Dakota RT Gets A Performance Suspension - Trucks! S3, E6

Meet Project Rolling Thunder. It starts by upgrading a '98 Dakota RT with a performance suspension, wheels, and tires. Then, how the '56 Chevy Nomad relates to today's PT Cruiser. Plus, how to save some money by installing your own exhaust system.

[@unorthodoxridez]

The childhood tv show that shaped me as an individual

[@johngreene6783]

Mel said, "Dive into the rear" LOL

[@alanrlocklear]

Time to enjoy my favorite part of my Saturday

[@JoedolfShitler]

the dakota was a lightning killer even with just mild bolt-ons/upgrades/mods/tuning.

[@forgottenmuscletrucks]

Maybe the first gen lightning. But the 2nd gen s/c lightnings will pull them. I know I have one 😘. However I have full bolt ons. I'm port matching intake an porting it. Upgraded throttle body, ac compressor delete along with electric fans. The. Lightnings may not pull me after all that. Oh yeah, trans is getting built with shift kit an beefier converter. I'm aiming for high 13's. Which is pushing it

[@mewrongway]

I seen many Dakotas put Vaseline on lightnings back side!!! Thats why they put a LS in all the Fords now.

[@scasinger123]

Nah. 16.5 seconds wasn't killing anything. I put an LS in mine in 2008.

[@mewrongway]

What's wrong with it?

[@MrDJSkeptik]

Origianally aired in 2001

[@Magic6GMC]

I love how Trucks ripped this project name and the phrase “Lightning is after thunder” from this project…and used it on that Ford Ranger/Mazda B2500 build lol

[@rexleereid3592]

If you ever get the urge to do another Dakota R/T I have a 2000 with a shaker I would like the suspension done on.

[@matthewcutler4082]

Love my rt

[@forgottenmuscletrucks]

Love mine as well!

[@kellyh4035]

Here in Alberta, the last thing I need is a catalytic converter. Lol

[@nawscawp]

Let’s not forget a stock r/t is 3 mph faster through the slalom than a Ford lightning.

[@scasinger123]

My bump stops modified themselves. Just took 25 years. HA!

[@Robertbehar3554]

Goals to find a Dakota like this in 2022

[@SGTJDerek]

Few without rust unless you go west from the Mississippi River and stay South of Denver.

[@landonsrt9587]

I miss my 00 R/T. I was really disappointed in all that $$ that went in for 60hp! 🤨

[@whatthe363]

What year was this filmed. I love everything about this video Edit.. 2001

[@199jl]

Favorite uploads to youtube

[@dwp139]

This is the third Trucks project I've seen using those Toyo tires. Must really have done well from the start

[@swampcritterisbackbaby1740]

I would haul a mint condition pt cruiser to the crusher so the Nomad would not have to associate with it.

[@davidchappelle3212]

If they only would have put a 6 speed in one of those instead of the 4 speed auto

[@Zaucey]

I know man! People always ask me if my rt is a stick or auto and seem surprised when I tell them the rt wasn’t offered in manual but almost every other trim was smh. My truck is just simple bolt ons with Hughes air gap so I’m not putting down a lot of power… that being said, my 46re was rebuilt at 120k and starting to give me problems again at 230k. Dodge should’ve put a t56 in this thing with a hurst from the factory!

[@mewrongway]

Know why Ford calls there new truck Tremor? It shakes every time a Dodge or Chevy gets near!

[@yalantyr25]

Considering most exhaust shops use cheap mild steel, it was probably cheaper back in those days to have one made even with the converter

[@sp192x]

You guys sure know how to get your mileage out of an old show

[@unorthodoxridez]

Don't blame them one bit compared to today's tv shows

[@Carvania]

Those foose wheels have not aged well. I would go with viper wheel these days same 6 lug pattern.

[@noduh736]

I'd still rather have a lightning even 1st gen

[@Zaucey]

Beautiful trucks but the lightning would never handle as good as the Dakota rt. I’ve drove a 2nd gen lightning and currently own a 99 rt standard cab…. The rt feels like driving a sports car compared to the lightning. I do think ford did a better job with the lightning from a package perspective… the rt was basically a full size truck engine, lsd, better suspension and decals on door and tailgate. Ford did so much more here there and everywhere on the truck while the dodge was somewhat a parts bin truck. But when it comes to corners in the ford, you are fully aware you’re driving a truck and that’s the deal breaker for me 🤷‍♂️

[@NXT_LVL]

@@Zaucey Still comparing full size 1/2 to a mid-size. Even though people treated the Dakotas as 1/2tons, because of the V8. You never saw many rangers or S10s towing a small boat or trailer. If you did the truck probably wanted to be put out of it's misery. the RT was the carver. Even the old C/D test video said the Rt would solum just as good as that era of BMW.

[@forgottenmuscletrucks]

Nah you can port stock kegger, full port matchings with full bolt ons an cam an make over 300 to the tire alone. Without s/c

[@truck93]

I remembered when this episode came out. There was a follow up on some projects. They said they had to crush everyone due to insurance reasons.

[@unorthodoxridez]

Can you provide evidence on that? That would be bs

[@bmstylee]

Stacey discussed that on a q&a on gearz. If an OEM provided the vehicle it was crushed because lawyers.

[@davert2676]

Where did you get the rims?

[@davert2676]

I have a 2001dodge Dakota R/T where can I get the rims you got for rolling thunde?

[@davert2676]

I have a2001 dodge Dakota how do I need to connect for rims like the ones you put on rolling thunder?

[@Vincent-ke5zn]

I would leave the bumper chromed

[@michael61985]

That nomad was ruined a heinz 57

[@daviddematos7470]

I would like to know where the parts of the dakota to buy I can not find the site I have a dakota R / T

[@fastlane2942]

Most of the vendors stopped making the aftermarket parts years ago. You can still find a few of them by searching the Dakota R/T Club website, Craigslist, FB etc.

[@MarkMeadows90]

This show was recorded around the early 2000's range. I doubt some of these parts are still available to purchase nowadays. Hotchkis only makes rebuilt service kits for the Dakota R/T. You'll have to go with another suspension company like Belltech that offer similar parts as what's shown in this episode. Toyo still makes the same size Proxes, but is the ST III. Foose Design Wheels doesn't make the Thrust wheels anymore. Reflection Automotive Products is no longer in business. There are plenty of aftermarket hoods for the Dakota still.

[@kevenkullberg9955]

The Chevy nomad has some really shitty bodywork! I’d go back to the body shop and get my money back.

[@rosolinotv3690]

After all these years I still can’t understand why they went an inch bigger in tire diameter and didn’t realize it lol. Made it slower and screwed up the speedo.

[@YourMomsHouseRN69]

What in the fck are those wheels.. 🤮

[@RichardSmith-um4js]

Really old video. Who cares about the PT Cruiser since it was a lost cause to start with. Why air something this old?

[@ThePaulv12]

Res Richard - there's merit in what you say. It's hardly like it's anything anyone is going to go out and do, could buy anymore etc. What's the point of it LOL?

[@unorthodoxridez]

Because noone buys DVDs and VHS. This is a good way to make profit and spread nostalgic good videos.

[@swampcritterisbackbaby1740]

@@unorthodoxridez If most would charge a buck or two per episode instead of twenty producers would sell a lot more box sets.

[@Vincent-ke5zn]

I love the Nomad but get rid of the P.T. Cruiser and don't insult the Nomad by parking the Nomad next to the Nomad

[@Vincent-ke5zn]

The P.T. Cruiser is a piece of junk that won't last