010
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From: Scottsdale AZ
Oops. Typo in my post, I meant the weight difference between a -727 and a 46RH, little slip-up there. Sorry,...
That was what I didn't want to hear. The 2 things I was worried about up front are the ball joints and the half shafts. In many of the stock classes they make you run the stock arms - no mods. It's not unusual for the trucks to carry full sets of arms on board and the tools to change them out.
I don't know anything about the Dodge IFS. Do the half-shafts have a 2-peice splined shaft, or do they get what little play they have through the CVs like the Chevy system?
I guess I have an advantage there. The auto Jeep used in the Cherokee/Comanche is known for heat production. Huge coolers are a must.
I read somewhere here on the forum(can't find the thread just now) that the Dak used a version of the 7.25, the dana 35, and the AAM 8.0 up front. The -35 has a bad rep in jeep circles, but because it was put in every jeep built from '87 to '06, there are tons of LS, lockers, and gears for it. They make 4.88 gears for it! In a front application, it should be ok. Assuming(again, have to check) the CV flanges are the same width, it should swap with at most a bracket change/mod. Just a thought for now, but I'd have to do something. 4.10 gears are way to high for desert racing.(that's scary, isn't it?)
EDIT: Found it. 'Was on Randy's ring and pinion: http://www.ringpinion.com/DiffList.a...215&Side=Front
Knew that. 'Whole family of engines are great! Funny; I had a '70 coronet with a 318 that was rated at 210 flywheel HP, and the 3.9 is rated at 175/180 rear wheel HP. Apples-apples the 3.9mag makes more power then the LA-318 2-bbl.
The ball joints are by far the weakest point on these truck!! They've been notorious for eating through them all the way through the first and second generation. But, if you get a good quality brand ball joint and keep them greased, they should be fine. I think the biggest reason the ball joints go out is because people don't keep them greased.
I don't know anything about the Dodge IFS. Do the half-shafts have a 2-peice splined shaft, or do they get what little play they have through the CVs like the Chevy system?
The biggest problem with the transmissions in these trucks is keeping them cool. So if you get a really good transmission cooler, you should be fine.
I don't know about the front differential. Maybe you could get the 2nd gen differential in with a little bit of work (not sure what they used in the gen 2s), but chances are it would have to be a custom built application,... ...,definately replace the 7.25"... its weak and the gearing options for it are very limited.
EDIT: Found it. 'Was on Randy's ring and pinion: http://www.ringpinion.com/DiffList.a...215&Side=Front
and I mentioned how tough my 318 is because the 3.9L is a 5.2L minus 2 cylinders! Same pistons, rings, bearings, etc. Only the camshaft, crankshaft, heads, intake (everything that spans one end to the other) is different in that its shorter.
Last edited by tbburg; May 26, 2010 at 01:34 AM.
Champion
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,839
Likes: 5
From: Apex, NC
That was what I didn't want to hear. The 2 things I was worried about up front are the ball joints and the half shafts. In many of the stock classes they make you run the stock arms - no mods. It's not unusual for the trucks to carry full sets of arms on board and the tools to change them out.
I don't know anything about the Dodge IFS. Do the half-shafts have a 2-peice splined shaft, or do they get what little play they have through the CVs like the Chevy system?
I don't know anything about the Dodge IFS. Do the half-shafts have a 2-peice splined shaft, or do they get what little play they have through the CVs like the Chevy system?
I'm not sure about the CV half shaft.
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 252
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From: middle of texas
that will be a project for tomorrow and i will start my engine rebuild on saturday any
suggestions besides use the buddy system cause inm going to do it with out pulling the motor just lifting it up and dropping the oil pan ang going up from the bottom
suggestions besides use the buddy system cause inm going to do it with out pulling the motor just lifting it up and dropping the oil pan ang going up from the bottom