The Project Pad

So I figured I would finally make a thread to keep my Audi thread pure of Domestic crap. So here it is. This is my 2001 Dodge Dakota R/T. There are less than 4400 standard (regular) cabs in existence. Take into consideration how many have been wrecked, parted out, crushed, etc. There were over 22,000 extended (club) cabs made in the R/T trim, just to give you an idea just how often these things pop up for sale. I had to drive all the way to Marysville in WA with my buddy in my VW Diesel Caddy to pick this up. Can you say cramped?

So for those who don't know what makes these trucks special here is a fairly complete but brief list.

360ci (5.9L) Pushrod OHV 16v Dodge Magnum Engine. 245hp and 365 ft-lbs of torque stock.
46re Heavy Duty transmission. (Basically a 727tq with overdrive; big pile of shit unless built)
Suspension lowered 1" from factory with under-axle springs
Chrysler 9.25" rear end with 3.92 and a limited-slip differential
Special Edition R/T wheels with a 17" diameter
All-wheel ABS
Rear-wheel drive. NOT A 4x4!!

Here is what I have done to mine. I bought mine 100% stock.

Fully built transmission. Good for 700-800hp
2800 MSAINE High Stall Converter
Cal-trac Traction Bars
CAI (I dont like listing these stupid things but I got it for $40 lol)
SCT Pro-Racing software and tuner. I write my own tunes and program the truck myself.
Full true-dual exhaust. 2.5" with no balance pipe going into 2 Spintech 9000 mufflers and dumping out the rear. LOUD but quiet when idling and cruising.
LC-1 Wideband AFR Controller and Gauge
Ford 24 lbs/hour 4-hole injectors
2x52mm throttle body. (Stock is 2x50mm)
HPR Heavy Duty Silicone Radiator Hose Kit
Spintech Mid-Length Headers
Added and wired in a HUD overhead console
Energy Suspension Front Control Arm Bushings (Polyurethane)
New Ball Joints
Cuda Rollpan (dont quite remember the brand)
THE CAM!!!! specs on page 3
Double Roller Timing Chain
Hardened Pushrods with guide plates
Adjustable 1.6 Chevy roller rockers on a stud mounted conversion with polylocks
Ported Heads and 3-angle valve job
1-piece SS valves with .550" springs
Mopar M1 4bbl Intake manifold


Stuff that has been sitting on the ground waiting to be installed:

Safety Loop (driveline loop)



Future Mods:

Electric cut-outs
The 408 as detailed below
Small cosmetics such as new paint and some good looking headlights
QA1 Shocks
A 6/7 drop kit
Develop a 4-link kit over winter of 2014/2015


The Current Plan:

I am currently building a high hp, high torque stroker motor. I am using a donor 360 block out of a Durango. It is going to be stroked out to a 408 which is .030" over and a 4" crank. So 4.030" bore x 4.00" stroke. Very nice square motor. Now the fun part. I'm going to use Chevy 6.2" rods which means I'll have to order custom pistons as stock Dodge rods are 6.123". This means the wrist pin boss needs to be moved up in the piston. Going to use pro-gram 4-bolt main cap conversion kit, forged scat crank (overkill I know but I like the added safety), Aluminum edelbrock heads which I will port myself. I will re-use the intake manifold, roller valve train, exhaust, etc. Now....lets talk...THE CAM.......

Compression is going to be a healthy 10.6:1 so I'll need a fairly well rounded cam. I'm going to most likely end up with a 236/242 @ .050" duration with a total of about .600" lift with factory 1.6:1 rocker ratio. I may go bigger and use Rhoads pop-up lifters for streetability. I'm shooting for 500 crank hp.

And now....PICTURES!!!!!!!!







Factory exhaust had 3 cats....




Spintech 9000!!!!


SLICKS!!!!


Spintech Headers!!!








Stock Pile of Shit transmission and stock stall


Fully Built TRANS!!!


2800 High Stall!








The Future 408!


M1 Mopar Intake Manifold!


DODGE VIPER SRT-10 WHEELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Installing Wideband




If it's one thing my Audi has taught me, it's do your wiring clean, neat, and professional


WE HAVE WIDEBAND!!!

Looks good man! Keep the updates coming!!! Your keeping this N/A right?

Yeah. Thought about building a supercharged stroker but reliability and longevity go way down

Nice. I always liked these because my dad had one of the 1994 ones with the 315 in it. It made nice noises... We always appreciated the 5.9s when we saw them around.

'MURICA!

Nice truck

So been tuning last couple days. Turns out the truck would go insanely rich past 4000 rpm. Most likely due to the stock intake manifold. I was hitting like 10.5 AFRs after 4300 and low 11s. After many WOT runs, Ive got it almost down. I got it at about high twelves to about 4700 rpm where it goes back to high 11s again. Running 33* of timing but all I got to say is what a difference on 3-2 downshift. Way more torque and it doesnt seem to drop off as quick. I want that mid-14 second run this year!!

I was behind one the other day, I think it was a single cab. No story, just crusin down a country rd.

Looks good! Nice to see this got its own thread. Im not a huge fan of the bubble body. but the RT was a beast when set up right! Have fun, cant wait to see the stroker build in progress.

Just ordered my wheel adapters!!! OMG SO EXCITED!!! VIPER WHEELS!!!!!

ADAPTERS ARE HERE!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!! VIPER WHEELS TONIGHT!!!!

Post pics! What are the adapters sizing and where did you get them?

They are 1.25" spacer/adapters. I got them from Fred at wheeladapter.com

$190 for 2. But comes with all hardware and is made from alcoa metal

Upon first looking at the site, the big "Made in the U.S.A" logo jumps out to me.
It's crazy how much more money I am willing to spend for a good quality American part.
For Audi though it's all U.S. Custom($$$) or made in Germany(Thailand, I know Meyle does some cheapy labor parts)

I want pictures as well.

Are they on yet???

Yes they are on. I'll take pictures tomorrow. They look pretty damn bitchin. Gotta get them balanced though, they are definitely out of balance and I can really feel it over 35mph

FEAST YOUR EYES UPON THE AWESOMENESS THAT IS VIPER WHEELS!!!!

Looks good man!

Lol looks good for a truck? :-)

on my stinking phone!

Just cant wait to start buying the stroker parts. Got the block just gotta start buying the internals.

Took 2nd place in the Truck/Van/SUVs category at a local Mopar car show on Saturday.

Congrats man!

Congrats on the award, and the wheels look awesome! Now, can we do somthing about the fender gap?

Im working on a lowering kit right now for it lol

wow those viper wheels really set that truck off!

Guess I should do a quick update. I got the silicone radiator hoses done and mounted up on the truck.

I'm getting ready to do the headers for the truck which means I gotta buy the electric cutouts LOL