Yes I posted this in the members intrductions as well, before I realized this was accepted in this forum.

So I just bought a 2005 Dodge Dakota Quad cab, 2WD, 3.7 SLT.

I wasn't really looking to buy this, since I do own a 1985 GMC Jimmy, that I've been slowly working on getting back together to get on the road again, just taking way too long.

So last Saturday I was at my local wreckers, where I know one of the owners pretty well, and he mentioned he had this 2005 Dodge Dakota. I didn't think much of it at the time, since, like I said I wasn't looking to buy another vehicle, and I definatly wasn't looking at Dodge, if I was.

This was just too good a deal to pass up.

I did some research that evening and Sunday, on Monday Morning I called and said I would take it.

OMG!? Me, a Dodge owner? What am I doing?

So I paid for it Thursday and it was dropped off at my work today.

It needs a tranny and a rad. the tranny cooler in the rad blew up and took out the tranny. I've already picked up the tranny, just looking for a rad for it. You can be sure I'll be installing an external tranny cooler, and not using the internaller cooler on this. It also needs some other clean up, the previous owner had a dog. But overall it looks pretty clean.

I hope to have pictures up tonight.

 

Congrats on the new truck! Sorry to hear about the tranny. You can look at getting a factory "tow-package" cooler which mounts in front of the radiator, or there is a B&M cooler that I believe DodgeTrucker has fit on to his truck.

The truck will treat you well; unless you are looking to mod it with performance parts. Then you are better off getting a new truck, or dropping a Hemi in to it

 

Well, while I was picking up the replacement tranny today from a different wreckers than I bought the truck from, I also picked up a factory tranny cooler from a Durango, but I'm not sure exactly how it's supposed to mount. It was just sitting in the truck, so I wasn't the one to remove it, and didn't see how it mounted.

I had thought about getting an aftermarket cooler, but if this one will work, that's even better.

Surprisingly, I'm looking to keep this vehicle stock for the most part, I'll be doing some things to it, like colour matching the grill, adding an audio system, tonneau cover and a few minor things like that.

I have enough toys with my 1973 Datsun 240Z, the 1985 GMC Jimmy, and a 1984 Honda Interceptor. If those aren't enough, I have pretty much open access to my Grandfather's 1971 Chev pick up that is highly modified, and once it's back together, the 1923 T-bucket replica, street rod, of my late uncle's.

I haven't read too much that is negitive about these trucks, so I'm hoping it will treat me well.

 

thats what i said too.... good lick with that!

congrats on the purchas, and welcom to DF, there is lots of great info here

 

Yep, I plan on a full tune up, that's something I do with all of my new to me vehicles.

Haha, yeah I know how "just a few little things" can turn into "just a few more little things". But like I said I already have enough toys.

The only major thing I have thought about and not because of getting this particular truck, just something I like, is to lift it on 31's or so, full suspension upgrade with looooooong front control arms, 4 link suspension and make it into looking a lot lot like a stadium truck, and performing as well as a daily driver, street truck that looks that way could. But that would snowball into an engine swap, and a bunch of other things I just don't want to get into, since I just need a basic daily driver that can haul. The insurance companies are messed around here. If they knew that I upgraded the brakes on my Malibu to better brakes off of other cars they would likely drop me.

 

Well, here are some pictures, this is as I received it, I haven't cleaned it up yet.













This is going to be replaced VERY soon, I already have the non wood grain panel, just need to clean it up, since it's been sitting in a wreckers for months. lol

 

I wish my truck had the factory chrome rims

 

Looks good man!!

 

welcome to the forum. Nice ride!