Posting for advice and to keep track of improvements/repairs.

My background ex mechanic, all upgrades and future upgrades will be done by myself or with friends who are ASE certified/old school mechanics or associated with dealer. Have access to fully loaded shop with lifts, presses, etc.

If you have any questions regarding a repair or upgrade just ask and I will respond ASAP.

Needed truck to haul trash to dump(no trash pickup at my house), haul mulch etc, a$$ mover(4 people) with jetski to lake/river/Atlantic and camping etc, haul myself and friends to kayak playspot with kayaks and gear. Work from home so not much other travel besides to parts store, shop, kayaking, bars, etc.

Purchased 2006 Dakota 3.7 ST 4x4 with 132,000 miles in December for $5200.00
Bone stock with 16" steel wheels 245/70/16
Manual everything the only option I can see on truck was nerf bars & bed liner

Pros:

• Was in my price range to do the upgrades I want and be able to make it my own!
• All issues found I am able to fix or upgrade myself
• NOT A RUST BUCKET
• Good compression on all cylinders

Cons:

• Trans downshifting hard from 4th to 3rd(with codes) and going into limp mode soon after
• Some small dents and alot of minor scratches
• Higher mileage than wanted
• Front bumper bowed a little
• Rear bumper dented bad on one side

What I have done so far.
Truck as it sits today




132,000

• Oil change with J/B engine cleaner
• Replace air filter
• Trans flush
• Replaced trans cooler lines
  Leaking near radiator, job sucked need to move front diff and other suspension parts to install
• Blower motor resistor pack
  Easy job, remove glove box and two torx(part was actually cheaper from stealer)
• Ran 2 tanks of gas with fuel cleaner
• Added center console between front bucket seats

135,000

• New rims - 18x9 +20 offset, Raceline Rampage Link
  Was worried about them being 9" wide but guy I purchased from said they would fit and they do
• New tires 265/65/18 Nitto Crosstek Link
  NO rubbing
• New struts - Rancho RS5757 Link
  Job from hell!!! Bolts in lower control arm that pinch strut bottom had welded themselves to metal center of bushing. Sparyed with penetrating oil, air hammer, chisel, etc. Could not use torch or it would have blitzed the bushing. Took almost five hours and 7 beers to finally get bolts out, one broke and had to cut other. Had to get new bolts from stealer. Once strut assembly was out and in the strut tamer rod kept spinning and nut on top was rusted to shiot. Had to cut with whizzer and pop off with air chisel, had to replace strut tops because of cutting. Spray everything with penetrating oil weeks prior if possible
• New shocks - Rancho RS5315 Link
  Easy job, support rear end on lift, two bolts. Spray with penetrating oil weeks prior if possible
• Daystar 2" Leveling Kit Link
  Easy to install with strut out, was difficult getting upper control arm ball joint on once installed. Boot ripped on drivers side from being in new angle, installing new upper control arm ball joints soon.
• Oil change with J/B engine cleaner
• Alignment @ local Merchants shop

135,500

• New spark plugs(champions) gapped, anti seize, and dielectric on boots
• Replaced IAC
• Gorilla wheel locks 9/16 x 18 open end Link
• Curt Class 3 Receiver Link

Future Plans(In order of importance and affordability by me):

• Fix Transmission
  Truck drives fine in tow/haul mode codes only trip when I use overdrive P0820(4th gear incorrect ratio) P1776() Sending all gathered info to my friend who does nothing but transmissions and see what he thinks. I am pretty sure I just need to replace solenoid
• Buff out minor scratches as best as possible
  Finally purchased buffer and compound plan on doing when weather warms up some
• Add power door locks & alarm
  Not sure if I should use aftermarket kit or find a donor truck and use stock any suggestions?
• Replace rear bumper
• Fix or replace front bumper
• K&N CAI
  Have heard of DIY on ebay is there any difference between it and K&N besides price?
• Cat Back Exaust
  Need to look at this and get a game plan
• 4.10 Gears
  Hoping to find in a local junkyard, does anyone know how to identify besides tag or what model/s these gears came in?

I will continue to update as I progress on truck.
Thanks

 

The truck is looking good, and it sure has been keeping you busy.

4.10 gears were not available for our Dakotas, only 3.55, and 3.92 as an option, and also 3.21 for the 3.7 with manual trans only.

Welcome aboard.

 

Welcome to DF! Nice looking truck. CAI, you can build yourself cheap (search for CAI on here). Ebay has some cheapo ones too. Not much difference than the name brands. On our trucks, they really are not "cold air" intakes as they still draw air from the hot engine compartment. Any one will do really. For your exhaust, best thing to do really (and cheapest) is remove the resonators and install a good free flowing muffler (I'm partial to Magnaflow). IMO, for the locks and alarm, find a good shop that does that. I had an alarm system installed on my Camaro for $150. Adding locks should not be that much more.

 

Welcome to DF!...and specifically the lonely 3.7L section, where we envy the 4.7, and want a Hemi in the worst way.

Along with Jkeaton, a free flowing intake and exhaust are a perfect start. I have a dynomax ultraflow welded muffler on mine. An electric radiator fan is also a nice little boost in HP and gas mileage. Last but not least, Hypertech makes a programmer for our trucks (25whp and 25lb/ft increase on premium fuel).

 

great looking truck, thats my favorite color dakota. Same as others mentioned also if you want a little more power getting a truly bored out throttle body will help as well with a new intake. Fastman and hypotek are the two that make ours if im not mistaken. If possible depending on your location i would love to buy those old 16's off you if you still got em lol, i have the 17's but my old truck had 16's tires

 

I live in Northern VA, I am willing to sell send me a PM with offer and we can work something out if you are close.

 

Figured I would start with CAI and alarm(park in shady places from time to time while kayaking) after I found out 4.10 gears would not be a option, figured CAI, exhaust, and hypertech tuner would be all I do for the 3.7.

Ordered today:

CAI: Ebay Link

Alarm: Pyle PWD901 Link

Door lock solenoids: Universal Car Central Locking Power 4 Door Lock System

Plan on installing next week will update with photos and any issues.

 

Found a local Craigslist ad for a Hypertech 52001 asking 150.00. Talked with Hypertech support and found out that it is upgradable to the 52501 firmware but they want 200.00 for upgrade. So 150 + 200 puts me well over the retail price of the 52501. So it looks like I am going to have to save my money...

 

4.10 gears can be installed, you just won't find them in a Dakota being parted out, most likely. They could be installed in a Dakota that you're looking right at, but until you pull it apart, you'd never know.

As far as exhaust, I also removed both resonators and installed a Magnaflow muffler.

 

[QUOTE=infared;2993235]Posting for advice and to keep track of improvements/repairs.

My background ex mechanic, all upgrades and future upgrades will be done by myself or with friends who are ASE certified/old school mechanics or associated with dealer. Have access to fully loaded shop with lifts, presses, etc.

If you have any questions regarding a repair or upgrade just ask and I will respond ASAP.





That thar' is a perrrrty truck lol. Looks a lot like my gal, granted I opted for the 4.7 over 4x4 (only cuz the used one I found was a steal being an SLT w 42K miles for just over $10K)

Been doing a bit of work on mine and I can't tell you how great it feels to hear almost daily what a great looking truck it is (...what's even better is the look on their faces when I tell them she has over 120K miles on her lol)

Been looking forward to some great weather to get her all perked up with new and improved mods, I'd be happy to share what I've done and plan to do...plus if you have any suggestions I'd be happy to hear them as well.

I'll try to add a pic of when I first picked her up and now.

Couple months after I got her (only adds were nerf bars and bed box)

084.jpg



As of this past October (and she looks just as good)

58573097-CBC7-41AE-A1B3-054BE8A6F7F5-23126-00000D5D46CB572B.jpg