Has anyone done or know someone who has done a diesel conversion on a Dodge Dakota? ???

 

Never seen one,or heard of one, I am pondering the idea of a 3.9l 4cyl. cummins in a dakota?? I got a lead on the motor, I seen one in a chevy 1/2 ton and it was a nice get around truck!! Maybe someone will chime in here with some help. Thanks Rick

 

It has been done w/ a B5.9, so I am sure it can be done w/ the 3.9. Very nearly the same engine, minus 2 cylinders, of course. I'm sure there is someone on this site that has either done it or heard of a 3.9/Dakota conversion. A friend of mine is seriously considering a 3.9/Izuzu Trooper conversion, at least he's checking into it. -Steve

 

I am going to buy the little 3.9 I found,I am just wondering what it weighs?? Any guesses or does any one know the weight?? I have been looking for info but have came up short on the weight, It comes with the pump and turbo,bare every where else.Thanks Rick

 

Ive heard that the 3.9 4 cyl would shake the hell out of a dakota.

 

Appears Stock....



What's this?...



Marine 6BT in the little Dak.



Racin'....



Burnout COMP..



Still going....



It wasn't a drop in installation, but it wasn't too hard. The front end had 2500 springs, a coil over shocks, the rearend was OE, a posi added later.

Merrick

 

Is'nt that the truck that was totalled a few months ago?

 

A 4BT will weigh in real close to the 318/360 engine. There is some issues with vibration, mostly at idle. We put 4BT's in our dock mules. 3 are NA and 1 is turbo. The turbo vibrates less than the non turbos. The turbo engine is putting out around 150 hp and guesstimating 350 ft lbs of torque. It turns a Ford C-6 three speed auto. A cut down Dana with something like 9.00 gears get the power to dual 7.00 - 16's. Top end is about 20 mph.
The 4BT in a 2WD shouldn't be too hard. The 4x4 looks like a pain. There are a couple in the area. I'll see if I can run the guys down and get some pics and info for everyone.

 

Wow !!!!!!! I knew that someone out there had done it,It sure looks tight,but accomplishable. Looks great,I like the photo of it setting in the handicap spot,{Like it is really handicaped}.I have been looking at the 3.9 not for what you have done with your dakota,but to mess around and see what kind or economy it will have and to use around town.Thanks for the photos. Rick

 

[quote author=Shovelhead link=board=8;threadid=23078;start=0#msg216349 date=1070279015]
Is'nt that the truck that was totalled a few months ago?
[/quote]

Yes.

Jeff was giving a customer a demo ride, and the throttle got stuck WOT in a curve. The truck rolled, and was a total loss. Both Passenger and driver were ok.

Merrick

 

Merrick,

Did you put that engine in??

 

No, I didn't put that engine in. There was some detailed information about it on the internet, and I did thoroughly read into it.


Anybody notice the dial in time on the 5th picture where he is doing a burnout?

Merrick

 

I just did an axle swap on my dakota ( 1 ton axles, 4.10 gears, 35" tires, 13" of lift) so I'm looking for more power. A bigger gasser would be easy,no challenge in that. Have considered the 4b (very scarce and expensive) and other makes, but have come to the conclusion that a 6b would probably be the cheapest route for me.

 

Your already starting are you?? Keep us informed how it goes?? Thanks Rick

 

Death of the Little Dak...

Copied from another site...

Okay, here's the story I got from severial folks......

Picture it... Jeff Garmon is giving one of his patented "Check Your Shorts" demo rides . They're just pulling into the cul-de-sac that has his shop in it, Jeff goosed it for one last thrill. Suddenly, the throttle went to full and the brakes wouldn't work . The Dakota is now accelerating like something NASA uses and the space is getting limited. Jeff tells the rider to hold on, they're gonna wreck. They hit a curb, thread their way between a Utility Truck and a Semi Trailer, and "through" a power relay . They then imitate a Cessna and flop off a bluff into trees and roll a few times down the bluff, taking out enough trees to get a whole handfull of "Tree-Huggers" ****** . They're both okay and climb out the windows. Jeff tells me it was the calmest wreck he's ever been in . The Dakota was then pulled up the bluff by the forklift. All the sheetmetal is crumpled, the rear axle is busted, the rear of the tranny is cracked. Fortunatly, the truck had driveshaft loops.
Now, for the reasoning behind the crash. The Police and Jeff all agree that it was the Floor Mats! The one under Jeff's feet had slid foreward and gotten tangled in the pedals, the throttle couldn't go upwards and the brake pedal couldn't go downwards enough. Via the busted Speedo, it is estimated that when Jeff hit the trees, he was doing somewhere around 95 MPH. Oops!
Fortunatly, no one was hurt. The Passenger worked for the power company and got the power relay fixed quickly and thanked Jeff for the Wildest Ride EVER!!!

"And That's the News."


Merrick