I found a 91 Dakota w/ 318 Auto and a long bed @ only 110k miles! It fits the bill (and my crap budget), starts & runs great, needs new rockers (which I can do).
BUT...
The frame is rusted through at the rear leafspring shackle mounts (front of rear)on the driver side. It's not broken, but there's a nice 3" hole through the frame and a crack. Is this too far gone?
I figure someone smarter than me could weld up a plate and remount a new shackle, but is this legal in PA? And what would keep the weld points from rusting out a year later?
Any thoughts?
First Pic : the rust hole going the whole way around the bottom of the mount.
2nd Pic : Looking up at the bottom of the frame at that point.

 

Pics....TOO....BIG....to see Anything.

 

what he said... ^

 

Yes it is to rust out. I can see a large hole right through the frame. Get it repaired. I wouldn't drive it until you do.

 

Knowing some places in PA putting Duck tape over it will make it legal... Yes once you get it fixed/replaced it'll be legal. If you have to drive it someplace just be extremely careful since that looks like it'll snap at anytime.

BTW was this truck on Craigslist? I think I saw it while searching through PA the other day.

 

what are we looking at? and the answer i guess is weld some metal pan or plate or sheet over it or get a bigger one and bolt it over that hole. put sealent or caul around the edges for insulation

 

Sorry about the cellphone pics. I didn't buy this truck, just thinking about it.
Yeah, it's on CL now. Frame rust seems to be the norm with sub- $3k Dakotas on CL.

Thanks for the opinion; I wasn't sure if it was even legal to patch a frame like that.

 

It's legal my frame had to be welded/patched last inspection. The inspector patched it right up.

 

what are these inspectors and pollution code enforcers u guys are always talking about? i never see them in Tennessee, not at the DMV, Not during a police rd block, not at the shop, not no where..

 

Here in TN we don't have emmisions testing whatsoever, hence the legality of running straightpipes...as long as it isn't too loud and they don't look underneath lol