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First Gen Dakota race truck

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Bobby Miller

Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2015
Messages
23
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Location
Laquey MO
hello just checking to see if anybody elese is building a Dakota to drag race with? I am building a Strip/street 91 Dakota SB 2 wheel drive one. it will have a warmed over 5.9 Magnum engine and a 727 transmission or I might build my 518 over drive trans for it. The engine ran 11.18 in the 1/4 in my friends 96 excab 2 wheel drive truck. For the rear-end I will be installing a ford 8.8 from a exploder. I have some pics I can add but they are on my phone. I will add them latter today.
well would be very interested in seeing or learning about other peoples Dakota race truck Builds. Thanks Bobby
 
LocuMob said:
Sounds like a fun project. Look forward to seeing those pictures.
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I will be following this, what diff is in the Dakota now? The 8 1/4? Some of them had the 9 1/4. Have you measured the 8.8 to see how the width lines up?
 
I like an E body 8 3/4. You can have 3rd members with varying ratios setup and change them out in about a half hour. Heres a pic of my 94 back in the day. 91 rotors, 8 3/4 and the rallyes off my 73 Challenger.

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Hi sorry I have been working like crazey on my Dakota. I ended up trading a old 72 dart for a 96 SB Dakota Roller. The cab and bed was real nice on it. It was missing the drivers door and the front clip. I ended up putting the cab and bed from the 96 onto my 91 frame. I was going to use the 96 frame but some damn chevy guy cut the factory engine mounts off. So I didn’t want to mess with it. I found a 96 at the pick and pull. It was even the same color flame red. But it wasn’t a sport. But I bought everything off it except the hood or the drivers door. I got the engine and the trans put it also. I am getting closer to hearing it run. Going to put the intake on it today. Here are a few new pics of it

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65 sporty said:
I will be following this, what diff is in the Dakota now? The 8 1/4? Some of them had the 9 1/4. Have you measured the 8.8 to see how the width lines up?
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Yes the factory Diff is a 8.25. I have a 9.25 in my parts 2000 Durango I could use. But I got a complete 8.8 for $150. I have not got a chance to measure the width of the 8.8, but my friend runs this same 8.8 Diff in his 94 Dakota race truck and now in his 87 truck. He said it pretty much the same width. I just have to weld on new shock mounts and spring mounts
 
Scoots said:
Thats sounds quite a bit more than "warmed over". Whats the sprcs, cam. heads, compression, etc?
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Let’s see if I can remember all the info. Lol
Ok it’s got replacement flat top pistons, stock bore. Compression is around 10.9, Home ported Dodge RT heads with stock size valves, comp cams 305/555 solid lift cam, Indy intake. 750 Holley DP carb
 
Man I know Im gonna sound like a dick but I in no way see that combo pushing a Xcab Dak to low 11's. Given the weight, you would have to have 500+ HP and I just dont see an iron head, stock valve Magnum getting more than about 450hp at best and thats optimistic. Ive built 408's with Eddy heads (2.02) that only made that number. Power adder, well thats totally possible but then we have to talk about the "stock pistons" which btw cant get to that high of compression, not even shaving and the thinnest head gasket you can run safely without studding, deck honing, etc. I would love to see the rocker arm config, I had to go oversize stud with cam of that lift.
 
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Scoots said:
Man I know Im gonna sound like a dick but I in no way see that combo pushing a Xcab Dak to low 11's. Given the weight, you would have to have 500+ HP and I just dont see an iron head, stock valve Magnum getting more than about 450hp at best and thats optimistic. Ive built 408's with Eddy heads (2.02) that only made that number. Power adder, well thats totally possible but then we have to talk about the "stock pistons" which btw cant get to that high of compression, not even shaving and the thinnest head gasket you can run safely without studding, deck honing, etc. I would love to see the rocker arm config, I had to go oversize stud with cams of that lift.
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Well I have seen the time slips and watched the truck go down the track my self. What does a truck like that normally weigh at? He got his to weigh at 3150with him in it. Here is the info my friend posted about the 360

I must add that the 360 was pretty stout having almost 11/1 compression, ported 2.02 valve magnum heads, 250@.050 SFT cam and Indy intake with the same carb. The 360 could only muster 7.18 @ 95mph.
 
Scoots said:
Thats sounds quite a bit more than "warmed over". Whats the sprcs, cam. heads, compression, etc?
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The warmed over was kind of a joke. Lol but there is nothing fancy etc in this engine. It was built for a claimer class they race in.
 
Just dont buy it, been racing Daks and building small blocks too long. If you get low 11's my hats off to you and I HIGHLY suggest you pull it apart and share how an iron head mag engine gets it done.
 
Scoots said:
Just dont buy it, been racing Daks and building small blocks too long. If you get low 11's my hats off to you and I HIGHLY suggest you pull it apart and share how an iron head mag engine gets it done.
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Hey maybe this is one of those one of none engines. Lol I don’t know. I hope to have it to the track in the next month. I will for sure let you know how it does. I will be happy if it backs it back to the pits under its own power. Lol but again I watched my friend run a bunch of low 11 at the track. So who knows in my truck it might only run low 13 lol
 
Bobby Miller said:
Hey maybe this is one of those one of none engines. Lol I don’t know. I hope to have it to the track in the next month. I will for sure let you know how it does. I will be happy if it backs it back to the pits under its own power. Lol but again I watched my friend run a bunch of low 11 at the track. So who knows in my truck it might only run low 13 lol
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Bud I am so with you and as I said before, I dont want to come off as a dick. I respect ANYONE who wants to have fun with a Dakota at any speed! I love these stupid trucks so much my wife has threatened to leave! lol My next project is my 93 and its going to be a lightweight road race track attack build. We finally have a road race course here in Spotsylvania VA and I have been dying to hit the road course! Unfortunately my business has slowed substantially so itll be a budget build with all of the knowledge Ive gained in all these years. I would love to campaign an ole school Dak and be competitive!

I will post the build here because Im fed up with the Dakota/Durango forums. They are dying a slow death and have way too many spammers and wanna bees..
 
Scoots said:
Bud I am so with you and as I said before, I dont want to come off as a dick. I respect ANYONE who wants to have fun with a Dakota at any speed! I love these stupid trucks so much my wife has threatened to leave! lol My next project is my 93 and its going to be a lightweight road race track attack build. We finally have a road race course here in Spotsylvania VA and I have been dying to hit the road course! Unfortunately my business has slowed substantially so itll be a budget build with all of the knowledge Ive gained in all these years. I would love to campaign an ole school Dak and be competitive!

I will post the build here because Im fed up with the Dakota/Durango forums. They are dying a slow death and have way too many spammers and wanna bees..
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Hey it’s all good. I didn’t think you was coming off as a dick. Well I mostly messed with dart, Dusters etc. but people are nuts for what they want for a Roller. So I decided to build a Dakota. Hey at least it’s still a mopar. Lol very sorry to hear about your buessiness. What do you do? For me I should of sold the x and keept my 65 Plymouth race car. Lol cool on your truck build. I look forward to reading about your build. I am building my truck on a when I have extra money. My will be a striped out 1/4 mile truck. But I want to put it on the street next year and still race it too
 
Why a 93? Or do you have to build from what was factory offered for that year?
The 93 extended cab is kind of heavy. How much weight is there between the hard to find regular and extended cab?
 
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