Saltillo Assembly Milestone

[TFucili]

File this under worthless trivia:
I just saw an article on another forum saying Saltillo celebrated reached the 4 Millionth truck assembled there.

 

[DavidC]

Filed

 

[RVTRKN]

I bought three trucks from that plant, to include current 2019.

 

[TFucili]

I bought three trucks from that plant, to include current 2019.

Same here.

 

[Wiredawg]

I had a 93 W250, 2000 2500, 2002 3500, 2003 2500, 2009 4500, and my current 2017 5500 Cummins trucks, and a 1996 and 2019 gasser Ram.

So, I may have known what was built where, but today, I'm not exactly sure. Anyhoo, I'm a contributor to the Ram legacy.

I forgot I had a 1989 Dakota Sport 4x4, terrible mileage, power, and clunkie rearend.

Cheers, Ron

 

[nukegm]

werent they going to move hd truck assembly to michigan? thought i read that somewhere. cheers!

 

[DavidC]

I have had a 96 1500 gasser, the current 99 2500 and the wife had an 02 Dakota as far as trucks are concerned. I know the 99 was built there, not sure of the others.

 

[TFucili]

werent they going to move hd truck assembly to michigan? thought i read that somewhere. cheers!

Yes, but then I read they decided to increase overall truck capacity, and that HDs would remain in Saltillo.

 

[HPSimpson]

I was under the impression that FCA was going to leave HD assembly in Saltillo.

 

[RVTRKN]

I loved my 92 Dakota with the 318 V8.

 

[Wiredawg]

I loved my 92 Dakota with the 318 V8.

A V8 is EXACTLY what the Dakota needed. The 6 was underpowered AND got terrible fuel mileage. ONLY Chrysler product I DIDN'T like.

EDIT: It was beautiful and solid...just terrible performance and fuel mileage. Dodge had the notorious clunkie rear end that sucked running cruise control with 5spd standard.

I'll bet your 318 got better fuel mileage than the 6 as well.

Cheers, Ron

 

[DavidC]

I loved my 92 Dakota with the 318 V8.

By 02 the windshield was slanted back so far it made getting in/out a hassle. At that time I was 6' 165lbs. Of course her 05 Sienna is just about as bad and with the tri-level fusion not making it any easier. Of course the 99 has a man size opening.

 

[mwilson]

At the 160,000 mile mark my ‘06 Saltillo built Mega Cab remains tight and solid..

The driver’s door hinge has worn just enough to create a wind noise when the Lance is on, the air gets trapped between the camper overhang and the trucks roof which puts positive air pressure against the top of the door..then it makes a noise.

But that’s it!!

 

[RVTRKN]

The 92 Dodge Dakota was the first truck with the new fuel injected motor.

"Magnum 318
Chrysler introduced the Magnum 318 in 1992 that came with a new block and heads. The Magnum featured high-flow heads for better intake. The Magnum, which was used in Dodge trucks, was a better engineered and more efficient engine. But by 2002, the 318 was dropped in favor of the 360 that remained as the only high-powered optional engine for the Dodge pickups."

That little truck with the 318 was fast and powerfull. It was the first of the Magnum series engine. To this day my CB call sign is "Magnum Hammer"

"because I have a Magnum engine, and I keep the hammer down"

Unfortunatly I bought the new 94 Dodge Ram 360 2500HD truck, and the wife wanted to keep the 93 Dodge Shadow instead and traded in the Dakota, which we later regretted. That shadow was a POC.

 

[TFucili]

A V8 is EXACTLY what the Dakota needed. The 6 was underpowered AND got terrible fuel mileage. ONLY Chrysler product I DIDN'T like.

EDIT: It was beautiful and solid...just terrible performance and fuel mileage. Dodge had the notorious clunkie rear end that sucked running cruise control with 5spd standard.

View attachment 115278

I'll bet your 318 got better fuel mileage than the 6 as well.

Cheers, Ron

I've never had any luck with V-6s. I remember when they first came on the scene, the big sales pitch was V-8 performance with 4 cylinder fuel economy. Every one I have owned was just the opposite. My '92 4-Runner with pos 3VZE got worse MPG than our '82 C-30 with Jerr-Dan rollback and 454 4V. My wife's '06 Charger with the 3.5 was a dog and got terrible MPG. We were set to order a Hemi, and changed our mind at the last minute, big mistake. They say the Pentastar is better, but...

On Edit:
I forgot the '88 Bronco II with 2.9. Oh brother!

 

[Wayne M.]

My 04 is a Saltillo child. No complaints whatsoever, except for the rotting bed and recently failing paint, but hey it’s getting on in age.
The 98 Durango was UAW built in Newark De and the 14 I think was assembled at Jefferson. I actually toured the Newark plant and parts Depot before it closed.

 

[RVTRKN]

If my 94 was built in Saltillo, thats makes 4 trucks.

 

[HPSimpson]

Never though about it but I had 4 trucks as well all have been great vehicles.

 

[gsbrockman]

I forgot I had a 1989 Dakota Sport 4x4, terrible mileage, power, and clunkie rearend.

Cheers, Ron

You think the 1989 fuel mileage was bad.... I had a first year (1987) Dakota 4x4 with 3.9L V6.....it had a 2 bbl carburetor on it.

 

[Wiredawg]

You think the 1989 fuel mileage was bad.... I had a first year (1987) Dakota 4x4 with 3.9L V6.....it had a 2 bbl carburetor on it.

A friend bought an 89 Chevy Silverado with 350 V8, 5spd and got about 5MPG better than me. And mine only had a 15Gal tank. Mine was a 3.9L as well. Only kept the truck about a year.