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Thread: Is a Dakota R/T still competitive by today's standards?

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    Default Is a Dakota R/T still competitive by today's standards?

    I recently bought a 99 Dakota R/T club cab and after reading and watching reviews mostly from years ago, it looks like back in the day the truck's performance was comparable to performance cars of it's time. However, moving to the present day, 20 years later, 250 hp isn't uncommon even on affordable sedans. Torque on the other hand I believe is still above average for today standards. Unfortunatelly, this is a also heavy truck.
    So I was wondering, what modern vehicles would a stock Dakota R/T still be competitive against as far as performance goes?

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    As a full weight truck I would say no. There are guys that race them like Steven Dziorny who drives the McCormack Motorsports NHRA Stock Eliminator K/SA 2002 Dakota R/T, look him up.
    408D7B78-D813-44A5-89A9-0673B51E9ED6.jpg

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    Stock...?
    Hell no.
    11.27 @ 118.23
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    BIGROB's Avatar
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    Competitive no. But looks better than anything made today.

    Project Maverick. I feel the need, the need for speed

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    Stock? No way competitive. I think we're lucky to have the aftermarket bolt on parts that we have available. After all, it's a truck motor. 4 stud cylinder sealing and a heavy crankshaft don't make for performance. As mentioned, they're good looking trucks IMO.
    Last edited by ScojoDak; 08-19-2018 at 03:04 PM. Reason: typo
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    Red tide's Avatar
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    No way now you can pull up to a stop light next to a Ford Focus with a mom dad two kids an d a dog in the backseat and. get smoked off the line with your stock Dakota

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    I feel like my stock 4wd Quad Cab Hemi truck would give my R/T (cam/heads/T56) a run for its money, but the R/T is way more entertaining to drive and turns heads unlike my belly button Ram.

    Steve - 1999 Flame Red RC R/T-56
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    Best looking trucks ever made.
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    No not competitive in today’s market . But then an 88 5.0 mustang
    Is not competitive with a current 5.0 mustang.but I think with decent heads and cam it becomes competitive with current offerings for not that much $ .

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    hemi swap it

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    Can’t. It’s the last pushrod v-8 from Chrysler. That’s like yanking the flat head from a 1940’s roadster and putting in a modern engine . It’ll be faster but no nostalgia.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Red barchetta View Post
    Can’t. It’s the last pushrod v-8 from Chrysler.
    Gen III Hemis are still pushrod motors.

    Steve - 1999 Flame Red RC R/T-56
    Comp Cams | F&B | Mopar | Spintech | SCT | Hotchkis


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    Quote Originally Posted by Red barchetta View Post
    Can’t. It’s the last pushrod v-8 from Chrysler. That’s like yanking the flat head from a 1940’s roadster and putting in a modern engine . It’ll be faster but no nostalgia.
    This signature has been deleted thanks to photobucket!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Red barchetta View Post
    Can’t. It’s the last pushrod v-8 from Chrysler. That’s like yanking the flat head from a 1940’s roadster and putting in a modern engine . It’ll be faster but no nostalgia.
    Huh?
    Dak Duh is calling you.
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    My bad just ASSumed they were ohc: never worked on or owned one

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    Quote Originally Posted by Red barchetta View Post
    Can’t. It’s the last pushrod v-8 from Chrysler. That’s like yanking the flat head from a 1940’s roadster and putting in a modern engine . It’ll be faster but no nostalgia.
    Not quite. Late model hemis are push rod and makes power very easy.

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    Bracket racing. It is all about being consistent with your times, and you will win.
    DRTC #1176

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    Quote Originally Posted by Corey View Post
    Bracket racing. It is all about being consistent with your times, and you will win.
    That and cutting 00 lights.
    11.27 @ 118.23
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  19. #19

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    Competitive by today's standards? Not even close...

    Dodge Challenger SRT Demon: 808 hp
    Dodge Challenger/Charger SRT Hellcat: 707 hp
    2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: 707 hp
    2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: 662 hp
    2018 Chevrolet Camaro Z06/Camaro ZL1: 650 hp
    2017 Ford GT: 647 hp
    2017 Dodge Viper: 645 hp
    Cadillac CTS-V: 640 hp

    And the list goes on....

    But they do look good!
    408, HiPoTek, FRP Tuning, Martin Saine 46re
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    The R/T is very competitive in the “I had one of those trucks back in the day” category, right Rickysnickers?
    Iconic? Yes they are.
    DRTC #1176

    2000 Bright White CC (1/553)
    Dyno'ed 07/05/13 (126,000 Miles) 230 Hp / 308 Tq
    14.6 @ 93 mph (2.18 60 ft.), 4130 lbs.(1/2 tank gas)
    Truck Pictures --> http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v9...Clough/Dakota/

    1985 Kawasaki GPz550
    2003 SV650S (Race)
    1973 W100 Powerwagon


    Mater: I don’t need to know where I’m goin’, I just need to know where I been!

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    Quote Originally Posted by mikset View Post
    Competitive by today's standards? Not even close...

    Dodge Challenger SRT Demon: 808 hp
    Dodge Challenger/Charger SRT Hellcat: 707 hp
    2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: 707 hp
    2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: 662 hp
    2018 Chevrolet Camaro Z06/Camaro ZL1: 650 hp
    2017 Ford GT: 647 hp
    2017 Dodge Viper: 645 hp
    Cadillac CTS-V: 640 hp

    And the list goes on....

    But they do look good!
    Ha. I dont even you have to give such dramatic examples. I would say 90% of new cars off any dealer lot would run down a stock dakota.
    Not knocking our trucks, but the efficiency they are getting out of these new cars is ridiculous.

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    BIGROB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mikset View Post
    Competitive by today's standards? Not even close...

    Dodge Challenger SRT Demon: 808 hp
    Dodge Challenger/Charger SRT Hellcat: 707 hp
    2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: 707 hp
    2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: 662 hp
    2018 Chevrolet Camaro Z06/Camaro ZL1: 650 hp
    2017 Ford GT: 647 hp
    2017 Dodge Viper: 645 hp
    Cadillac CTS-V: 640 hp

    And the list goes on....

    But they do look good!
    I'd love to own any of these examples but I wouldn't trade my truck for any of them.

    Project Maverick. I feel the need, the need for speed

  23. #23

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    I been tryin to get learned but I don’t get the original question. Are we asking if they’re competitive with current sport trucks? That list has some badass vehicles on it. At least 5 of them are supercharged. And they all have more valve lift than than the original pimple of a camshaft that cam in the r/t . Just my blind ignorance but I think if the dakota was sold today as an art with eq heads and better cam and modern engine management it would be a competitive spot truck.

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    Red tide's Avatar
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    I love my truck too but I think I might trade for a demon

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    Buy a Demon , but keep the truck , you will miss her and be sorry

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