Definitely a Y. I own Shelby 233. Shelby also installed a mild shift kit in
the A500. Dodge did not ship any old 1989 Dakota. They were painted red or
white (3-stage paint) and were destined for Shelby from the outset.
----- Original Message -----
From: <Walt@Walt-n-Ingrid.Com>
To: <dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 12:06 PM
Subject: Re: DML: Shelby Daks (was: 3.9 Cooling Question)
>
> Yes they had the A-500. The A-500 didn't have that reputation yet as it
> was a
> new transmission released near the end of the 88 model year. My 88 Sport
> has
> one but it's not listed in the 88 FSM. The FSM and sales brochures I have
> list
> the A-998 as the automatic transmission. The Sport Package was a mid-year
> release in May 1988 and only appeared as a "Coming Soon" in the 88 sales
> literature.
>
> My understanding was the actual engine swap was done at Shelby's shop.
> Those
> trucks left the Dodge plant with 3.9s in them, much like the convertibles
> had
> roofs when they got delivered to ASC. I do recall Shelby had a few 3.9
> engines on eBay a number of years back. IIRC, the description was they
> were a
> couple of left over Dakota engines and they were auctioning them to clear
> them
> out of the warehouse. I remember posting a link to the auction here on
> the DML
> at the time, but I can't locate it in the archives.
>
> as for the VIN number question, I don't know. I would assume they would
> have
> an "X" because they left the factory with 3.9s. But since it was a factory
> authorized conversion, they might have shipped them with a "Y" or
> re-issued a
> new VIN before shipping them to the dealers. It's a good question.
>
> Walt
>
> In article <eerie9$isl$1@bent.twistedbits.net>, jon@dakota-truck.net
> writes:
>>
>>
>> Walt@walt-n-ingrid.com wrote:
>>
>> : Sort of, those trucks actually left the "factory" with V6 engines that
>> were
>> : swapped out with V8s by Shelby in his shop.
>>
>> Does anybody know if he just bolted the 318 up to the stock V6
>> tranny, or was that replaced too? I'm guessing the standard auto
>> tranny behind the V6 in those days would have been the A500, not
>> exactly held in high esteem for its strength and durability 'round
>> these parts. :-)
>>
>> Another question - it seems like I recall the Shelby Daks
>> have a Y in their VIN to indicate the 318 (although I could be
>> wrong). If this is the case, then Dodge must have shipped him
>> something different than any old V6 off the line, unless the
>> VINs were changed after the fact? Does anybody know if the 8th
>> digit of a Shelby Dakota is an X (v6) or Y (v8)?
>>
>>
>> --
>> -Jon-
>>
>> .- Jon Steiger -- jon@dakota-truck.net or jon@jonsteiger.com -.
>> | '96 Kolb Firefly, '96 Suzuki Intruder, Miscellaneous Mopars |
>> `-------------------------------- http://www.jonsteiger.com --'
>
>
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