At 05:51 PM 30/01/97 -0500, you wrote:
>I have an '87 Dakota - 4WD - 3.9 engine with 75,000 miles. It is a one
>owner with regular maintenance. It has a very bad pecking noise, and
>I've been told it could be wrist pins or possibly the fuel pump rod. Has
>anyone else had this problem?
>Also, it sounds more like a diesel engine than a gas.
Probably is a bum lifter, these went on my '87 3.9 and on our '89 3.9 within
five years from purchase. Keep your oil clean!
>This is probably
>the worst performing engine that I have ever owned.
The Holley 6280 carburetor is very finacky, it doesn't take well to vacume
leaks(nor does any carb for that matter). The needle valve sits sidways and
has a tendancy to get dirt blocking it open a tiny bit. It can be removed
and cleaned by diconecting the fuel line from the carb, the brass nut that
the fuel line is connected to is the needle valve, remove it clan it with
compressed air and replace it.
The O^2 feedback solenoid in the carb must also be working properly for the
engine to run properly! it gets it's signal from the computer, which bases
it's infomation on the O^2 sensor on the left exaust manifold, just after
the air injection stream. Unfourtunatly the air pump plays a role in how
smooth the engine will run because the O^2 sensor is calabrated with the air
injection working, which probably is not after 10 years.
Check you engine codes...
FAULT CODES FOR 1987 DODGE DAKOTA 3.9 V-6
-----------------------------------------
00 Diagnostic readout tool is reciving power.
11 O^2 solenoid control circut.
12 Problem with transmission unlock relay.
13 ignore(You are unlucky, go to dealer service and give them
your VISA card, ;^)
14 battery was disconnected.
17 electronic throdle control solinoid.
18 canister purge solinoid
21 distributer pickup system
22 O^2 feedback solinod stuck in full lean
23 O^2 feedback solinod stuck in full rich
24 problem with computer
25 charge tempratur switch
26 coolant temprature sensor
28 distance sensor
31 engine was not crancked since battery was disconnected
33 problem with the computer
55 end of messages
88 start of message.
>Any ideas for more power.
My '87 3.9 can cruise at 100 mph (160 km/h) all day long if need be, it just
slows down on hills, and doesn't accelerate like a magnum.
>or how much trouble to change to a 318 C.I.D.?
Your water pump and fan spacer will interfear with the radiator, you need to
find exaust manifolds, and your front spring may be too soft for the extra
weight.
Michael Jass
'87 Dakota Fastback
'62 Cadillac Sedan de Ville.
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