1988 Dodge Dakota Mopar Express
hmm.... how should i start this off......
Okay, May of my 8th grade year (mid May 2008) I got to my fathers house and saw a new vehicle sitting near the garage. Being a gearhead I had to investigate. What I saw nearly made me make a bowel movement. Sitting there was a worn, but nice looking 1988 Dodge Dakota with a roof extender and what i thought at the time was an old hot-rodder's custom graphics. It was kick *** to me, the words on the bed-side read "MOPAR EXPRESS" I went inside to call a buddy to tell him about this oddball truck that was in my driveway.
Inside was my grandpa, who said "we got a new car". I replied, "I know!!! It's gonna be mine!". He then told me "Nah, that's your uncle's". I was instantly crushed. The truck still intrigued me though. When my dad got home he explained to me that it was mine and was going to be our project.
Unfortunately for me, the project started a year later than planned, because I was too busy playing video games that summer.
Fast forward to spring break/summer 2009. I finally decided to work on the truck, by sanding and primering the rusty roof and peeling hood. I also had to scrub the underbody and undercoat it. I also took the time to gut out the interior and basically get it down to a rolling shell.
Memorial day weekend 2009- after getting an unexpected phone call from my uncle the previous weekend, in which he gave me a fully built 360 for my truck, my father and I embarked on the restoration.
Over that summer not a whole lot got done besides a transmission being installed and more undercoating.
Over the fall and winter the truck got a restored interior from my dads old LE Dakota.
That brings us to now. The truck is tucked away in the garage. Nearly complete. All my dad and i need to do is put on a front drivers side caliper and bleed the brakes, configure the cooling system, and do the underhood electronics.
Forgot to mention that this was a special package truck, very few made, as far as i know, after some research this is the last blue truck like this left
I know this is useless with out pics, so here's your car ****:
Janurary 2010, roof has since been painted black like the hood
Winter after we got it
the graphics package
After some teardown
Late nights
Dusty engine bay
Restored lower dash panel with added SunPro gauges
$15, not bad! lol
All reglued and whatnot
Gauge cluster before detailing
How it sits now, except the rear bumper is on
Me and ME
hmm.... how should i start this off......
Okay, May of my 8th grade year (mid May 2008) I got to my fathers house and saw a new vehicle sitting near the garage. Being a gearhead I had to investigate. What I saw nearly made me make a bowel movement. Sitting there was a worn, but nice looking 1988 Dodge Dakota with a roof extender and what i thought at the time was an old hot-rodder's custom graphics. It was kick *** to me, the words on the bed-side read "MOPAR EXPRESS" I went inside to call a buddy to tell him about this oddball truck that was in my driveway.
Inside was my grandpa, who said "we got a new car". I replied, "I know!!! It's gonna be mine!". He then told me "Nah, that's your uncle's". I was instantly crushed. The truck still intrigued me though. When my dad got home he explained to me that it was mine and was going to be our project.
Unfortunately for me, the project started a year later than planned, because I was too busy playing video games that summer.
Fast forward to spring break/summer 2009. I finally decided to work on the truck, by sanding and primering the rusty roof and peeling hood. I also had to scrub the underbody and undercoat it. I also took the time to gut out the interior and basically get it down to a rolling shell.
Memorial day weekend 2009- after getting an unexpected phone call from my uncle the previous weekend, in which he gave me a fully built 360 for my truck, my father and I embarked on the restoration.
Over that summer not a whole lot got done besides a transmission being installed and more undercoating.
Over the fall and winter the truck got a restored interior from my dads old LE Dakota.
That brings us to now. The truck is tucked away in the garage. Nearly complete. All my dad and i need to do is put on a front drivers side caliper and bleed the brakes, configure the cooling system, and do the underhood electronics.
Forgot to mention that this was a special package truck, very few made, as far as i know, after some research this is the last blue truck like this left
I know this is useless with out pics, so here's your car ****:
Janurary 2010, roof has since been painted black like the hood
Winter after we got it
the graphics package
After some teardown
Late nights
Dusty engine bay
Restored lower dash panel with added SunPro gauges
$15, not bad! lol
All reglued and whatnot
Gauge cluster before detailing
How it sits now, except the rear bumper is on
Me and ME