I currently have a first gen Cummins D350 that doesn't leave the garage in salt season (I'm in Ohio) and I'm looking for a truck for winter use.

I found a 95 Dakota 5MT 4 x 4 about 1.5 hours away, shortbed regular cab, it has 195k miles on the Magnum V6. It's a crank window truck with cloth seats. It's red and appears to be in really good cosmetic condition from what I can see, seller said it has a little rust at the bottom of one front fender but is otherwise good.

I bought Dakotas new in 1988, 1991, and 1992, all were 2WD and all 5MT, so I kind of remember what they were like. The 1988 ended up with a buddy who talked me out of it, the 1991 got bought back due to 2.5 head gasket issues and the 1992 was a Magnum V6 5MT. We ended up having a child not too long after I got the 92 so I only had it a year or two.

I've done some reading on various web sites but sometimes you just have to ask the people with experience, and that would be you folks.

What should I be looking for on this particular truck with this amount of miles that has probably been exposed to salt it's whole life? What is the sneaky area that they rust? What should I plan on replacing that's usually neglected? Current owner has changed axle and tranny oils, serp belt, and done a "tune up". I'm going to drive it about 45 minutes each way to work.

Thanks!

 

Look through the FAQ section for the common problems. You are in luck there is a 95 Factory Service Manual linked there that you can download. I'd change all the fuses, the sensors and whatever other small parts that usually don't get changed because they are 25 years old. Drive it and see what you think. I'm up to around 160K. I got it at 140 and did the plenum and all the stuff that was accessible while I had it apart.Water pump, timing chain, there is a bypass coolant hose on top of the motor buried in there a couple sensors for coolant which I think is a single sensor on 95. Thermostat.
Good Luck.

 

Thanks, don't know how I missed that, going to blame it on surfing by phone. The laptop makes things way easier to navigate.

The photos make the truck look pretty good but photos always do, and I question how a one owner truck has a used car dealer decal on the tailgate but the only thing to do is spend the time to go and look.

I recall the Dakota had 2x4 slots in the bedsides to haul 4' wide sheets of stuff and was generally a pretty good truck except for the 2.5L engine so hopefully this one is worth the trip.

I'll post up if I buy it.

 

Check the frame where suspension mounts..... Especially upper control arm mounts.

 

listen for chain dragging sound.... the 3.9 likes to have a timing chain between 100 and 125k miles. more so than the V8s even though they take the exact same parts.

 

Thanks for the replies. This one was 1.5 hours away so I needed to get someone to ride along so I could only make one trip and it sold before I could get down there.

Currently looking at what is listed as a 96 extended cab V6 5MT with 176k but it is the second gen bodystyle, which I thought started in 97.

This one is closer so hopefully I can get there soon.

 

The 1997s were first made in late 1996.

I bet someone read the production date ("November 1996") and assumed that was the model year.

RwP