Actually, yes. I let the brats have fun but they also listen when I say "That's enough of that." I believe in keeping my temper. I don't scream at them and am fairly tolerant as I remember when I was little. The kids' mother-in-law always marvels at how well behaved the little stinkers are. I make sure they know that as long as they act like adults, they get treated like adults. Gramma (the kids MIL) is always telling the kids to not do this or that. Slapping hands and being overbearing. She tried that on me and I corrected her. With the little ones, I feel that while I have to get older, I don't have to get old. Rather than scold, if they are doing something risky, I'll ask them if they can grow a new hand. I'm also the guy that gets them their first car when they get older.

I just got in from a 11 hour drive. When I left, the little ones and their mother (the kid) were all happy, the 2 year old was having a blast with her birthday presents (birthday party and Thanksgiving dinner all in one) and the Corgi learned to sit, stay and heel as well as when I say no, I mean NO!!!

 

What I find most amusing is, the grandkids are MUCH better behaved when they are here with us, (without their parents) than they are at home. Seems the figured out that we are not the easy pushovers their parents tend to be..... One of them, how is an absolute holy terror/spoiled brat at home, was a perfectly behaved young lady here. I was flat-out stunned she could be that nice. Sure don't see it at home..... (lack of discipline is my guess.)

 

I agree. The kids know they are EXPECTED to behave. Every now and then, they slip but they get a "That is NOT acceptable" in response. It worked on their mom and it works on them.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol' grouch

When the Magnum engines came out in the 1992 model year, Chrysler went with 6 lug wheels on the Dakota for extra clamping pressure.

Not true.... First off, the 6 bolt pattern came in 1991. Magnum came in 1992.
According to wikipedia, if was for looks. Here is a quote from them. "Also debuting in 1991 were six-bolt wheels (replacing the earlier five-bolt wheels) based on Dodge's marketing attempting to differentiate the Dakota from competing manufacturers' trucks"

 

Checking my interchange books shows you're right in the '91 models being the first with 6 lug wheels. My comment about clamping power came from a conversation with a Chrysler engineer back in the 1990's at the Mopar Nationals when it was located in Indianapolis. It's possible the Magnum engines weren't ready for production in '91 and was held off for a year while the tooling for new axles was done. One reason I used to prefer Mopar's was they didn't do like GM and use customers as testers.

As for Wikipedia, anybody can edit it and the provenance of the information is not always evident.

 

The 6 bolt wheels preceded the Magnum engines. The rationale for the 6 bolt seems odd as well, full sized 1/2 ton 2WD trucks / vans never got 6 bolt. If you read any of the Dakota history online it suggests that Dodge pulled the 6 bolt wheel out to give the impression of a more HD setup. Clearly on the Dakota it was unjustified and it turned off a lot of people because it limited the options for fitment.

I see it as unfortunate honestly, and had I not already gotten all my wheels (summer / winter) all setup I would consider buying components to fit the earlier 5 bolt setup.

Steve

 

Steve already said what I was just researching.... Full size trucks, even with the 5.9 used 5 bolt at least through 93, and vans through 2000.
One other thought to consider. If a 426 hemi rated at 425 hp and 490 lbs tq. could not damage a 5 bolt pattern, then a 5.2 magnum at 230hp and 300 tq, aint gonna hurt it!

 

Ram 1500's, 94 up (and to this day) used 5x bolt pattern wheels. My Dodge B250 was a 'light duty' 3/4 ton and it used 5x wheels with 5.2L engine. It isn't until you get to the full bore 3/4 ton or tonner trucks and vans that you get more than 5x. IDK what makes the change in the HD 3/4 ton vehicles to go to the 8x bolt pattern but must be a payload or 'axle' spec somewhere that changes from 5 to 8. The tonner trucks and vans all get the 8x bolt pattern.

This is what I recall reading about it online, but I found this comment on wikipedia. Not that I think what they publish there is all true, I think a lot of it gets modified based on personal opinion, but this is what I found elsewhere too but I don't recall the website, "Also debuting in 1991 were six-bolt wheels (replacing the earlier five-bolt wheels) based on Dodge's marketing attempting to differentiate the Dakota from competing manufacturers' trucks and the upcoming introduction of the redesigned Ram."

Don't know if that's true or not but could be, at any rate it was a ridiculous move and just caused axles and brake parts to be proprietary. The cost for new rotors back in the latter 90's was ridiculous IIRC, I had to replace mine a couple times. There was nothing wrong with the earlier 5x bolt pattern, in fact I liked the early alloy wheels the best anyway. Again had I been thinking about it I would have changed to 5x when I did my front brakes and started the process of going to more commont parts. I think with the 5x bolt pattern the Dakota shares bolt pattern with trucks and vans with 5x.

Steve

 

The Hemi actually put out a lot more than that but engineers "poor mouthed" the output to keep from getting banned. It happened anyway later on, but they managed for a while. As far as not hurting the wheels, a lot of aluminum wheels back then were damaged. Often with trouble at the lug holes. Especially on the early A body cars with the 5 on 4 bolt pattern. I remember seeing some aluminum wheels with the center spun out, although I don't remember the details as to why that happened.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol' grouch

The Hemi actually put out a lot more than that but engineers "poor mouthed" the output to keep from getting banned. It happened anyway later on, but they managed for a while. As far as not hurting the wheels, a lot of aluminum wheels back then were damaged. Often with trouble at the lug holes. Especially on the early A body cars with the 5 on 4 bolt pattern. I remember seeing some aluminum wheels with the center spun out, although I don't remember the details as to why that happened.

Honestly, IMO it does not make any difference. The HP or Tq of the motor has little to do with the bolt pattern. As Steve said, the weight capacity of the vehicle seems too..... IE 8 bolt for 3/4 hd. and 1 ton trucks.
I go to the dragstrip and see cars making massive power, with tires so sticky, pulling the front wheels, and running 5 bolt and sometimes even 4 bolt wheels.
I have a friend with a 93 mustang, 4 bolt wheels in a 8.8 rear. He runs 9.0 sec. at 151 mph, and has done this for years. Broke many transmissions, and blew several motors, but never a problem with the wheels.