Shoot me now before the wife does

[volaredon]

I have seen a clean 90s Dakota sitting for about a year now. I like the 87-96 ones the best of all Dakotas, and have been kinda looking for another one to replace my clapped out 96.
They're getting older and most around are more clapped out than mine, the few I still see around here. I ve been hoping to find another 4wd because that's what my 96 is and I mostly drive it as my "mowing truck" to go up and now mine and my wife's parents place 30-ish miles away, plus the 4wd-ness for the Illinois winters. (Work is 35 miles the opposite way from the parents places compared to home)
Not being 4wd is what's been stopping me from knocking on this guy's door sooner. But it does have the 8' bed like my 1st '90 did.
I don't need 4wd except for winter. And just a few days a year at that.

Well I stopped yesterday. Finally saw the garage door open and kids on bikes in the driveway, so I knew that at least someone was there.
This is the first time I've gotten out and looked up close rather than just driving by.
I've thought about finding a bed for my 96 and throwing some fresh paint on it but I have enough projects like everybody else.
I finally knocked on the door, and the guy came out.
Looking at this truck, I haven't seen another this solid and rust free in 10 years around here Id bet. It's a 2 owner '93 with 67k miles on it. And this guy has had it 2-3 years,is all, knew the original owner. What he did say though is he claims to have taken it to a local junkyard and had the trans either rebuilt or replaced, he didn't know which but said that they put in a "dud". I have a known good trans in my garage that would go right in, out of a 91. He never did say what happened to the original trans to cause hum to have it worked on... But I can't believe it's so solid and clean inside and out, truly looks like a 1 owner some "old guy" had. Straight, not dented, or scratched, and less miles than any of the 7-8, 87-96s that I have had so far ever were when I first got them. (And the goes back to the late 90s) This would be the 3rd that I've had that I got because of tranny issues. The first was also a 93, 2wd but a V8 club cab that I converted to a stick.
Other than my current 96 V8 club cab 4wd have been my favorites of the bunch I've had. I got a rotted out 91 last year as a parts truck, it's trans is among what I kept from it.... Trying to figure out what to offer this guy... He did say he'd rather see it be driven than sitting. Man o man.... Only 1/4 of the miles on it compared to the 96 I have now.... And 100k less overall than my 96 had 7 years ago.... Only other thing is I wish it was a318 instead of only 3/4 of one... (It's a 3.9) but Ive had a few of those in my mix over the years)

 

[65 sporty]

It sound like a good truck for the spring, summer and fall.

 

[volaredon]

Yup. But I have a couple of vehicles that fit that description already. If I got this latest one I found, I figured we could park the 300k mile Durango that she drives every day and give it a rest..on days she doesn't have to watch the grandkids and need car seats that is.
When it's nice enough out I got the sportster for those days and the 78 fury 2 door .... Unfortunately if I got this one I'd have to load it up in the bed for traction, and drive it in the winter.....
I do have a 1/2 a 5 gallon bucket of NHOU undercoating left from when I doused the underside of my '12 last fall ....
Even if it sat all summer what I'd like for the winter would be another Durango or another XJ Cherokee but every one of those I see. Is hillbilly lifted and if the body is decent or better they want $16k.... I didn't pay that for my 97 and my 01 XJs combined (yeah they were used when I got em, never have bought new) but unfortunately I don't want a rot bucket even as a winter beater. I don't want something super clean though either...but this Dakota I found is too nice to pass up.

 

[7mopar]

I just junked a 93 3.9 last summer. It was ok. But don't think I would bother with another 3.9 as the 5.2's got better mileage. Not that the 3.9 wouldn't scoot down the road empty. But my F250 only gets 2mpg less per mile loaded the same.
I have heard of these 8 foot bed wonders but have never seen one.
Did I say the Super duty is massive compared to the Dakota. Yes I would rather have a Ram. But I bought what I needed and was available. Can't afford an 8 foot bed Ram with a four door cab.

 

[volaredon]

I know about the (lack of) mileage difference between a 3.9 and a 318. Mileage wise my 90 (pre magnum) was the best of the 3.9 trucks I've had. But in a 30 yo, rust free, ultra low mile truck, the condition of the truck wins out over which engine it has ... I have 318 magnums and 318 computers sitting here that could replace that 3.9 eventually.
Especially here in the middle of road salt country, Illinois. I don't like newer vehicles, as far as Dakota's the newest I have what was a 99, and I sold that because I didn't like it as well as my 96 and older ones I've had. My newest anything ever is the 12 ram 1500 reg can longbed that replaced the 99 Dakota, and it's just blah. No character, and I have 2-1/2 years of a 4 year loan left on that one. First car payment since I paid off my wrangler in 2005. And I can't stand fires or imported brands of vehicles, I get my fill of Ford every day at work. All currently about '13 and newer fords. I'm a fleet mechanic for this miserable state

 

[volaredon]

Well I have my old /6 leaving in the morning, not going to get rich off of it by any means but in getting better than scrap price for it . I built up a fresh one for that truck ...... But gaining a bit of space back, and a few bucks that could go towards that low mileage Dakota.... And I tripped over the A500 a couple of hours ago in the garage that could find it's way into that truck if the one in it now isn't easily fixable w/o pulling it...... At least the one I have in the garage will get it mobile while I overhaul the one that's currently in it .... That one would then stay under the bench til needed ....