Most car companies start production of their new vehicles before the actual year they are advertised as. I have a 1993 Dakota that was built 10 - 92, and my girlfriends Dakota is also a 1993 made 12 - 92.

On the note of lifting, another option would be to add v8 spring coils in place of the v6 spring coils. If v6 coils give a 2 inch drop when a v8 is sitting on them, then theory says that v8 coils with a v6 sitting on them will lift it an inch or two. Not 100% on that though.

 

Then why wouldn't they wait until 1988 to slap a sticker on the body lol it makes it difficult sometimes depending on what part you are in search for (now I know).

Oh really?? I had no idea anything on the chassis was different between motors. I should look into this, I planned on a body lift, front coil spacers & a few extra leafs in the rear. I still have not found what else may use the same length and width leaf springs, with more of a bend. I also can't find a 3" Dakota body lift kit anywhere only the 2" do they sell just the spacers individually somewhere I can buy them by their size? Whats usually in a body lift kit besides spacers anyway? (I know I will be required to extend my steering column but that's all I know of)

 

I went to a huge junkyard today, never seen a Dakota with whatever you call this piece of aluminum. It goes on the tail gate, makes it look a bit more like an 80s Silverado.

 

Again with the 1987 date, inside my door panels:

 

Thought I throw my input into this. Like what xaenon already put, your giving yourself a lot of work when replacing the vehicle is easier. If the truck means something to you, cause of your grandfather. You might be better off taking some things off the truck as a keep sake, and throw it on the other one. Because if your just going to mod the H### of it, like the frame swap, tranmission swap, 4x4 swap off the 2wd, and everything else you can't really call it that its the same truck. Where I live its rare to find 2wd dakotas most of the second hand use or junk yard are 4x4, which makes my modding a whole lot harder. My opinion here, is to find a second hand 4x4 and use the other one as parts or the body of the new one. Because of the sounds of it thats what your doing with it anyways, keeping the bodyparts and removing or replacing everything else.

 

I love the old square body's, and an 87-91 4x4 (regular cab) around here is rare. I don't have the money to do everything at once, I just pick at it as I make the money haha. It might be more work on myself but it gives me and my grandfather something to do ya know?

 

Your Dakota *IS* a 1988. New-model production for a specific model year usually begins in July or August of the year prior, and typically ends in May or June of the model year in question. This is actually industry-standard practice and has been for decades.

For example, there is absolutely no question that my old Ford Galaxie is a 1967 model, but it was built on October 4th, 1966, and delivered to its first owner a couple of weeks later. And according to the VIN, it was the 19,068th built in Atlanta, GA for the 1967 model year, meaning that production had been running for quite some time before my particular car was built.

 

I think the '87-96 bodies are all the same, aside from the 'rounded' nose used on the '91-newer. I've read that the core support was moved forward a couple of inches on the '91-newer trucks in order to make room for the V8s, but it seems to me that you could swap the early 'square' nose and core support to a later model. You'd have the later-model truck with the square nose you want, and you'd still get the Magnum engine, newer transmission and 4WD stuff, and so on, without having to mix and match a bunch of mechanical/electronic stuff.

 

Yeah I figured it was something like SOME of the parts were built in 87 others in 88, but they were ASSEMBLED in 88 because dash panels say 1988.

I think your onto something here. I assume the fenders and hood would also be required for the grill, and the old tailgate does not have the light on it either. The only thing is a 92-96 short bed/reg cab with a V8 is not as easy as you think to come by. It's the ultimate mini sports truck in my opinion, seeing how the Ranger and S10 didn't offer a V8. Good on gas with the engine to chassis ratio (reg cab/short bed)

 

You don't need to find one with a V8. The V8 was the reason Dodge extended the front of the '91-newer Dakota, but the same front end was used with the smaller engines, too. I'm fairly certain you can swap the '87-90 hood, core support, and grille onto any '91-96. I'm told the fenders
are the same on all first-gen Dakotas (87-96). As for the tailgate, you can swap the older version to the newer truck as well.