The Dakota was a mid-size pickup offered by Dodge (later RAM) from 1987 to 2011. Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge all exited the intermediate pickup market at about the same time, though Ford and Chevy soon returned. This 1988 Dakota has been sitting in a dark garage/barn for about 15 years and is well-worn at 200,000 miles. With a little effort, you could get it to run as a set of cheap wheels in Malone, Wisconsin. The seller is only looking to get $650 (or less) out of it here on Facebook Marketplace. Another tip brought to us by “Lothar… of the Hill People.”
First-generation Dakotas were on the market through 1996. A variety of engines were offered at different times, including a 239 cubic inch V6, which is likely in the seller’s truck. No mention is made of the transmission selection here, but as a workhorse, a 5-speed manual would be possible. The Dakota was built using components from the existing Dodge parts bin and produced in the same plant as the bigger D/W Dodge trucks. The Dakota is noted for being the first 2WD pickup with rack-and-pinion steering.
We don’t know much about this barn find, but for $650 you probably shouldn’t expect an open library. It has tons of miles, has been sitting for ages, and has really faded paint. There is no mention of rust, but considering that part of the country, don’t rule it out. We don’t see much of the interior except parts that are dirty and (maybe) moldy.
The seller says that if you pour gas into the current carburetor, the truck will fire up. But a new carburetor is suggested. We’re not sure how that conclusion was reache,d as the truck has no battery, and you will have to trailer this pickup anywhere you want it to go, anyway. As a cheap wheels project, maybe this P/U has a possible second life in its future, or it will serve as a donor for another needy Dodge.
200,000 miles? Yikes. My 1993 Dodge Dakota blew its 318 V8 at 219,000 miles.😞
Is that V6 a sawed off 318? Kind of looks like it. 318ci minus 2 cylinders is about 239ci. $650 is pretty cheap for an old truck to use at the dump and such. If the engine is okay and you are handy, and it is not rotten in the frame, might be a good buy.
Yes, it is a sawed-off 318. You are correct, sir.
That steering wheel alone would keep me away from this truck.
The mold is most likely not limited to the steering wheel1.) Tyvek suit, N95, & nitrile gloves. 2.) Clorox x 2 coats. 3.) Armorall to personal needs. 4.) Steering wheel cover. 5.) Drive away. Here in the South, it’s not sometimes the UV damage as it is the moldy interiors.
My Dad had a used 87 Dakota that he drove for many years. When he passed it had over 300k miles on the original V6 and 4×4 drivetrain and still ran great. I sent it on to a new owner.
my first truck was a 88 dakota 4×4 v6 3.9 3 spd auto put 227k on it then overheated it and blew a head gasket drove it to junk yard .great truck ive owned 7 more dakotas current one is 2004 slt quad cab 4.7 4×4 . my 88 didnt have a carburetor it was a throttle body I thought only 87s had carbs not sure .
I picked up a 1988 from the grandson (family friend) of the original owner for $200 in 2001. 88,000 original km . Manual transmission that takes the same oil as the engine.Changed the fuel lines and got it running. Both my sons learned to drive stick with it. I still drive it to work one day per week (fits in the office underground parking – unlike my Ram 2500). No rust in the body- only surface rust from factory spot welder flash- removed and zinc primered. Thick steel body panels- unlike new trucks. Still running the original V6 – no rebuild. Change the plugs and distributor every few years – otherwise, no issues. 102,000 km now. It’ll be a sad day when we part with this little 2wd, reg cab gem.
Nice try, BFs, so close. I had this exact truck, same color, only a 4×4. Had a SLEW of miles, gotten cheap, and a worn transfer case, but if used gingerly, and okay in 2wd, I put even more miles on it. Was a good old truck. My brother had similar results with these, and drives a newer one today. It’s one of the few V6s I’d ever endorse, along with GM 4.3, only because of their V8 roots. Can’t go wrong here, everything can be found online. Not for the inept, but then again, the inept would never look at this. This is a great find for us “dump runnin’, Home Depoin’, fix ‘er in the garage” types, don’t delay here either.
cut it in half and make trailer out of it for that price. scrap the rest and get money back.
🤔
These were decent trucks when new, the parts store I worked at the time bought 3 new 87’s. Capable even with 4 55 gallon drums of oil in the bed. This one has been rode hard and put up wet; the condition of the bed floor speaks volumes regarding careless operation. I’d wager the rear springs are shot and it wouldn’t surprise me if the frame was cracked. To dent bed floor that badly means someone repeatedly dropped 500lbs from a height that wasn’t prudent! Parts unit then sell it for scrap, you’ll get $200.
If I recall correctly this year Dakota was a throttle body injected 239. The multi point injection came in with the “Magnum” version of the same motor in 1992, and bumped the horsepower up a good bit. I had a 1989 4wd base model that I sold running with 316,000 miles on it. Should have kept it. We have a 1992 SLE 4wd here as our farm truck and it only has 69k miles on it. These are good little trucks.
yes my 88 left me stranded 1 time when the map sensor decided to quit mapping . had a 93 had v6 magnum had the fuel rail . used for plowing it had a 1 off auto trans with vaccum control shifted so smooth compared to electric
Where is this truck at ?
Malone, Wisconsin
Malone is just NE of Fond Du lac couple miles, about 50 miles N of Milwaukee.
I had one of these but darned if I can remember the year. It had the 3.9 and it said Magnum. I live in Arizona but the truck spent most of it’s life in Michigan and it showed. Heck of a lot of body rust including bigger wheel wells courtesy of salt. Mandatory old driver’s license plates floor on the driver’s side 😆. 5spd and around 325k miles on the truck. That little critter ran fantastic and between the gearing and 5spd it had all the power you could reasonably ask for. Cruised the freeway as good as you could ask a non luxury vehicle to. I had my friend who is a mechanic put it on a lift before I bought it. He was really amazed considering how much rust that the body had that the frame wasn’t rust rotted. He poked and prodded and looked it all over underneath and said that as far as the frame and everything underneath was very structurally sound and gave it his seal of approval. I bought it cheap. Drove it daily for 2 years and the darn thing never left me stranded or gave me any issues. Honestly the only reason I sold it was that the arthritis in my hips and legs started to hate driving anything with a manual transmission for anything more than a few miles before it really started protesting. I don’t know about all of them but mine was a darn good little truck despite all the body rust.
Shoot, I’m like 10 minutes away and I’m on Marketplace all the time….how did I miss this one?
These were good reliable trucks and a few of them refused to die regardless of how neglected they were. Many people think the Dakota started with the 2nd generation rounded muscular bodied trucks. Unfortunately when I see a first generation Dakota, I am reminded that it is the reason Chrysler Corporation killed the Jeep Comanche in favor of its own truck identity. I sure wish they would have continued and improved the Jeep Comanche. They could still sell them today!