Welcome to Allpar. Unfortunately the only info that I have at all on Factory involvement predates this particular model year, I have a Chassis book that covers the first-generation Dakota pre-face-refresh, giving a whole bunch of dimensions and some ideas for ways to make changes. It also covers most other models that are or were popular modified race car chassis though, so it definitely wasn't Dakota-centric.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone evaluated the chassis and its changes relative to the previous generation and officially wrote an upfit book for Chrysler to sell through the dealer service departments, but as to how much involvement it's hard to say. At that time a lot of the full-sized drivetrain tricks would have directly applied to the V8 Dakotas as well, so it could be more that for that part of it, they were just in the right place at the right time.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone evaluated the chassis and its changes relative to the previous generation and officially wrote an upfit book for Chrysler to sell through the dealer service departments, but as to how much involvement it's hard to say. At that time a lot of the full-sized drivetrain tricks would have directly applied to the V8 Dakotas as well, so it could be more that for that part of it, they were just in the right place at the right time.
