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1999 was the last year you could get a 5.2L / 318 V8 in a Dakota. in 2000 they introduced the overhead cam 4.7

the Dakota R/T was still produced through 2003 with a 5.9/360 "LA style" magnum engine.

no more 5.9 in 2004 though.

but I hesitate to call the 5.2/5.9 an "LA" style motor, they have a lot different than the true LA engines. pedestal mounted rockers vs shaft mounted, oil through pushrods, no oiling through the head, roller cams, no mechanical fuel pump provision, different engine mounts, etc.

the Magnum blocks kept the LA ears so you can put a newer Magnum with a carb into an old engine, but you can't put an LA engine into a newer vehicle without custom fabrication

so that 01 probably has the 4.7L unless it's an R/T in which case, the vin will have a "Z" in it, and it will be sitting lower than a sport model truck, and have 17x9" rims vs 15s or 16s, as well as the grille and bumpers will all be body color, and will have flares.

sport model trucks could be optioned the same way with the flares, body color grills, bumpers, etc. but the R/Ts ONLY had those options

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