‘98 Dodge Dakota. Exhausting work.

[Rich]

So I presented this picture on FB and also the chat thread here, of my ‘mystery’ MOPAR key that isn’t my Jeep.



So yea, as per the title it’s for a Dodge Dakota. A black 2.5 petrol manual, oxymoronically trim-levelled ‘Sport’, ClubCab. So. Let’s get a look at the fine specimen. Err, yea.



Initial plans today are to remove the carbuncle. The PO fitted it to use for camping, which it’s great for, but not to look at so that’s coming out. Also, the wheelarch extensions are a thing of.. not-beauty. They need to go. Seeing as a lot of the truck is painted with aerosol or the clear has blown I’m not too bothered. It was cheap and it has a stirring stick, most of these I could afford being smaller capacity autos didn’t sound like a great combo for towing so this was the best mechanically of the bunch. Although I say that, the coolant all fell out when I went to put fuel in so that seems to be in true retro rides car collection fashion. I’ll post some more pics as I’m working on it today

[brachunky]

I have only had long bed trucks including a 67 F100, 59 Chevy Apache and now the K1500. Not as sexy as the shortass versions but mega useful, like load a motorbike, full sheet of ply useful  Your's has a bed full of potential! Now on the subject of plastic arches, mine has them courtesy of the p/o but I'm to scared to remove then as they are bound to be hiding some crusty stuff

[Rich]

Jun 17, 2023 14:41:29 GMT brachunky said:

Now on the subject of plastic arches, mine has them courtesy of the p/o but I'm to scared to remove then as they are bound to be hiding some crusty stuff

At least your arches suit the truck. Mine were far too dori special, on a truck that I haven’t managed to chirp the tyres one once yet.

Terrible photos inbound!

Before I removed the camping carbuncle, I emptied the small amount of stuff out of it. It had a 3 way dometic cooler, a hob and grille and gas bottle and a carpet. In the cooler there was a free beer. Result.



Lifted the box with the 2 post lift at work, unfortunately this soon became apparent I couldn’t quite get the height required to remove it past the tailgate posts. Getting the last few inches was simple enough though. Let the tyres down 😂



I then moved on to flushing the cooling system and trying to purge it of the brown rust water normally found in late 90’s Renault cooling systems. I didn’t take pictures as it was wet and messy but it took longer than the faff of removing the bed box.

The pictures get worse here. My phone camera is truly dead.

What this wonderful zoomy blur is is clips holding the radiator fan on. I presume it used clips but for some reason it was held in place with wood screws dropped in the holes and I just couldn’t look at that every time I opened the bonnet. So I fashioned some retainers.



The battery clamp is well and truly broken and was too tall to hold this well flash Optima battery so I repurposed the gas bottle strap to make sure it’s secure. I can’t stand batteries being loose.



I changed the oil and plugs and did a few bits and bobs including replacing (temporarily) the tensioner pulley that sounded like it was about to take off with a Nissan 300ZX timing belt tensioner pulley I had lying about and tensioning the belt so I can use the A/C, as well as removing the arch extensions and then called it a day. I took some pics with the wife’s phone at this point.

Getting onto the right track with it now at least.

[brachunky]

Looks much better with the camping kit off! You may be able to flog that for decent money.

[welshpug]

is it ok in the LEZ ?

[grizz]

Tweaks.

Fixes

Job done.

[Rich]

Jun 18, 2023 8:36:31 GMT welshpug said:

is it ok in the LEZ ?

No idea. I don’t drive in it (CAZ/LEZ) anyway in my ‘toys’ as the Peugeot is CAZ and LEZ compliant so I use that if I have to go in town. I should check really 😂

[Rich]

Anyone who knows me even a little bit from my cars will know that this makes me happy.



All the wires to the parking lamps had been cut and left bare-ends live behind the lamps and the corner marker had been removed, had the wires chopped, had some speaker cable soldered to them and wrapped in tape, then some crimp connectors and some more random wire, and then a bulb holder which had been fitted into the clear dummy lenses. I assume it was so you could change the bulbs from the drivers seat given the amount of wire they used. Reconnected all the cut wires, added another bulb holder for the corner marker and replaced the awful wiring that had been done for the white side lamps and that left me with this.

[stealthstylz]

I've got stacks and stacks of suitable stickers if you want to fit in with other American truck owners.

[Rich]

Jun 20, 2023 20:03:13 GMT stealthstylz said:

I've got stacks and stacks of suitable stickers if you want to fit in with other American truck owners.

How ‘fit in’ are we talking 😂

[grizz]

Jun 20, 2023 21:07:51 GMT Rich said:

Jun 20, 2023 20:03:13 GMT stealthstylz said:

I've got stacks and stacks of suitable stickers if you want to fit in with other American truck owners.

How ‘fit in’ are we talking 😂

Hopefully not this……





Looks a lot better without, imho.


I have a ton of stickers too, but that’s where the story ends for me (and a pile of truck parts that used to be a truck)

[Rich]

Jun 21, 2023 7:21:27 GMT grizz said:

Jun 20, 2023 21:07:51 GMT Rich said:

How ‘fit in’ are we talking 😂

Hopefully not this……





Looks a lot better without, imho.


I have a ton of stickers too, but that’s where the story ends for me (and a pile of truck parts that used to be a truck)

Yea, I like the back window, it’s handy. I don’t have any interest in that many stickers 😂 that said I’m sure I have some cool ones you sent me somewhere.

[cavboy80]

I restored this ex USAF security Police 1998 Dakota for the museum i volunteer at. It's V6 Magnum powered auto.

[brachunky]

Jun 21, 2023 17:47:47 GMT cavboy80 said:

I restored this ex USAF security Police 1998 Dakota for the museum i volunteer at. It's V6 Magnum powered auto.

Thats superb! Surprised the local plod ain't pulled you !!

[Rich]

Jun 21, 2023 17:47:47 GMT cavboy80 said:

I restored this ex USAF security Police 1998 Dakota for the museum i volunteer at. It's V6 Magnum powered auto.

Wicked, you did a great job. Its in much better shape than mine I'll say that!

[Rich]

Suffering with 'pickup truck in the garage' problems.

[Rich]

Took the Dodge to work for a 'appointment' with a handy trade friend


Here he is look, honestly not complaining or anything.


Plan was to pull the dents with the weldy dent puller.


That did not go to plan, as the Dodge is not made from Zanussi steel. It appears to be made of recycled M60 main battle tanks.

Was not going to be beaten though by trivial matters like 'the metal is too strong to pull'. Out came the washers.





Not ever going to be a minter, the dents are pretty violent so we got it as straight as can be achieved with a shop MIG and a slide hammer, and he got on with the pudding.





Getting close to finish. Looks a lot of plop but it's very shallow. So he tells me. Might have to order a heavy duty passenger side spring.







And as finished as he ever was going to, complete with amusing colour guide coat.


I will point out that I'm mildly horrified by his DA being face down on the floor but hey ho. Not my circus etc.

Paint is here, so that will start tomorrow to get the primer covered.

[Rich]

Spent the morning moving the workshop around so I can get the Dodge in and actually walk round at least one end. Then I finished the prep on the wing (needed more than I was expecting and I didn’t take pics as I was pressing on)
Then laid down some finest* gloss black



Come up ok has that.

*Montana White aerosol in black. Confusing.

[braaap]

You can also get Montana black in white - and a lot of other colors.

Was one can enough for that huge wing? How long did it take to dry?

[Rich]

Jul 22, 2023 17:23:16 GMT braaap said:

You can also get Montana black in white - and a lot of other colors.

Was one can enough for that huge wing? How long did it take to dry?

Oh I know, I’m no stranger to the Montana range, I’ve done at least 8 Montana paint jobs not including this truck. Less than one can on the wing. Was un-taping dry in an hour or so. I love this stuff.