ive found me a few beat up dakota's i could probably buy for a few hundred dollars, and if i do so, i would use parts from one on the other to have one to drive for the time being, and then over time build up a go-fast asphalt eating monster. I was thinking going 426 hemi or 440-6 or modern of the two, but then thought a 340-6 pack would be pretty cool and way easier on gas. i wouldnt really want to put in a 360 mag like others have in em, but go old school. I won't be doing this for a good few years though, but just to brainstorm about it, what would you guys think about those engines? which would you say would be best for the truck, that i would also lower a little and improve the crap out of the suspension and drivetrain to make it handle the driving i'll be doing with it

 

why not go with a 360? there's a fair amount of aftermarket parts for em, and they're pretty reliable, good power could even build it up to a 408...
plus no messin arond with fitting in a motor that was never suppose to fit

 

well, i was thinking of that, but i want an air cleaner on top with 360 magnum like 383 magnums back in the day, but would have to do that with a TBI. i was originally thinking of going 360 throttle body injection but thought that would be really hard to get running. What would be most suitable to make this truck be able to handle good on roads in a rural area, and be able to go fast for me to get away from "people" that would be chasing me

 

oh yea, i was going to ask you, what is up with ur white turn signals up front, i like those, and that front spoiler, whered ya get em?

 

what gen dak? gen1 1987-1989 gen2 1990-1996 gen3 1997-2004 (roughly)
if its third gen i would say get a hotchkis perfomance suspension, and build up a nice 360 to a 408, you can run a round element air filter on top if you want, would be best with a cowl hood.
they're great little trucks, that you can make quite quick.

 

they're crystal clear corners i got off ebay, im on the fence on whether or not i like em, the spoiler is off of a '69 camaro (yeah i know lol)

 

thats nice dude, i dig ur truck's front look, but yea, i would definately go for a cowl hood, that way i could put like 340-6 or whatever engine i go with. I think a modern efi hemi would be godly, but probably go with a 5.9, but would really like to make it TBI. the trucks are 3rd gen, 99 and 00 both 3.9 v6, reg cab, ones a 5 speed and i think the other is to

 

i was also thinking of seeing if i could donate my truck to koni to test a system for my truck, i was lookin for shocks for one online, and saw a tab that said "Koni may need your vehicle" and read that they take them for a week and test a system on them, and then give ur ride back with the shocks as "compensation"

 

Well i'd say build a bad *** KB hemi motor with twin turbos, you'll be hauling *** then.

 

What is the purpose of this truck going to be? Once you can answer that question, then the rest of "what to do" will come easy.

I would stick with a Magnum 360 built into a 408 stroker for that year truck. If you decide to go with an older motor, then go for a BB and tranny. If you do go with a BB, then you may want to look into getting different springs for the front end.

 

thanks alot man.
fitting a modern efi hemi into a dak would be a chore, and from what ive heard of it, its not worth it rather than building a nice 408

 

well the purpose of the truck is to tear asphalt on rural roads, which is where i live. im not much for drag racing, so i just want it to go faster than any "flashing lights" that would happen to be chasing me. and yea, i know that would be hell of alot of work, but i think it would be really really cool, but for the time being, i probably will just build up a 408, but how? new heads and intake and stuff? oh yea, and i'd be using the truck to gain kills on mustangs and what not >:>

 

you'd be better off checking out a dakota forum, i'm no professional so i cant really help you there.
dakotart.com has alot of members who have built 408's

 

anybody know anything about building a 408 with a 5.9 360 from a 97-04 dak to be EFI? i saw a little bit about building a 440 from a 5.9 block, but i havent made my mind up yet, need to see a little more of the power outage of them all along with the weight

 

what do you mean to make it EFI? 360's are already FI..

 

yea i know the 360's are EFI, but i've been seeing built 408's and they are all carb. wouldnt i need a new intake or would the 360 be enough for the built 408?

 

yay!! i found an extended cab 4x4 too. it's beat up pretty bad and smokes, the guy says. 3.9, standard, 4x4. sounds like that would be my fixer upper driver, and just use the other two as 3.9 parts and maybe even build up two super daks

 

The stock dome style intake isn't designed with performance in mind. There are aftermarket MPFI intakes for the Magnum motors. Larger injectors, PCM flash, cam, etc. will all be needed as well.

A good place to start is look to for a complete "stroker kit" for a Magnum 360. See what parts come in the kit and what you will need to buy.

If you want to use an LA 360, I'm sure that there are kits out there for that too along with aftermarket fuel injection. I would think that a Magnum 360 would be easy and cheap enough to find though.

 

oh ok, just get a M1 intake and a bigger TB, should take care of it, but like i said, im no professional.

 

bahhhahahaha i guess the guy with the extended cab dakota isn't wanting to get rid of it, he said on the post, that it was a v6 extended cab 5 spd smokes, and he's wanting a good trade. I texted him today and said, im interested in his dakota, where were you from? he replied, ashland. I then said, cool, well, i don't have anything to trade ya for, but would you mind me making you an offer on the truck? he said, Like what? I said, well, i would like to see the truck to give you a fair offer on it. i'll quote him here,"**** you people! Your not looking at my truck you ******* jackass" i then said, im sorry buddy, i just thought you might take an offer for it since you are wanting to trade, i'd have to see it to make an offer though. What would you be wanting to trade it for? he said nothing. so i think i'll text him again and say, well, i was going to offer you (an absurdly priced offer) and see what he says lol. nahh, i think i'll just forget about it, i think that guy is either crazy or a jackass lol. must not want to get rid of it if he treats people that ARE interested in it the way he does, i think he is the jackass lol. i'll just find me a good looking truck, that one needs a good work through since it's smoking like he says

 

Ive done some of the 408s you are looking to do in a DAK.

Here are some tips:

Get a truck that came with the 5.9 MPFI. You will save serious money having the parts with the rig. Dont buy the 3.9 or even the 5.2. If you go fuel injection.

Or get the Dak you want and buy a totalled Durango, DAK or Van with the 5.9.

The 5.9 comes with the 46RE Tranny which is a 727 with an electronic overdrive. Can be built nice to handle 408.

As suggested above. Look at the stroker kits. Scat I beam fits without clearancing the block. Rod bolts are close..... But fit.

Mopar 4inch crank is nice and you can reuse stock 5.9 rods. You need new pistons with a lower piston pin spot to keep them from sticking out of the top of the deck..

If machining is cheap in your next of the woods the latter option can be done for less money than the kit. but not much less.

You can grab a stock hyd roller short block from the boneyard. Re ring it, bearings and gaskets, get an intake, cam, used carb and distributer and make almost 400 horse power easily with decent vacuum with 5.9. Plus it revs easier with the stock valve train. A savings right there. When you blow it up, grab another short block.

The 5.9 makes 250 hp with a crappy tune, 2 inch y pipe, exhaust manifolds, a camshaft that has less lift than a broom stick and an intake the is a wheezer at best.

Im not trying to steer you out of a 408. They are awesome when done correctly but they are pricey...

A 400 hp 5.9 in a DAK is a blast.