So the good: The mini white whale, The 99 Dakota LIVES and went on it's MAIDEN VOYAGE this afternoon.. Runs and sounds good, shifts good, rear limited slip works, heater works
View attachment 1715107393
THE BAD: Brakes still spongy, they are 4w ABS. I think I will end up bypasssing the ABS, as you seem to need an expensive scan tool to bleed.....we'll see
Rear tires are an unmatched (brand) but same size tire, but FRONTS are matched to each other but way WAY smaller than rear
As for "what I will never ever do again ever..............."
I was going down a residential street, it's in the 30's and snowing and streets are wet. Got the thing on a section with no traffic, got over in the wet and the leaves and decided to try out the 4x4......it's "regular old" 4x4...part time. I KNEW it would bind up because of the tires, but I thought the wet and leaves would allow enough slippage.
THE DAMN SHIFT KNOB FOR THE TRANSFER DAMN NEAR DROVE THE PALM OF MY HAND UP INTO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL!!!
I realize now what happened. The rear axle is limited slip so BOTH tires would have to slip to "unbind" and the front has a LOT more weight. So what it did was bind up SO BAD it forced the rear transmission mount to STRETCH UP as the driveshafts LIFTED UP the transfer case from the binding!!!!
More "it needs"
Needs one headlight to even work, I'm going to pull one out of the "newest black" one, and if I keep this thing I'll order new lamps
Turn signals need "something."
Needs pass side mirror replaced, I do have one
Needs driver power window fixed I have parts
THE RADIO WORKS!!! CRUISE CONTROL WORKS!!! It even has a digital COMPASS in the gizmo above the inside mirror!!