Son rolled & totaled my '94 Dakota 4x4.No injuries, thank goodness. Been looking at a '03 Dakota 4x4. What can I expect in power gains, mileage, etc. Gotta stick with the V8 4x4. Would think the newer would get better mileage.

 

Newer will be more efficient since has the 4.7 step up from the ole 5.2s(I still prefer them tho) Im not sure on mpg wise but im guessing like 12-14 city and prob about 16-18 highway. Just talk to thunder on here about power gains Im pretty sure he is done modding his 4.7 ever since he put his truck on a dyno.

 

The 4.7 is deffinitly the way to go if you're looking for gas milage. What size cab are you looking for? If you're looking for a QC that is your only choice unless you can find a 5.9, but they are far and few between.

For power gains, superchips and a tb are two of the easier and most effective. Exhaust and intake are the obvious. You can't really get too crazy with mods because they simplier aren't there or easy to do. I think there is only one intake mani made for it and it's extremely expensive. No cams that I know of. I don't even know if anyone makes a s/c setup for them anymore.

For the 5.2/5.9 there is a ton out there. Cams, heads, intake manifolds, rockers, pistons... ect. ect. It's an old school motor so there are a lot of parts for. But at the same time the 5.2 makes around the same power as the 5.2 but isn't as reliable or get as good of gas milage.

So if you only plan do minor modifications, the 4.7 is definitly the way to go. If you want to do a lot, look for a 5.2/5.9.

In my CC i get close to 20mpg on the highway. It's a 5 speed. Around town its closer to 15. My average has always been right around 17.5 to 18. Lower in the winter because I usually let it warm up for 5 - 10 minutes.

 

Im going to have to dissagree on the 5.2's reliability I think they are just as good as the 4.7s if not better.

 

www.fueleconomy.gov

 

Really? I don't really want to start an argument, but I've owned a 3.9(basically the same thing as the 5.2) and a 4.7 and putting power aside, the 4.7 has been running perfect. The 3.9 blew at ~115K and then I was having problems with the second motor that had around 100k on it. It's just new vs. old really.

I can understand you think the 5.2 is reliable because for some people it is. But how do you think it is MORE reliable then a 4.7? You never owned one. I've owned both, and while I know it's hard to prove it one way or the other over 2 engines, how can it be MORE reliable? I never hear of people having problems with the 4.7. Yeah, the 5.2 has more torque and a better aftermarket., I'll give you that, but we are talking reliability.

 

I know im not trying to start a argument either its basically just a opinion( I guess I shouldnt of used "if not better in my post) and actually we had a 01 jeep with the 4.7 and my dad had a 04 with the 4.7 im not saying they arent reliable. A brand new 4.7 could blow up in the first 1,000 miles so could a 5.2 but im just saying its basically what I have saw 5.2s go threw. my brother in law had his 4.7 go out on his dakota in the first 60,000 miles but the one they swapped it with ran like a tank. I beat mine constantly and my buddy plunges his in mud almost every weekend. No matter what there will be disagreements over it so its my fault I should of known better than to say that its like the whole deal with chevy vs dodge.

 

haha gotcha man.