I love the simplicity of this 1987 Dodge Dakota. For one of our budget-hunt finds, it’s as smooth and as simple as it gets: good stock paint, black aftermarket hood, stock interior augmented by gauges and a floor shifter, and overall a land-speed vibe courtesy of the disc wheels. It’s not a serious sleeper, but it’s not so outlandish that you’ll get mocked mercilessly. This is the kind of truck someone’s grandfather put together, with well thought out modifications that made financial sense and worked.
The powertrain choice, a small-block Chevrolet hooked to a TH350, is simple, dirt-cheap, and parts for them pretty much fall out of trees. The Ford 9-inch rear axle is a solid choice that gearheads all can agree upon. And for a five thousand dollar budget, you will struggle to do better for the dollar. You’ll be spending every last one on this hybrid, but you’ll have plenty of fun with it, for sure. Keep it as-is, and if the Chevy gear really bothers you, at least it runs and drives while you save up to build a small block Mopar and 727 to take it’s place.
Had me going until I found it was Chevy powered.
Off to Craigslist to see what I can find with a Mopar smallblock.
Works for me…
all good until one opens the hood. All I see is a heap-o-cheap. *hand jerking motion* First order would be to yank out the Mr. Gasket special and spend some decent coin on something more fitting for those fenders, like a 5.0 coyote. HAAHAHAHA jokes.
Wow, you Fomoco and Mopar lovers are SO sensitive. Jeez, some might think you’re some kind of wimpy loser from England.
The English Guy doesn’t even bother any more
The most important decision one makes in land speed racing is the initial vehicle choice. You look for aerodynamics.This is like looking at aerodynamics and saying, “You are over rated, I can bludgeon my way through you with my brother in law’s leftover camaro motor!” Trouble is, you can’t. If you want to play that game, how’s about proper KB Hemi, or a Wayne county “no NOSSSS” B-1? Sheesh. I don’t like it, I guess.
The nose needs to be lowered around 2 inches.