rdab@snet.net wrote:
>
> That gizmo on the rear spring is a proportioning valve. it senses how the
> truck is loaded as a function of the position of the spring relative to
> front spring hanger. When the truck is lightly loaded, it bypasses brake
> pressure back to another proportioning valve mounted on the frame under
> the cab on the drivers side. If it's really rusty, it is possible that
> it may be stuck in the "unloaded" position. Take a *GOOD* look at all of
> the brake lines. If they are really rusty you should replace them. I
> had one of mine blow out a while back and things got really exciting !!!
> If it seems like the front brakes are not working up to par, check the
> proportioning valve under the cab. It has a poppet valve in it that's
> designed to keep the front brakes from engaging until the rear shoes have
> begun to contact the drums. The designers put this valve in a really
> stupid place, as it gets covered with all kinds of crud from normal
> driving, and the poppet valve faces forward. Mine rusted to the point
> where the front brakes wouldn't work at all. About the rusty fuel lines,
> take a good look at the connections where the rubber line is clamped to
> the metal line entering the top of the tank. This area is prone to get
> caked with crud. If it rusts through, it will cause some funky fuel
> delivery problems before an actual leak is apparent. It's also pretty
> hard to see up there. Mine got to the point where I had a 6' dia. puddle
> of gas under the truck after work one day.
>
> About engine mods for performance, forget it. If there are any
> aftermarket goodies available for the early 3.9's I havn't found them.
> The good news is that you have the best automatic trans that CC ever put
> in a Dakota. The A904 has some wierd shift points, but it is pretty
> indestructable.
>
> It's good to see another *Classic Dak* owner on the list. There aren't
> too many of us. I've got the factory shop manuals for the 87, and a lot
> of experience replacing worn out Dakota parts, so feel free to E-mail me
> directly if I can help.
>
> Rich
> 87 4x4 SE 3.9 Auto
you can get performance parts for your 87 3.9 directly from dodge out of
the MP catalog
Russ
-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Happiness is driving an A$$ kicking Mopar =)* * http://home.earthlink.net/~russblahetka * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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