my 99 with a 318 gets anywhere from 19-21mpg. it depends on how much your pouring the **** to her. but my 88 3.9 gets 17mpg if im lucky. and my 99 will spin the 31's all day long

 

Well I test drove a 2000 v6 extended cab auto and man was that thing gutless. Like slooooooooooow. So thats definitely out of the picture.

 

definatly go with the r/t if you can find one. best purchase i have ever made

 

i have gone thru several sets of ball joints. try about 6.upper and lower. there is no recall on 97 dakotas. even with the lifetime warranty ball joints im replacing them every year year and a half. the dealer said it was my fault because i was running oversized tires. 30 x 9.50 x 15. thats what came on it. now im running 32 x 11.50 x 15

 

Who makes the ball joints you use? I am replacing all 4 this weekend with Moog's. Just wondering if those are the type your having to replace.

Also do you have a 4x4 or are you replacing them on a street truck?

 

its a 4x4 club cab. i went to napa and paid a mint for them. im sure you can get them cheaper elsewhere. the good thing is that now when they go out i dont pay anything, not even labor. my mechanic submits his bill and gets reimbursed.

 

when I replaced mine I used the moog ones. and they havent failed since. if your putting in non-greasable ball joints, then your gonna keep having them wear out faster. I would put in the greasable moog ones and grease them every oil change. I've had mine in for 2 years now with no problem.

 

Yeah I am doing the Moog greasable ones. I am not sure exactly how much a mint is, but I got mine from summitracing for just over 200 for all four. While I am in there I am replacing the control arm bushings with poly bushings, installing the 2" torsion bar keys and rancho RS9000 shocks too.

Thanks for the info

 

here is what i call a mint. $692.59. thats with 50.00 labor. they are greasable, just greased them when i had the new tires on. but like i said, im not complaining cause now its all free!

 

holy mint batman