Hi guys, long time mopar guy, but first time jumping on this forum.

Recently acquired a 1989 Dodge Dakota Sport. It had been garaged stored, in a non-running condition for the past 12 years. Winched it onto the trailer, swapped out the fuel filter and changed the fuel pump, and she's back to life! I've pulled all of the Dakota sport flarings, bumpers etc for the upcoming body work. She's in quite good shape frame and body wise considering she lived in WV her whole life, but she was well loved and cared for by her previous owner who bought her new.

I have new decals on order from Phoenix Graphics, and she needs repainted at the very least to return her to her former glory. I'm not much of a body man, mechanics is more my thing, so I have two questions:

1. The passenger fender had rust under the factory fender flare, should I replace the fender entirely, or have the body shop fix and repaint?
2. Same goes for the tailgate, typical dodge tailgate rust.
3. Passenger door, same deal? Repair or replace?

Any other general commentary is welcomed. I'm a Mopar guy, but this is my first Dakota.

 

Oooooo, a 4x4 convertible with a V-8???? Nice score.

 

V6.

For 1989, only the Shelby got a V8 due to having to shoehorn it into the early 1st gen engine bay; and they didn't do Shelby 'verts.

RwP

 

Thanks for responding Ralph, here and the other forum, didn't bear to double post, but I wasn't sure how much traction that board got.

I wish it were a V8!

 

Could always just drop one in there.

 

FTFY

RwP

 

That is a cool truck, and I look forward to following along as you restore it.

2 people on here that you will find interesting are Robertmc and ragged 89

Here are links to their builds. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ld-thread.html
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...le-dakota.html

I learned alot from both of them!!
I am slowly swapping a 5.9 into my 87.... But I am keeping AC.

Again, look forward to your post and welcome!!

 

Very cool, I don't think mine will be quite as intensive, but then again....

 

I just bought a red one, 97k miles. I should get the truck by the end of the week. Not expecting doing a restoration but this is great info. Anyone know best places for parts? I wouldn't mind finding the fender flares. Mine doesn't have any.

Thanks
Alan

 

Flares will be "Find something close and make it fit" or "Get lucky as hell at the boneyard".

Best place depends on the part, donnit?

But I always check RockAuto and Amazon; for obsolete parts there's PartsVoice.COM and RearCounter.COM , for used parts car-part.com . And for some stuff, Google the factory part # and see what's up on eBay etc.

RwP