DakotaKid287

I am kinda new here and not real sure if this is the best place for me to put this or not, if not sorry. I'm currently trying to make up my mind on wether I'm going to solid axle swap my Dakota and replace the failing transmission or if I want to step up to a Ram which already has the solid axle. If I get a Ram I want it to be a Cummins, but heres where I get confused. I know it will be a ext cab 4x4 with an auto trans, I will be wheeling this truck so NO manual trans even considered. I want to get some power out of it, nothing extreme but it has to be at least as fast as my brother in law's 6.0 Ford lol. It also will need to be daily driveable, although I will still have my 2wd Dakota that I normally drive to work, and be able to get respectable mpgs. I love the classic good looks on the late 80s and early 90s trucks but would rather have a more comfortable 94-01 truck. What are the issues I need to look out for on a 94-01 Cummins and which do you think will be best for what I'm looking to do. Oh yea planning on at least 35" tires but if possible 38s are going on it, depends on the budget at the time.

Buckshotram

the front ends aren't know for their greatness, trackbars, sloppy steering
Any stock 2nd gen dodge will fill very weak compared to a stock 6.0
The factory auto's are slush boxes
The injectection pumps on 24v like to fail from low fuel press

busa

I would look for a 96-98 12 valve. They have a good injector pump, they are very reliable and easy to work on. It will take some work to get it to keep up with a 6.0L but not to much(tranny, turbo, injectors, pump work) plus once it's there it will get better fuel economy and last twice as long as the ford. You can put 35's on a stock dodge with just a leveling kit, but if you want to wheel it, it will need a lift.

wcbcruzer

These trucks aren't made for off-roading. They're just too heavy. You'll have to sink a reasonable amount of money into the suspension/front-end to get it to perform somewhat ok.

DakotaKid287

I have an IFS Dakota even the crappiest designed solid axle suspension will flex better then what I got. I already know about the tire fitment on the right wheels 37s are possible with just a leveling kit and a little bumper trimming. My Dak has 35s on it so anything I get will have that or slightly bigger on it, I live on the coast of VA there is no place around here to do any kind of rock crawling or anything like that and there are plenty of diesels that go off road around here. I was half joking about keeping up with my Bro in laws Ford cause his is not stock at all but it is lifted 8" on 37s and still has the factory gears, my 2wd Dak that runs consistent 14.6s on the street tires will still beat his truck. How expensive would it be to beef up the trans on one of these trucks to the point that I wouldn't have to change the way I drive to keep it from breaking with a decenly powerfull 12v 35-38s and 4.56-4.88 gears.

98whitelightnin

$4-5k for a good tranny. A cummins will probably get better mileage than your dakota ever thought about.

DakotaKid287

Holy crap no way I can afford that! There isn't anything that can be done to beef up the trans it already has? My dak gets avg of 16mpgs when I'm not running the heck out of it, plus reg gas is about 40-50 cents cheaper per gal around here so I highly doubt the Cummins will be cheaper in that respect.

busa

If you would consider a standard then its only a grand for a clutch and it will get a couple MPG's better then an auto. Real trucks are standards

DakotaKid287

No way in heck will I ever get another stick shift 4x4, I play on the beach too much for that. I went on the beach twice with the 5sp Dakota I had and then sold it and got an auto and have not looked back. Having a manual trans on the beach is the most miserable experience I've ever had, sorry but not doing it again. If I were to be able to afford to get a newer Cummins, 3rd gen, then I could leave it stock aside from exhaust and have the kind of power that I would like. How do the trannys in them hold up with stockish power? If I've got to spend 4-5k on the truck after I get it to get it to survive for more then a couple of months then it sounds like a Cummins is a BAD idea for me, but I really want one please somebody help.

nickg

4-5k for a tranny is basically the top of the line price, I had mine rebuilt locally with a transgo VB and a billet TC for 2000$ it sees 8hrs a day use stop and go and thats with the Edge J/A on 5x5. My stock tranny lasted 340,000kms. My cummins gets better mileage than my 2000 Ford Excape!!!!
The 3rd gens have a bit better tranny, improved track bar, and disc brakes all the way around. They dont have a VP$$ (funny how the 4 when you use the shift key turns into a $, which is fitting seeing as VP44's are not cheap) and they have almost a 100hp over the 2gens

I think if you find a good (deal) on a 3rd gen you'd be better off. as alot of the 2nd gen issues have been addressed
My two cents

DakotaKid287

Thanks, $2k isn't too bad thats more like what I was expecting. I'm still really interested in solid axle swapping my Dakota just because it would be more unique, and a bit cheaper, but I will keep my eyes open for a couple of months for a good deal on a 3rd gen.

Bluedually4x4

Actually swaping an axle will be much more time consuming and expensive than you think. If you are not a great welder or know one than don't even try it. That means taking it to a shop to have it done, and you are looking at more money than just a transmission upgrade on a 2nd gen truck to swap a solid front axle. If you want to run coil overs on the dak and really have it be able to flex, you will probably spend over 5 grand for a good solid suspension.

Personally I would try and find around a 90-94 truck. Leaf springs still work great for offroading, lift kits are cheaper and you will not need as much lift to run larger tires. Since the truck will cost less you have the money to buy the parts to build a good truck and upgrade all the weak links. And if you don't like the seats in the older trucks, yank them out a put different ones in it. lol

DakotaKid287

Time consuming yes it prob will be, expensive no not really. I can weld and I already have the axles and already have the gears and lockers for both ends. The only thing I got left to figure out and buy is the steering. I'm going to be running almost an exact copy of a 79 Bronco suspension using parts that I have left over from my 79, HP Dana 44 4.56 and mini spool and a 94-01 1/2 ton Ram 9.25 with 4.56s and a Powertrax No-Slip. Using Jeep ZJ coil springs and extended factory Ford radius arms in the front and stock Dak leaves lowered and shakle flipped in the rear. I will have less then 1K in the suspension counting labor to a guy that is helping me do it. If I sell my 79 Bronco before I find a good deal on a Cummins Ram then I'm going to be doing this to my Dak.

Buckshotram

not to much just tranny, turbo, injectors, pump work= lots $$$$