When Dodge debuted the Dakota midsize truck in 1987, nobody realized how much impact Dodge's little pick 'em up would have on the truck market. The little Dakota has shared enough success that its popularity is evident at every small town intersection and large town expressway; you can't travel through any part of your hometown and not see a Dakota. Along with the demand for the Dakota came the demand for aftermarket goodies so owners could customize their trucks. Companies such as Cervini's Auto Designs have been building fiberglass parts for the after-market for several years. When Keith Keplinger decided to update the look of his '99 Magnum-powered Dakota R/T, Cervini's stepped up with one of its quality Ram Air hoods. To handle the prep and paint work of the hood, we enlisted the services of Dallas Automotive Paint and Body Shop here in Lakeland, Florida. Manager Billy Houston and his men do top-quality work as is evidenced in our Dakota's hood install.
The term bolt-on usually conjures up images of a large hammer adjusting something to bolt it on; in the case of our Cervini hood, bolt-on meant just that. The clean, simple installation is straightforward enough that even a novice mechanic can handle it in his or her backyard; the careful paint match is the only job you might want to farm out. If you've thought about making a change to 'glass over your own Magnum, follow along and see just how simple it really is with the help of Cervini's Auto Designs.
