Northeast PA TDR Chapter (unofficial)

[6BT-Dakota]

Thanks everyone for your welcome. for those of you that do not know me my name is Bob also and I am from Scranton, PA. I own a 1997 Dodge Dakota Extended Cab that I purchased brand new from Scranton Dodge. I owned this trrck for aprox. 3 years when I needed more. My first investment was the 5 1/2" tuff-country lift which after 2 sets of ball joints ans 1 set of tie rods enough was enough. In Feburary of 2002 my friend Eric and I pulled my Dakota riding on a 5 1/2" lift and 33" tires into the garage and began the process of installing a Dana 60 front axle and a Sterling (I dont like to say the "F" word) rear axle out of a 88 F-350 which was completed in July of 2002 and rolled out on a set of 35" BFG All-Terrains. In May of 2003 I decided w/ a little bit of pressure to go from 35's to 38"'s so w/ a little bit more lift and a loaner set of tires and wheels from a friend Guy I was the only Dakota I had ever seen riding around on 38's except for the one Petersons did but that doesnt count because they hava unlimited budget $$$$. After riding with the 4. 10 gears and 318 c. i. engine ans seeing all of my close friends w/ their diesels I posed the question to Eric "Do you think we could stuff a Cummins under the hood of my Dakota" and his answer was "I dont see why not" soo that brings me to where I am right now. We are aprox 65%-75% done. It should have between 425-500 Hp and 900-1000 ft/lb of torque when it is done. I am going to try to post some pictures of it but like I said im new to the TDR thing and not sure how to post pictures yet but I will learn. If any of you want to see som pictures just e-mail me.



Bob

 

[DTroy]

A Cummins in a monster Dakota ? What are you nuts??







Good, you'll fit right in. :-laf



Sounds like a very interesting project. And a good entry for the Nanticoke Mud Bog.

 

[6BT-Dakota]

Sorry, It's a pavement pounder

 

[6BT-Dakota]

Im going to try this whole post a picture thing

 

[6BT-Dakota]

Hey I did i correct

 

[Highfinance97]

The Secret Is Out!!!!

Oo. THE SECRET IS OUT!!! Oo. This truck is awesome its JUST WRONG. Bob and Eric did a great job on the suspension conversion and now this. Its just so weird to see this engine in that kind of truck. I cant wait till its done



Bob good luck as usual



Michael

 

[ATVX4]

I posed the question to Eric "Do you think we could stuff a Cummins under the hood of my Dakota" and his answer was "I dont see why not" soo that brings me to where I am right now. We are aprox 65%-75% done. It should have between 425-500 Hp and 900-1000 ft/lb of torque when it is done.



Bob

Very Cool!

 

[vssman]

Looks like I'm going to make it this weekend. One of my wife's relatives should also be there with his early 1st gen running a Detroit.

 

[DTroy]

Glad to hear it Vssman !



He did a Detroit conversion?

 

[6BT-Dakota]

Hmmmmm. . . . Detroit Conversion ? ? ?

 

[vssman]

Yup. Did the conversion before Dodge ever put the mighty Cummins in P/U. He raised the body 5" just to get the hood to close... :-laf



He's got a few conversions - the other daily driver is a Ford stretch conversion van with a 4Cyl Isuzu box truck engine.

 

[DTroy]

"Noice ! " as the Aussies would say.



Sounds like he's a hardcore diesel junkie.



I can only guess what that pickup weighs.

 

[WantaCummins]

I love all older Dodges even if it was only a 318. . I don't know about power wise but Detroits sound awesome and blow some nice Smoke. I remember the old city buses when i was a kid not sure if they had mufflers back then but the sound of a Detroit esp 2 strokes is unmistakable. There were probably lots of pick up Diesel conversions in the 70's + early 80's when Farmers wanted the grunt and reliability of their tractor under their gutless gas hog trucks hood before they could get a decent diesel in 83 when Ford put the 6. 9 out.

 

[vssman]

I'm pretty sure he finally mounted a jake brake on it too... :-laf

 

[DTroy]

I dropped into the cyberworld for a few minutes. I've been occupied with the truck. I've been making progress. I'm having a fuel line fitting shipped overnight so if I'm lucky I will have the system done Friday. There's a little more work to be done after that though.



I had to drop the fuel tank today. I took my diesel bath and I smell like it. Even got some in my eye. (yes, it burns)



As soon as my third hand gets here I can finish installing my bulkhead fitting in the tank.



Oh ya, I'll have a fuel filter bombing secret for the guys at the Meet.



I can't wait ! Oo.

 

[FOXY005]

OK ... ... ... Just to make sure I have this right.



The meeting place is the Petro Truck Stop in Avoca off I81.



The time is 12:00 Noon



Not being familiar with the Petro Stop is there a specific

area where we will be gathering ?



Other than that hope to see you all tomorrow.

 

[DTroy]

I-81 Exit 178 B. Since you will be Northbound when you take the exit just look for Petro's on the left.



After you've made that left you will be going uphill. Make the first left. (everything is marked)



If the paved parking lot above is full, our alternative is to go back down and park in the dirt parking lot.





P. S. Yahoo shows the pike being the shorter route. If you decide to take the turnpike it's Wyoming Valley exit 115. Bear right at the Y . Go 3-4 stop lights and look for Petro's on the right.

 

[FOXY005]

From where I am I will be running 33 N -- I 80 W -- I 380 N

-- I 81 S to Exit 178 B.



Been to the Red Barons Stadium a couple times and thats the quickest route for me.

 

[DTroy]

Ahkay,



From 81 South you take the Avoca exit 178 B and make a left at the stop sign. Bear right at the Y, turn left into Petro's.



I know I'm repeating myself with directions but it'll save somebody the trouble of looking through all the posts.



---------------------



Earl's charged me $22 to overnight a tiny fuel fitting. Oh well, I'm helping to power the economy.

 

[FOXY005]

Overnight can get kind of pricey, especially if it's an AM Delivery.



I beleive I could have found it without the additional directions, I'm sure there is a big "Petro lollypop" sticking up in the air. But thanks for the

additional effort anyway.