i just drove the 'ol dakota with a 3.9 and a 5 speed, and im telling you, this thing would walk circles around my ram.

what gives? is my Ram weak or is the 3.9 a great motor?

 

they are ok decent motors for a small V6 but mine certainly wasnt a "great" motor

 

Speed does not make for a good measurement of the strength of a motor. One must also consider HP to weight ratio and gearing.

I have the six speed in an 07 and it isn't fast, but certainly powerful.

 

load a 10K trailer on both and race up a hill... then see which is the "great" motor

 

I bet that gasser won't walk circles around either of my CTD autos.

 

I had a 92 Dakota with the 318 Magnum, with DC after market performance computer and other stuff and it was a POS.

Pete

 

i gotta 92 and just started looking for a 3.9 CTD. stock there rated like 106hp and 240ft lbs but after a pump adjustment there like 170hp and 420ft lbs would be a fun project.

 

That Dakota is half the weight of the mighty Cummins. Nuff said.

 

Ya, any of the CTD manuals take some finnesse to shift fast/right so the power can be "unleashed". If you've never drove a CTD manual it takes some getting used to.

 

Put a 5.9 in it!!!

 

i dont htink the tierod ends would handle it

all im thinking here, is i think my ram may be a little under powered. im not trying to say that the 3.9 is a "great" motor, even thow i did say that. IMHO it is a great motor. but the point here is i think my ram may be underpowered for some reason.

 

You're absolutely right...

Dakota 3.9 V6
Weight: 3902 - 4518 lbs
HP: 180 (x2=360)
TQ: 220 lb-ft (x2=440)

CTD
Weight: 7500 - 8500 lbs
HP: 325
TQ: 610

I think those numbers say it all. V6 gassers are

 

Mine is not what I would consider a great motor. My CTD will easily blow the doors off my Dak. 3800# 180/225 5spd vs 6800# 325/610 6spd. No contest. Like Dakotar, I would love to have a 3.9 CTD in my Dak. It would be my commuter ride. Now I do have to say it is a very durable little motor. I had 240K miles on mine before I took it swimming. I has 268K miles (28K on the rebuild). When I test drove the Daks back in 92, I tried out a 3.9 5spd and it was great. That thing really moved. When I got mine, it would scoot pretty good, but not a good as the one I test drove. Currently one of my problems is I think it has a small vacuum leak because the little motor just dances in the engine bay pretty good at idle. Smooths out as you accelerate, just not as powerful as she once was.

 

It's all about the power to weight ratio. I've got a '66 Mustang with a stock
200 hp 289 & FoMoCo 4 speed that will scream!! 200 horses don't sound like much, but when the car weighs only 2900 lbs, it's more than enough.

 

My CTD is scared of my wife's 3.8l V6 mustang. over 400rwhp and close to 390trq is just a little too much for the big truck to try to compete with. If she looses traction on the launch I have her for a little while but not for very long.