Scott Haverkamp is a man who is driven by speed. He has never settled for just being mediocre or in the middle of the road when it comes to his ride. He is constantly pushing the limits of the machine he is in, making it faster and more powerful. That same passion is what gave rise to the Windsor Area Mopar Muscle Car Club (WAMM).
They are enthusiasts who take pleasure in tuning their cars to get the best possible performance. They organize local car shows and participate in racing events like St. Thomas Dragway’s Mopar Day. The goal is to support the Mopar community and inspire others to make the most of their vehicles.
This brings us to this 2001 Dodge Dakota R/T pickup. Chris Brazeau of Essex, Ontario, was the truck’s original owner. Scott eventually purchased the truck from Chris. Scott then sold the truck to Chip Suzor, who later sold it back to Scott. Are you confused yet?
Anyway, Scott bought the truck back because he knew its history and had been a part of its social circle for over a dozen years. Scott knew Chris and Chip had taken good care of and maintained the Dakota, so it was extremely clean and rust-free. Scott purchased the Dakota this time with the sole intention of owning a clean, rare street/strip truck.
The Dodge Dakota was a midsize pickup truck. The first Dakota debuted in late 1986 as a 1987 model. It was marketed as Dodge from its introduction until 2009, then as Ram for the last two years. Despite being smaller than full-size pickups like Dodge’s Ram, the Dakota was still larger than the Chevy S-10 and Ford Ranger. It is a traditional design with a live axle/leaf spring rear end and a body-on-frame chassis. The Dakota was a pioneer in offering a mid-size pickup with a V8 engine. Warren, Michigan, was the sole manufacturer of the Dakota.
This 2001 belonged to the second generation of Dakotas produced between 1997 and 2004 with this body style. The second-generation Dakota started to take shape in 1991, and in the middle of 1993, Dennis Myles’ exterior design proposal was accepted by design director John R. Starr. It shared the larger Ram’s semi-truck appearance, but underneath it was mostly unchanged.
That year saw the release of the 360 cid/5.9-liter, 250-horsepower Magnum V8 “R/T” model. In addition to being the only truck in its class with an available V8 engine that rivaled many V8s found in full-sized trucks with payloads up to 1,500 lbs., it was considered one of the most radical at the time of its introduction.
In 2001, Chrysler Corporation produced 618 Dodge Dakota R/T regular cab trucks, with only 158 in Bright Silver paint, as shown here. The United States received 143 trucks, Canada received only 11, and the remaining four trucks were export models.
The 360 cid/5.9-liter V8 engine powering the special edition trucks produced 250 hp at 4,400 rpm and 345 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. It was mated to a 46RE four-speed automatic transmission. The R/T’s ride height was one inch lower than the standard Dakota due to performance-tuned suspension, braking, exhaust, and steering systems. Other notable features included thicker front and rear stabilizer bars, a limited-slip differential on the rear axle, unique 17×9″ cast aluminum wheels mounted on P255/55R17 tires, monotone paint, and bucket seats with an optional center console.
The interior of the 2001 models received an update, including completely new door panels, seats, and a redesigned dashboard. Some models had their aluminum wheels redesigned, along with other minor trim changes. The Dakota R/T had a 0–60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration time of 6.9 seconds and a quarter-mile sprint time of slightly over 15 seconds.
Shortly after getting the truck in 2019, Scott wasted no time modifying the truck for his master plan. The stock 360 Magnum engine received modifications such as Edelbrock Performer RPM cylinder heads with 1.6 rockers. A Comp Cam with .512 lift was installed in the block. In order to distribute fuel and air into the engine, a Brawler 750 Quick Fuel Carburetor feeds the Professional Products intake. Magnum valve covers and an Edelbrock air cleaner enhance the engine bay appearance.
Scott used an NX Nitrous kit with a standalone fuel system running a 150 shot to increase power. A Speedlogix 25-gallon fuel cell was added with a Holley Blue Pump and an 8AN fuel line. Two NOS tanks are located at the tail end of the truck bed. The Dakota was set up with a Leash Nitrous/Transbrake Controller, which is programable and aids in consistent boost control and vehicle launch sequence.
An MSD Digital 6 box helps ignite the spark to the plugs. Additionally, coil, wires, and MSD distributor finish the task. Since we are talking about electrical, Scott added a Taylor battery box with a shutoff handle at the bed of the truck. Depo headlights, taillights, and fog lights aid in visibility while driving at night but give it a cool look as well.
Spintech long tube headers move the exhaust gases into a full 3-inch exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers so as not to scare his competitors too much. To keep things cool, the Dakota uses a stock radiator with electric fans and an aluminum shroud.
The transmission was replaced with an A-904 transmission that has a reverse manual valve body and trans brake with a 3600-stall converter. Scott has a B&M shift kit for the shifting duties. The rear axle is a Chrysler 9.25 with stock 3.92 gears. The truck utilizes the factory stock chassis with Belltech lowering springs, Calvert racing shocks, and Cal-Tracs traction bars.
The Dodge has Racestar rims on all four corners. The rear tires measure 15 by 10-inches and have 295/55R15 Mickey Thompson ET Street radials wrapped around them. The vehicle’s front rims are 17-inches by 4-inches in size, with Mickey Thompson Sportsmen SS tires measuring 28-inches.
Other modifications include a steel cowl hood, street scene power mirrors, a Cervini roll pan and tailgate wing, and custom lower ground effects, which make this truck look fast even when standing still. Bob Visnjic of LaSalle, Ontario, did the mechanical work, and Chris Faubert of Essex, Ontario, did the body work and applied the Brilliant Silver paint. A front air dam from a 1969 Chevy Camaro was used and painted to match the color scheme. Street Scene Grill replaced the original stock pieces to give it a meaner look. A black Scat Pak-style strip was added with the WAMM logo.
The interior is mostly stock, with the exception of custom Auto Meter Gauges that take the place of the factory cluster and include a speedometer, tachometer, voltage gauge, water temperature, fuel, and oil gauge, as well as a nitrous gauge on the steering wheel column. The A-pillar houses a temperature gauge for the transmission and an air/fuel ratio gauge. Oh, and let’s not forget the fuzzy dice for those willing to gamble against racing the “Dak.”
Scott built the Dakota over a four-year period, and the results show that his efforts were worthwhile. At St. Thomas Dragway, the best time was 11.46 seconds at 116 mph. The truck has won numerous bracket trophies and prize money, and it has performed exceedingly well at local shows and cruises.
Scott stated that he could not have done it without the assistance of many people, including Chris Brazeau, Chip Suzor, Bob Visnjic, Dustin Burk, Dave Kaspar, and his wonderful, loving wife, Cristy, who allowed him to pursue his passion for vehicles.
