Kipper's Road Legal! 

"19JRC99" (19jrc99) 11/20/2016 at 21:02 • Filed to: Kipper, Dakota, Dodge Dakota, 1996, Truck

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After having it for one year, Dad FINALLY let me register and insure my beloved 1996 Dakota. And I still can’t drive it. Still a little rough with the stick (I cannot for the life of me leave in second gear), needs the front end checked out, probably needs new rear shocks, and all but one of the front seat belt buckles are broken. Still only got my permit, so I can’t drive it to school (Dad works, Mom can’t drive stick). Oh well. Here’s a picture of it out in the street.

(Rough, I know. Big plans for it.)

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:05

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I wouldn’t worry a ton about not being great at leaving in second gear. If you need to make a second gear start, it’s probably because you’ve got snow and the tires are going to spin rather than the truck stalling anyway. Good luck with it, those Dakotas are cool trucks.

19JRC99 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/20/2016 at 21:06

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Thanks! Again, big plans.

Fix rust.

Chassis saver everything underneath.

5.9 swap (The V6 is probably more than enough, but I, like every kid who grew up around muscle cars, crave the sound of a V8 snarling under the hood.

Paint.

Rollpan.

Basically, since it’s 2WD, I plan for Street Stomper rather than Mud Bogger.

atfsgeoff > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:09

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you shouldn’t have to pull out in 2nd gear anyway, that’s what 1st is for.

19JRC99 > atfsgeoff 11/20/2016 at 21:10

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I know. Dad was trying to teach me for if I ever need it. Kept stalling it. Gave up.

McLarry > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:15

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Congrats! My first vehicle was a ‘97 (different generation, I know, but still - big soft spot for Dakotas). I think mid-size pickups like these are the best to learn on. Good on you going manual too - that’s a lot to take on from the get-go.

19JRC99 > McLarry 11/20/2016 at 21:16

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Wasn’t my choice- but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Grandfather overheard a guy at a local auto parts store who he’s done business with for years talk about selling it and thought it’d be a good truck for me, so he bought it. Can’t agree more.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:17

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Ooh. Dakotas are cool.

atfsgeoff > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:17

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You have to feather the hell out of it to start in a tall second gear. Not good for the clutch, but it can be done. No real reason to do it unless you’re stuck in second because of a broken shifter (which I’ve had the displeasure of experiencing once).

19JRC99 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 11/20/2016 at 21:18

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Agreed. Since I bought it, a couple other first gens have popped up. Kid I go to school with has one, and (I’m in an alternative school) someone at the high school next to my school has a white regular cab.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:18

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Manual, non-fullsize truck master race!

Stick shift only gets easier. I had to drive my truck 20 miles home with only one short stint out in a broken $600 manual mustang under my belt. It was terrifying.

19JRC99 > atfsgeoff 11/20/2016 at 21:19

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Thanks. Dad kept saying I wasn’t giving it enough gas. He also argued about sitting on the clutch at a light being bad for the trans- I thought I heard that it was infact better to put it in neutral?

19JRC99 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/20/2016 at 21:21

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I wouldn’t mind a fullsize, either. Hell, in the spring I damn near bought my buddy’s ‘87 Ram for $300 (stripes and a 318 with Cherry Bombs dumped under the door do things to a 17 (16 at the time) year old mind. Dad said no way. To be fair, the body was just as rough as my Dakota, didn’t run, and the trans had no reverse.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:23

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Can’t say I blame your dad there, that sounds like a rolling ticket magnet.

19JRC99 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 11/20/2016 at 21:27

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It wasn’t that. He thought I’d never get any money out of it (I used flipping it as a selling point, did the theoretical math. $600 JY trans, get it running, paint wheels, sell for $1500. It was total horseshit though, I’d have kept it.) and said no.

atfsgeoff > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:28

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If I’m sitting for more than 10 seconds, I’ll put it in neutral and stay off the clutch.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:30

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Excellent. Always makes me glad to see teenagers who care about vehicles picking up the torch. Looking forward to updates on the truck.

19JRC99 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/20/2016 at 21:41

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Not until Spring, when I get the new wheels mounted. Supposedly. Depends on Christmas and money and gifts and whatnot. But back to the wheels. Picked up a set of American Racing Bajas for it off of Craigslist for $80.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:44

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Those are sharp, gonna be a good look for it. Definitely can’t beat that price either.

19JRC99 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/20/2016 at 21:45

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I called the second I got home from school. Saw them and said “Oh, these are mine. No way in Hell am I letting anyone else snatch them up.”

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:50

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Man, I miss my Dakota.

19JRC99 > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 11/20/2016 at 21:52

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Any pics of it? What year was it?

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:55

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It was a 2002, 4.7+5 speed

19JRC99 > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 11/20/2016 at 21:57

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Driftwood Satin metallic? That’s what mine used to be before rust and rattlecans.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 22:02

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Nope, yellowish light. It had 100k on it in that picture. Here’s what it looked like new. I kept the window sticker as a souvenir.

19JRC99 > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 11/20/2016 at 22:04

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What’d the sticker say it was?

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 22:48

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PS2, bright silver metallic

19JRC99 > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 11/20/2016 at 22:50

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Ah. Mine’s PFA, Driftwood Satin Metallic. I haven’t seen many with this paint color, either.

Nauraushaun > 19JRC99 11/21/2016 at 06:48

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Leave in 2nd? As in, 0km/hr in 2nd gear? Why would one do that? Isn’t it as simple as a whole lotta revvin’?

Nibbles > 19JRC99 11/21/2016 at 11:18

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V6 right? 1st may be short but there’s nothing wrong with starting in it :) The 3.9 is a little lacking on torque, you may be better served using all five cogs.

Also let me say right now that I pray you don’t have to do front ball joints. Uppers are screw-in and are an absolute PAIN IN THE ASS!

Nibbles > 19JRC99 11/21/2016 at 11:19

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I would kill to find a decent set of Dak wheels. F’n six-bolts UGH

19JRC99 > Nibbles 11/21/2016 at 12:22

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I know. What I really want are Weld ProStars or the cheaper Cragar equivalent. Fuckin’ six bolt.

19JRC99 > Nibbles 11/21/2016 at 12:23

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Hah, I’ll leave that to the shop. BTW, mine’s more Jalop than yours! (Sorry, had to.)

Nibbles > 19JRC99 11/21/2016 at 12:26

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Don’t lie; I saw your score

Welcome to the club though! Nice to see another 1G Dak owner, even if it is two cylinders and two wheel-drives short ;)

19JRC99 > Nibbles 11/21/2016 at 12:28

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Yeah, I goofed. Two cylinders may change. If I can, I’ll eventually swap a 5.9 into it. Weirdly, I prefer 2WD Dakotas. Agree that it’s nice to see another 1st gen. Finding parts for these sucks ass though.