Hey Tony,
The GVWR that you're seeing is fully loaded...bed and four passengers (at
an estimated 180 for each person). The bed weight added is about 800-1000lbs.
Subtract 540lbs for three passengers and 1000lbs for the bed being full and
that should give you a better weight rating for your truck. Or...you can
drive it to your local Rock-Yard (or Dumps) and see if they'll be nice
enough to weight it for you.
At 10:10 AM 06/15/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>I noticed the Certificate of Origin listed a totally chubby curb weight - I
>figured it must be a misprint. How can a "mid-size" truck tip the scales
>like a full size? I've got the 3.92 (?) gears - the optional ratio, anyway
>- with the posi and full time 'case (usually keep in it in 2WD). I swapped
>in 4.56s in the Blazer and swore I would never open a pumpkin again as long
>as I live, so stock is it for me.
>
>I'm hoping the K&N and the headers will compensate for the taller meats.
>Also, the Hypertech Programmer can raise shift points a bit, and firm them
>up. Maybe a well applied sledge hammer will coax a downshift out of the
>thing once in a while. Of course, the last downshift I did manage to get
>from it shot from OD to 2nd at 60mph when attempting to pass (hello Rev
>limiter!).
>
>Don't get me wrong, I don't hate my Dak. I like the looks, build quality
>(good solid "shwunk" when you close a door), kick ass sound system (CD and
>Cassette, how can you lose?), good seats, great dash layout, all the clever
>little gizmos, even the Mopar bolt ons are a notch above the usual Smitty
>Builts. I'm just disappointed that a mid size truck running a full size
>powertrain can get its butt whupped by a V6 ZR2.
>
>Tony Angelo
>'99 Solar Yellow Sport, CC, 4X4, Bed Rail/Light Bar, Grill/Brush Guard, 5.5"
>Tuff Country Lift, soon to be 33" Goodyear MTs on the stock wheels (love
>that powder coat!!)
>
>
>>Tony,
>>I think you expected too much from the 318. It's a great engine and it puts
>>out a good amount of power and torque. However, you picked a very heavy
>>truck and have since added more weight to it. You're right about needing
>>torque more than hp, and most of the bolt on mods don't really give much
>>torque. Supercharging would be great but $$$$.
>>What is your gear ratio? Going to steeper gears is probably the best
>>solution to your problem. It will definately improve acceleration,
>>transmission response and probably gas mileage too. Too bad you'll have to
>>change 2 sets of gears. Going to taller tires will make the problem worse.
>>Dr. Pat
>
Bernd D. Ratsch
Pflugerville, TX
http://lonestar.texas.net/~bernd/Dakota.htm
1997 Dodge Dakota SLT/CC (V6)
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