Dakota V6 automatic

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Dakota V6 automatic

Postby Farmboy » Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:26 am

Looking at picking up a quad cab dakota for a daily driver. 2000-2004 2wd. I would like to get a 5 speed but that is like finding a needle in a hay stack.... How do the automatics hold up behind the 3.9 v6? I have never owned anything but a 5 speed from dodge but I have heard many stories about the dodge automatic. the particular truck I am looking at has 130,000 on it.
1990 W350 4X4 NOW INTERCOOLED 5-speed. Boost/Pyro. Few light tweaks to the pump. Now a dually with an aluminum flatbed!!
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Re: Dakota V6 automatic

Postby DodgeFreak » Tue Apr 29, 2014 11:40 am

Don't get a v6....they are a gutless wonder...and get the same mileage as a v8. Automatics are good if you take care of them. I had a 92 v8 auto dad had a 94 v8 auto and his ballooned the converter pulling a trailer and took the front pump out. We used the Dakota like a 3\4 ton. The older 4.7s are a decent engine as long as you keep the oil changed. I'd stick with a 5.2\5.9 engine.
92 D350 Cab and Chassis. Auto stock, wiring gremlins. 330k miles
92 W250 Ext cab rotted completely out. Auto, pump maxed, 215 ppump nozzles, Denny T2 pin.
85 D350 single wheel, converted to cummins, getrag, turned up 2 turns and afc screw flush.
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Re: Dakota V6 automatic

Postby ellis93 » Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:19 pm

Besides the mileage and power thing don't be scared off of a good deal on a 6 banger. Those motors are pretty good. The only problems I've seen with them is the oil pan sludging up from poor mantiance and poor quality oil being used or frequent swapping of brands. The other thing I've seen is where either the water pump or radiator started leaking and the owner just wasn't paying attention and burnt it up. It does not take a lot of heat to screw one up.

Those 4.7 engines are freaking gutless wonders, when the go peddle is mashed it might as we'll be blowing bubbles out the tail pipe.
Then there's the whole mystery blown head gasket thing and the exploding hydraulic follower (I've seen that twice, it happens). That head gasket mess is nothing but pits forming in the head around the main water ports. Probably electrolyses related or the combination of poor quality aluminum and maintance (some how antifreeze just doesn't last forever :lol: )

Anyhow those auto trans are fine....as long as it's previous owner wasn't a total schit head that beat on it you'll be fine

I'm with DF....stick with the older stuck. The 318 and 360 engines. All the power you want with a small amount of economy (16 mpgs) :lol:
93 D250 ,5 speed,4.11s,k&n autometer tach pyro trans boost guages,GDS 60mm h1c 14cm,honed 5x10,hplp/reg,1/8 timing,M+H M2 fuel pin, tims cooler tubz
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Re: Dakota V6 automatic

Postby Farmboy » Wed Apr 30, 2014 4:38 am

I had a 97 dakota with the 4 banger and 5 speed and loved it.. gutless but I never put more then a dime into it the entire 8 years I drove the thing. I don't need power for a daily driver.. thats what I have the w350 for. I have heard that the v6 will get 17-19 mpg depending on how you drive it.. I need to get that much out of it to be able to afford to drive to work. Thats the only reason I am staying away from the v8's and also the 4x4. The additional maintenence of the 4x4 and the loss of mileage will add up over time.
1990 W350 4X4 NOW INTERCOOLED 5-speed. Boost/Pyro. Few light tweaks to the pump. Now a dually with an aluminum flatbed!!
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Re: Dakota V6 automatic

Postby DodgeFreak » Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:25 am

My dads 94 2wd ext. cab got 20-23 on the highway (biggest factors was wind) and 18-20 driving back and forth to work 11 miles one way plus intown driving. My 92 v8 4x4 got 18 on the highway with a 4" body on 32s the in town mileage sucked it only got 11 lol. Like Ellis said the v6 is a good little engine (has to be since its a 318 missing 2 cylinders lol). I just wasn't impressed with the mileage and power. Was that highway or in town?
92 D350 Cab and Chassis. Auto stock, wiring gremlins. 330k miles
92 W250 Ext cab rotted completely out. Auto, pump maxed, 215 ppump nozzles, Denny T2 pin.
85 D350 single wheel, converted to cummins, getrag, turned up 2 turns and afc screw flush.
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