Picked up a new project today. 1997 Dakota Sport, extended cab. 3.9, automatic with 2wd. The body is beat up pretty bad, plenty of rust on body panels and lots of paint missing. The frame is pretty solid with a couple of rust areas but not bad. Interior looks pretty good except for the headliner (the owner was a heavy smoker). Except for leaky valve cover gaskets, the engine looks good, fired up after sitting for an extended time and it runs smooth and the transmission pulls great. 96,000 miles on it with fairly new tires.

This has been one of those things that people drove and put gas in. Period. I took it over to a friends shop and we put it up on the lift. I live a block away and this thing flat screams. I had a '93 I bought new but I don't remember it having this much power. Photos to come.

 

Took a few pictures today. Just oiling stiff hinges, cleaning trash out, and general tidying up has already made a world of difference.Once I rebuild the front end, this ought to be a decent driver. All the tinworm on the body ought to keep it from being stolen. It'll sure keep people from cutting me off in traffic.






Underneath the frame and cab mounts are good and solid. I name my cars and am thinking of naming it "Rubigo". (Latin for rust.)

 

I have found that the folks with newer cars are worse drivers.... They have better insurance, so, are less likely to care if they wrinkle their sheet metal.

 

Around here, red lights are mostly suggestions to a lot of drivers on the road. This truck looks like I might not have insurance (I always carry what I need and then some.) My beard is mostly grey but the white hairs are stiffer and when it grows out, it's white. An old, rusty truck with large pieces of body gone driven by an old white bearded guy is NOT going to get cut off.

 

Had the old gal out on the road today. It looks similar to when I bought it. I did clean the tires and wheels and spray bombed them black. I pulled all but the drivers seat and scrubbed the carpet. That pretty well took care of the cigarette smell. Under the hood, it's hard to tell it's the same truck. It ran okay but I pulled the plugs, wires cap and rotor and replaced them all. It runs like new now.

I didn't drive far since I want to replace the rear brakes before they gouge the drums. Got out in rush hour traffic and not one soccer mom tried to cut me off. I'm unable to get a failed ABS sensor out of the differential so I'm going to change the oil in the rear end and pop the sensor out from inside while I'm at it. Replace the rusted off fuel tank strap while I'm at it and the old gal will be like I plan to drive for a while. Later this summer I'll pull the dash and replace the blown heater core.

 

I wanted to replace the RWAL ABS sensor but while the bolt came out okay and the plug came off, I can NOT get the old one out of the differential. I cleaned everything and filled it with fresh oil (old stuff looked nastier than normal, probably the factory oil). I can live with the light and maybe I'll get it out later.