Thought I would update this... And Im seeking some more advice. I no longer have the 92 Dakota. I have a 93 Dakota now with a 5.2 and the a518 tranny and a 8.25 rear with 3.55 gears and a suregrip. This truck has a lot better body and is in much better shape overall. The 92 was faster alot off the line but it had 3.90 gears.
Here are a few of my questions. Would you guys run a 4.10's or 4.56's gears? Im going with what AJ said and the lower gears will defiantly help! I would like 4.30's but they dont seem to make them for the 8.25. I currently have 255/60/R15 tires. And the od tranny. The truck would see some highway use but not much. Mostly around town etc... So im leaning toward the 4.56's
As far as the motor goes its basically a stock 5.2 magnum. Does have the Mopar Performance computer. Now I can pick up a running 5.9 cheap. Was thinking of putting that in the truck and converting it to carb... Run a Airgap intake and and electronic ignition and a voltage regulator and keeping the serpentine belt set up so everything I have would bolt up etc... Now how hard would it be to get a fuel pressure regulator set up in this? Would be running the stock in take fuel pump. Also what about the linkage and throttle- kickdown for the tranny going from efi to carb? I know I will have to take care of the tranny for the lock up to work and od. Researched that on here.
Another option is I can take the 5.9 and run the Hughes air gap f.i setup and basically just use everything I have. But my big concern with that is would I make the same amount of power vs the carb route? I may but a cam in the 5.9 and a install a reconditioned set of heads and springs for the cam. Nothing fancy just basic. Anybody have any experience with that Hughes airgap f.i manifold? Its basically all thats out there if I stay efi. Changing the gears and dual exhaust and with the 5.9 the truck should be alot quicker than with the 5.2. Just not sure whether to go carb or go with the hughes setup.
