let first start off with a hi, how are you all doing.
my neighbor is planning on selling his bright red 98 dakota 5speed v6 4x2.
he bought it brand new and has kept it in excellent shape. even though he parked it outside all year it has no rust on it and only has 50k on it.
i was talking o him the other day and he plans on letting it go for around $1,100. since i own a 1st gen i know extremely well that that is a good deal, but is there anything i should be worried about, common issues and such?

any info will be greatly appreciated,
best regards, Alex

 

looks like a deal, and welcome to the 2nd gen section.

u have to look at the balljoints i hear they can be a weak point.
check the front rotors, when mine started to go they went fast.
after 1 day i couldn't even drive it.
u going to put ur v8 in there? just curious

 

ball joints are okay on the 2wd, the 4wd ones are the ones that go a lot.

And $1,100 for a truck with 50k miles is a hell of a deal. Just go over it, look at everything make sure it shifts smooth, the engine sounds smooth and no ticking. Look for leaks, ect, ect.

With only 50k miles, it really shouldn't have any problems. It will make you a good little dd.

 

i'm thinking about but my 93 is a v8 it might be better to have at least one truck be good on gas, plus i hear the v6s are pretty peppy. 1 thing is for certain is i'm going to paint it a different color, i like the red but its way to much of a cop magnet around here. i'll have to check the brakes though. i know the ball joints are good because we replaced them last fall(i'm the neighborhood mechanic).

 

i didn't no if it wanted a dd or project to have fun with.
ur right tho, if the v6 has got a 5 speed u should do alright
u still got a heavy truck so gas milage might not improve. (over a v8)

 

If it's a regular cab, that truck should be decent on gas. 5 speed, 2wd, RC... You ought to be able to pull 22-23 on the highway. I was able to get 21 or 22 with my 3.9 and it was a CC auto.

 

its a standard cab short bed.
i would like to have it as a fun project truck, but if i threw a v8 in it i'd go bigger than a 5.9l
it all depends on what i can get my hands on later in the year.

 

What would you get thats bigger then a 5.9? I mean obviously there are motors bigger but none that will swap easy. A 5.9 is a fairly easy swap.

 

yea most people just bore the 360 to a 408.
but if ur not happy w/ that then def go bigger.
i think i saw a thread a few weeks back about a 440 in a gen2.

 

I don't know what i would do with it yet since around the time(if i do buy it) my friend is giving me his turbo spirit. since my current job has me averaging almost 500miles a week, i wouldn't have time to do anything with it. my dad has motor all over in his garage with matching transmissions so its a pick and choose type of deal.
would a 408 work with a v8 pcm?