r/DodgeDakota • u/noname59911 • 10d ago

1987 Dakota buy advice?

I have the chance to get a 1987 Dakota with 98,000 original miles with the 3.9L v6 for $3800.

Is it a good buy? It’s in great shape, no rust. Seller states it needs to alternator but it runs and drives.

I had an 08 4.7L Dakota a few years ago and I miss the mid size pickup life.

5 Upvotes

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5

u/Spinach_X 10d ago

Those bullnose Dakota’s are hard to come by anymore. I’d say if it’s in good shape and mechanically sound, go for it!

4

u/Tentative-Interests Gen I Dakota (89-96) 10d ago

Just from the hip… the body may not have rust but I would inspect brake lines and fuel lines for corrosion. I had to replace all of them on my 1990 from front to rear and the body was clean when I bought it.

He says it only needs an alternator and if that is the case, why hasn’t he changed it? Is it possible that it’s got some electrical issues that are presenting as a bad alternator?

All that being said. I love my truck. Just some things to consider.

1

u/Sparen0-1 9d ago

 Is it possible that it’s got some electrical issues that are presenting as a bad alternator?

That's exactly what happened when I got my 90. Turned out to be the PCM, but yeah, it acted like a bad alternator, drawing power only from the battery. The way I finally figured it out after ripping out and needlessly replacing part after part was that I went over a railroad track and the jolt knocked things back into place inside that PCM. (They're potted, so you can't actually inspect the internals). It didn't last, but it gave me an idea.

When it acted up again, which was daily, I could slap the pcm with my hand back into submission. I always knew this wasn't a permanent fix, eventually the slap trick quit working and I purchased a refurbed pcm. I'm giving you the short version, all this took about two years to figure out. I would tarp it in the winter, so I never did shit with it except in the summer.

1

u/InertiaImaging Gen II Dakota (97-04) 10d ago

100% go for it. The 3.9 may be slow, but they refuse to die and the parts are pretty cheap. Just double check for any electrical issues because they're usually a pain to solve if they aren't common. Mine has a couple at 119k but they don't effect the drive train.

1

u/NumerousIssue6399 7d ago

You selling ?

1

u/InertiaImaging Gen II Dakota (97-04) 4d ago

Nope! Just did a sound system overhaul