98 Dodge Dakota Frame

[martin53]

Anyone ever do a 98 Dakota frame swap on a pilot house seems everyone uses 87- 96 Dakotas is there any difference in a 98. There's one for sale down the street.

[Plymouthy Adams]

yes....frame is different width...what part this plays with a truck I cannot answer but if doing a sedan it is the only donor for X years vice the earlier frame for other years.......early Dakota has 5 lug wheels....93 (thereabout) up will have 6 lug wheels...early Dakotas have different spring rates 4/6/8 and also lighter suspension parts that will not interchange 4/6/8

[William Davey]

Plymothy is correct that the frame is a different width, and so is the wheel track.  I got a differential out of an 89 dakota that is 62 inches between wheel mounting surfaces which is perfect for my '55 C-3-B8.  I don't know the correct width for the earlier Pilot House trucks.  This will affect how the tires fit in the fender openings.  The 87-91 had 5 bolt on 4.5 inch lug pattern so that's one less thing to deal with.  The early V-8 and all 4X4's had larger ring and pinions, but I forget how much bigger.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Dakotas..for the most part were 8.250's but some did come with 9.250 ring gears..the 1991 SE I had was equipped with the 9.250 in 3.55 ratio..my dad still owns and drives that truck..

 

another interesting thing about the early Daks are the rear brakes are often 9 inch variety...that is easily upgradable from the Diplomat/5th Aves that had the 7.250 rear gears but larger 10 inch brakes...changing to the larger braqkes is a bolt for bolt swap