xj-grin
NAXJA Member #1096
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
So the Titan, while super cushy and powerful, was also super huge, and expensive. While I'm a touch nervous about being back in the "something could break anytime - jeepish" place, I'm pretty psyched not to be in hock to the bank...
The new ride is a 2001 Dodge Dakota SLT QuadCab 4x4 -- straightest body I have ever seen on a used car, but it had the standard mopar electrical gremlins, and while the previous owner (original, bought it with 2 miles on it) was fairly decent at changing the oil and doing the brakes, it had some delayed maintenance issues.
Yes Fred, it is NOW in my driveway...
I really miss the uber comfy seats in the Titan... something will have to be done about it. So far fixed a short in the stereo, and replaced the blower fan rheostat inside -- heat is hot, air is cold. Speakers suck though, and will likely replace the factory Infinity head unit and amp with some aftermarket stuff this winter. Still need to work out some wonky power window issues
Weird custom fit carpet liner in the entire bed -- not sure if it will stay or not. It's nice, but at times it smells like a wet dog.
So 171k on the stock 4.7 -- have flushed and re-filled power steering and brake fluid, both were nasty. changed the oil, replaced the plugs (holy massive gaps on the old ones batman
), seafoamed the mother (before the oil change), chased down a couple vacuum leaks/CE codes (all clear now), runs like a champ.
Came with the 45rfe auto tranny, but I know from my Grand Cherokee experience that the 45rfe is really a 5-45rfe (same tranny that was behind 5.7 hemis until recently), with a different computer flash. So, I put a little Jeep in my Dodge, in the form of a 2002 WJ TCM, which gave me the 5th forward gear, a 0.67 super-OD (stock is 0.75). I averaged 15.8 mpg on the last tank (still 2 mpg better than the Titan!), but we'll see what the new OD does for me.
Sometime this week I'll get the Bilstein shocks in (still on original factorys... rough), and maybe swap some new tie rod ends in... steering isn't bad, but a little spongy. T-Case fluid (NV233 - a HD 231 with electric solenoid shifting) is OK, but I think I'll put some new juice in anyway... not as red as I would like. Axles were recently serviced (8" front IFS, 9.25 rear -- 3.55 gears), so no work there.
Will likely put a 1" body lift on it, and about 1.5" of suspension when the tires wear (Goodyear Wranglers AT-S... could be years) so I can run 285s, as I feel like I'm sitting on the friggen asphalt. But, it'll do.
The new ride is a 2001 Dodge Dakota SLT QuadCab 4x4 -- straightest body I have ever seen on a used car, but it had the standard mopar electrical gremlins, and while the previous owner (original, bought it with 2 miles on it) was fairly decent at changing the oil and doing the brakes, it had some delayed maintenance issues.
Yes Fred, it is NOW in my driveway...
I really miss the uber comfy seats in the Titan... something will have to be done about it. So far fixed a short in the stereo, and replaced the blower fan rheostat inside -- heat is hot, air is cold. Speakers suck though, and will likely replace the factory Infinity head unit and amp with some aftermarket stuff this winter. Still need to work out some wonky power window issues
Weird custom fit carpet liner in the entire bed -- not sure if it will stay or not. It's nice, but at times it smells like a wet dog.
So 171k on the stock 4.7 -- have flushed and re-filled power steering and brake fluid, both were nasty. changed the oil, replaced the plugs (holy massive gaps on the old ones batman
), seafoamed the mother (before the oil change), chased down a couple vacuum leaks/CE codes (all clear now), runs like a champ.Came with the 45rfe auto tranny, but I know from my Grand Cherokee experience that the 45rfe is really a 5-45rfe (same tranny that was behind 5.7 hemis until recently), with a different computer flash. So, I put a little Jeep in my Dodge, in the form of a 2002 WJ TCM, which gave me the 5th forward gear, a 0.67 super-OD (stock is 0.75). I averaged 15.8 mpg on the last tank (still 2 mpg better than the Titan!), but we'll see what the new OD does for me.
Sometime this week I'll get the Bilstein shocks in (still on original factorys... rough), and maybe swap some new tie rod ends in... steering isn't bad, but a little spongy. T-Case fluid (NV233 - a HD 231 with electric solenoid shifting) is OK, but I think I'll put some new juice in anyway... not as red as I would like. Axles were recently serviced (8" front IFS, 9.25 rear -- 3.55 gears), so no work there.
Will likely put a 1" body lift on it, and about 1.5" of suspension when the tires wear (Goodyear Wranglers AT-S... could be years) so I can run 285s, as I feel like I'm sitting on the friggen asphalt. But, it'll do.
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