KustomD

1990 Dodge Dakota

Show Off Of The Week - July 2nd, 2007!!! BIG Thanks to all who have visited and to all who have voted and rated my truck it is much appreciated, please stop by again sometime as I am NOT done with this truck.

Please rate up my ride and I will do the same!

***UPDATE*** Alright so I finally have front and rear shock absorbers (Thanks Scott), also have an appointment for an alignment next week, the truck is getting it's third and FINAL exhaust setup today, at least until I decide to drop in a new powerhouse lol. Let me know what you thinkof it

***UPDATE*** Here is the truck back on FINALLY on Wednesday July 1, 2009 after many LONG nights of work my truck is now laying frame. I will finish the rest of the build log another time...

Let me know what you think... it has been a LONG process, it is not 100% done but it is at least driveable...

***UPDATE*** I guess a good thing to note to all the people viewing, since I have recieved some nice criticism, is that with exception to the exhaust, I BUILT EVERYTHING ON THIS TRUCK, or had friends help but still was involved! In some way shape or form, I figured out how to custom fit parts that were not meant to be on this ride. I have no problem sharing information, just ask. If you like it please rate it up, if not well I didnt build it for you.

Sign the Book, and I will definitely check out your ride!!!

This page will be used for current Photo's of the truck and the current frame work!

This is how the truck looked at the end of 2008, when I put it away for the winter. I got good use of the newly finished interior, however I want to finish the center console and door panels so that is next. This vehicle will be a complete show vehicle when completed at the end of 2009.

***UPDATE*** (MARCH 20, 2009) - Truck now has the box off, air ride disconnected, and is sitting in my shop, I am taking EVERYTHING off the cab back of the frame to prepare for my step notch and 4-link bars (all on order from SuicideDoors.com) This truck likely won't be out till late summer. But it will be fully laying frame properly :-D. I will try and upload some new pictures soon.

***UPDATE*** (April 14, 2009) - Here you go, 8 piece notch kit (4 pieces per side), and below is the current shots of the truck all torn down, NOTHING remains on the frame from the cab back :-D it was a very productive Good Friday! My link tabs are being cut as we speak...

Notice the notch side plate was tacked in place to measure for link tabs. This is NOT permanent, but will be soon enough...

Yes the frame is showing some rust, it is 20 years old after all, it is only surface rust and is actually in much better shape than I figured it would be, once all the tabs, notch, and links are installed it will be sandblasted and painted... the engine bay will be getting trailer fenders, this is going to be one of few first gen Dakota's layed out :-D check back for more soon....

***UPDATE*** (April 17, 2009) Tabs are made!!! picking them up tonight, and going over my notch bridge with the fabricator Joel. This weekend will probably be a wash unfortunately but we will see if I can get some work done. I have 1 month to have the truck at least laying frame for a big show so time will be tight yet again! Thanks again Joel @ Mindliss Metalfab.

***UPDATE*** (April 21, 2009) Matt finally posted his pictures of the tear down, here they are....

Moral of the storey is, when it comes to Air Ride, don't skimp out and do it properly once... This frame should have been done properly from day one, then I wouldn't have ran into the problems I did.... The only thing that hurt about cutting everything out, was the exhaust, it sounded VERY good and looked great (Thanks Extreme) I'm just going to have to get them to do another set up :-D.... 

***UPDATE*** (April 30, 2009) - Just purchased my new 17 Gallon Aluminum Summit Racing fuel cell... along with a blue universal fuel pressure regulator, next is to purchase a in line fuel pump with filter, then I can run all new fuel lines (haven't decided if I will go with braided or not...) and not have to worry about the stock stuff anymore.... My buddy is done his school now so we will be working hard coming next week on the truck, it will be layed out VERY soon!!!

***UPDATE*** (May 14, 2009) - OK so I have been lazy lately, however this long weekend will be a HUGE progress weekend, lots of photos to come, also purchased my new RE7 slam specialties bags for the rear suspension and a new 380CC compressor, the guy selling them didn't need them anymore and were brand new got it all for a GREAT deal. Check back for updates after this weekend.

***UPDATE*** (May 25, 2009) - Here you go, huge update. This is over the course of a long weekend working Saturday, Sunday, & Monday, the equivalent of 30 working hours combined.

Notch and rear crossmember installed and frame cut...

New front crossmember installed, along with first part of bridge crossmember.

This is the end of May Long weekend work, truck was linked by the end of the weekend however the problem was that the upper bars were not angled properly, needed to wait till the next weekend for my fabricator (Joel - Mindliss Metalfab) to cut all the new higher tabs and other goodies.

On to this past weekend. (May 22 - May 24, 2009)

Removed the Inner fenders from the front end...

relocated the bag plate further back on the bar (allows for a stiffer ride, not as bouncy, only downfall is I lose a little bit of lift, not a problem since the bags were already lifting 9 inches), also are the gussets Joel cut for me, they look sexy as hell.

Upper bars finally mounted properly (new higher axel tabs allow them to site flat at ride height) much better than the first mockup.

FINALLY fully linked and laying frame :-D, I do need to cut about 2" out of the fenders on the front end still (truck is up in the front), but it is now done properly! Some more layed out pics...

Alright well the truck now lays frame, HOWEVER there is still lots of work to come, we need to install the rear upper bag plates, plate the frame for more support, install the new inner fenders in the engine bay, fabricate a mounting box for the Fuel Cell, move the air ride brain inside the cab, plumb all the air lines, fuel lines, and new brake lines, cut out the bed and install it onto the bed mounts. and then undercoat the bed and paint the frame/link bars. I need to have the truck ready by June 20th for a huge local mini-truck show, so check back for more updates to come soon, till then....

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Sign My Guest Book . And check out all my pages for more information regarding my ride!

A Special Thanks to my buddies Devan, Matt, Callum, & Scott for helping with the frame work, to Joel @ Mindliss Metalfab for custom cutting my link tabs and helping layout the 4-link (www.mindlissmetal.com), and to my sexy fiancee Jen for putting up with me and the truck, and to my parents for helping me do the work on it especially my dad!