<<Give us more details as to how you came to this conclusion.
Part #'s? Dr. Pat >>>
I bought my Dakota in Feb. of 1997. Some time that spring/summer,
I read an article in Truckin (I believe) where they had installed the
RT magnum package (hipo cam, air filter element, exhaust, headers, etc.)
on the truck but the article said that the key to the package was
the hipo computer. They did give a part number and mentioned
that MP was nearing completion on an improved one. In the back of my mind,
I assumed the one that they put on was the '96 hipo computer.
The problem was that I could not find anyone who listed a hipo computer
for the '96, not even MP.
At the DML Toronto meet last November, my son noticed that Jon had a non-OE
computer on his truck and I saw it mentioned later in one of Jon's posts.
I contacted him and he said that MP did bring out '96 hipo computers around
Nov. of '97. His computer was for the 5-speed manual (P4876137).
I talked with a Dodge mechanic in Ontario and he suggested that I either
try one out or try to see if there were any major differences between
the two model years. Since I didn't have access to a '96 hipo computer,
I spend last December (about 200 hours) searching the web
for detailed specs on '96 and '97. During this search, I came across
a company in GA that listed the '96 hipo computers. At the same time,
I put an inquiry into Northern Mopars as to whether it would work.
I knew of Northern Mopars in Ontario as mainly a restoration company.
I came to the conclusion that every major item that I could think of
(engine, transmission, emission controls, sensors, cable connectors, etc.)
seemed to check out. The increased HP/torque of the '97 was due to
a freer exhaust system (improve exhaust manifold, I think). The only major
difference, except for the styling makeover and revised suspension, was that
the '97 came with two airbags.
About two hours after I had ordered it from the company in GA, I received a
phone call from Northern Mopars in Ontario saying that they had check
their sources and said it would work.
The MP '96 computer for the 4-speed auto. is P4876138.
I am bothered that Mopar Performance still does not list these
computers and I'm hoping that the GA company can get it. If they can
and it doesn't work out, anyone with a '96 5.2L auto. want to buy
a MP hipo computer.
Bob
Burlington, Ontario
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