Recent content by Russ Knight

Still waiting on the engine work by MRE Power Products in Greenville Florida. Got the headers ordered from John at Southeast Performance. Going with TTI long tubes. Hopefully they will fit without too much hassle. I highly recommend John. He is super helpful and has a vast knowledge of Dakotas...

Apparently Hotchkis no longer makes components for the Dakota.

Who makes the best front and rear suspension kit for the Dakota? I'd like to lower it just a tad. Thanks!

It wasn't too bad. Back bed was easy, removed six cab bolts, disconnected the steering shaft, a couple of brake lines, one harness connector right behind drivers fender well, and the parking brake cable. The parking brake cable required a special tool and was the biggest PITA of any of it.

That don't have any for the LA swap.

More progress. Going to pressure wash, detail, and paint the frame. Going to leave the body off to test fit engine, transmission, and especially the headers.

Yes, auto A-518 46 RH. Having it built now by a shop in Gainesville, FL. Hoping to get into the low 12's high 11's. Mostly going to be a street truck, just cruising around, burning rubber, showing the gay squat crowd how it's supposed to be done. 🤣

Anyone have any good pictures of long tube headers installed on a second gen Dakota with a V8?

I'll go to a Ford 9" when that one goes. I'll mini tub it and rework the rear suspension then as well.

Thanks for the info! I'll be using TTI long tube headers and I'm having an A-518 46RH trans built. It should be ready sometime this week. Waiting on the machine work to be done on the block. Once it's done, I'll know what size pistons to order. Going with a forged stroker kit. I will have the...

I'm posting in the Dakota forum. Just getting started on a build.

Making progress. I decided to do a complete frame off build. Block is at the machine shop. Working with John at Southeast Performance sourcing parts. He is super helpful. Waiting on a parking brake cable disconnect tool to pull the cab.

You're a good man. Thank you and God bless.

Of course not. I'm relatively new here and don't know you or anything about you. Your obvious knowledge and fact based information is what changed my mind, and it is greatly appreciated. Just like I said in a previous post, I'm open to direction and correction. I don't know what I don't know...

Thank you again. Your input completely changed the direction of my project.