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18:10:45 - 11/14/2024
Dakota Performance
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David
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/08/2002
08:35:45
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 Subject: Weekend Upgrade Comments
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Message:
Over the weekend, I had a mechanic friend do the following to my 2000 Dakota 3.9:
Installed: Intense Performance 7" big mouth air intake, Autolite 3923 plugs, JBA 8mm wires, Borg Warner cap and rotor, 180 T-stat, Rototech drilled/slotted rotors and Stillen metal matrix brakes.
My thoughts and comments on these upgrades:
For those of you who have had questions in regards to the cruise cable being in the way of this particular intake, you will most certainly have a problem if you go with the 9" filter. The 7" however sits right up against the cable. My friend had to bend the cable bracket slightly, but it will fit without a cable modification. Cleaning and re-oiling may be a bit more of a hassle because I will need to remove the intake at the air hat rather than by where the filter clamps to the intake tube.
Do I feel a difference with the new intake and the upgraded tune-up? I "think" I do, but I honestly was expecting more. Maybe my expectations were too high from the beginning. The truck is more responsive, and does sound better, but it's not as pronounced as I would have hoped. I believe I need to now go to the next stage (TB upgrade, cat back exhaust and computer chip) in order to really start feeling the difference.
As for the new Rototech drilled/slotted rotors and Stillen brakes. Yeah, they feel better, but haven't really had the opportunity to test them under emergency braking conditions. Under normal braking conditions, in my opinion, they brake just like the stock system did. Maybe it's just me.
In total (including labor cost to the guy who installed all of this for me), I spent close to $600. At this point, I'm not so sure it was worth it, to be honest. I suppose it will as I continue to upgrade the truck, but I will admit I am a bit disappointed with what I got in return.
Hope all are doing well,
David
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Halo3
GenIII
 
4/08/2002
09:33:36
|  RE: Weekend Upgrade Comments
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Message:
One thing to keep in mind is that you have only done a couple minor performance mods. As such, there are still "weak" points. For instance, you have installed an after-market intake/air filter, but you are still running the stock throttle body. So your throttle body is most likely your bottleneck now. Let's say you get a FastMan throttle body. You'll then be faced with an engine that can intake larger amounts of air & fuel, but cannot dump it out the exhaust fast enough....time for exhaust components. Bottom line is that it takes a whole slew of mods to really tap into the potential of an engine, as they are all only a part of a bigger "picture."
Lastly, some performance increases may not be immediately "felt," as the PCM will have to "learn" the capabilities of the new gear.
Semper Fi,
Halo3
'00 Lt. Driftwood 4x4 SLT DQC w/5.9L
http://home.attbi.com/~quadcab
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