Bought a 98 Dakota a couple of weeks ago with 123K on it. Got a great deal but man was it trashed out. So far I have cleaned the carpet, seats and completely detailed the interior. Headliner was starting to come down so that was fixed. Just installed new speakers front and rear. That was pretty easy. Took about an hour, saw on here where someone spent all day. Stock Infinity speakers were junk, all rotted out around the cone.

Truck came with 215/70/15's. Those had to go, now I have Mastercraft ATX 31's on it. What an improvement in the look that made. Waiting on my new Pioneer head unit to arrive so that can be installed. Soon I will have the windows tinted. A few other small things to take care of and it will be ready to have fun in this winter!

Jumped over her from the Ram forum. Had an 01 1500 and sold it. Just some boring info about me. So far I have learned a lot from both forums so keep the info coming guys!

 

I have had a 98 for about 10 years now, it belonged to my family, now it's mine. I can't tell you how many trips from Jersey to Florida it did sometimes with a trailer tagging along. 180K, still running great. Changed the trans fluid and filter twice since I had it. I love this truck...of course I've replaced some wear item parts but it really paid for itself. I remember when it was bought new....Dodge was claiming this is the "New Dodge" and I think they weren't lying. I was NOT a chrysler fan but I have to say, one of the best trucks I've owned.....so....good Luck with yours!

 

Welcome!

I'd love to see some before and after pics or atleast some after pics!

I hear ya, my truck was driven by an elderly man and the amount of work that I've put in it... something to be proud about. She just hit the 1 year old mark in November (since I've owned her).

 

Is yours the extended cab, because I bought speaker to go all the way around, but only got the front ones changed so far because everything I have read says you need to take out everything behind the front seats to get at the speakers, if so, please tell me how you changed them so quickly, because I am tired of the "slap" my speakers make when I turn up the radio

 

Technically it's easier if you unbolt/remove what dodge claims to be a seat (???) and rip a bunch of other stuff out.

I did it the painful and bloody way. Removed every fastener I saw and pulled. Basically did what you're supposed to do, sans unbolting the "seat". The panels were still a PITA to get out, but they did eventually come out. The seat belts will be a PITA as well. Warning, sharp edges on some of the trim pieces. I suggest using a pair of mechanix or other medium-thickness glove.

 

I have spent the last 4 months or so dreading it, and debating just taking it to a shop to have them deal with the headache. Sometime here, I will have to either rip and tear, or pay someone to do it. And I agree with the "seat" thing, just a good, and lockable, storage space to me. Good place for my chainsaw and such when I don't have my toolbox in the bed

 

You fit a chainsaw under there??? Mine has a spare change of clothes, spare serpentine belt, windshield foil, and some odds & ends. 6" sub is between center console and back seat, 8" sub is between driver seat and back seat, and amps are under pass seat. The "seat" is more of a subwoofer-secure-locating-device and trash collector >.> (secure meaning they're wedged in there and not coming out anytime soon)

 

Yes, mine is the extended cab. If I remember there were only four screws and the bolt that holds the front seatbelt on that I had to remove. Not sure why a reg cab would be any harder except for less room.

 

No, the chainsaw sits on top of the seat, and i put gloves and such in that little cubby thing underneath the seats, and then the rest does just collect trash and clothes, etc

 

You might want to rethink putting a chainsaw inside the cab unless it is really well secured. I had someone wreck my Highlander for me on the way home from cutting some wood in January. My Stihl MS261 was in the back behind the rear seat. Not sure what it hit when I rammed the pickup that pulled out in front of me, but it bent the bar on it pretty badly.

You don't want that thing to become a missile in your cab.

My Highlander was taken straight to a salvage yard, and I spent 14 hours in the ER at Duke in a neck brace while they checked every vertebrae in my body. Twice.

Now you know why I bought a used Dakota! The saws ride in an aluminm toolbox in the truck bed.