New member here. Puttin a 440/727 in my 88 Dakota. Thinking about using a motor plate or elephant ears because they are cheaper than mount kits, and I think they will allow more room for headers. I will run on the street as well as track and hope to run in the twelves before I spray it. My questions are these...Is the front plate and trans mount enough to hold everything in place, or do I need someting else. Is there a 8.750 rear that will bolt in. Any headers available for this combo? Thanks.

First Welcome to Moparts, for your engine swap Schumacher will have a load of info for you I would contact them. Check out their site they sell a kit to put a BB in your truck
http://www.engine-swaps.com
http://www.engine-swaps.com/window_Dakota_Tech_Tips.html
I think you will find plenty of good information in the tech archives http://www.moparts.com/Tech/ in particular this link shows different rear differential dimensions http://www.moparts.com/Tech/Archive/axle/17.html
You may have to find a width that will work and relocate the spring perches. If you do one bit of advice, check the size of your truck leaf spring locator pin to be sure of your needs. The morroso perches locator pin hole is the correct size for old muscle cars (smaller then the MP perches oversized hole).

if you stuff a 440 in a dakota you should run 11's. That said I was thinking of stuffing a 383 in mine when the 318 goes. After talking to some people I think I'll go the 408 stroker route. You can use a 360 and spend $400 on the crank and it will drop right in. That should be more power that you need. The 440 will require extensive mods in the front end, not to mention you will need to really sure up the rear end. I broke 2 rears (8 1/4's) in my 95 with the stock 318 and computer. Grnted it's a 5 speed w/ 391 sure grip but those things are weak. all that torque will shear the rig and pinion. Before you go nuts and spend a bunch of $$$ on a 440 check out the 408 stroker combo. It should be good for high 11's easy. plus headers and many other after market parts are available. The 440 will require home made headers or cutting up the engine bay. I hear a B-body 8.75 will fit in nice. good luck

the brackets from shumacher in my opinion are not worth that kinda money....almost 400 bucks..... i did purchace a set, but i also made my own bolt in......... and it was easy, looks good to..........

Don- do you have any photos to share of the brackets and the install?

If I go 340 or 360, will the factory mounts work? If so which year? Are headers available for the non mag versions? Either way,,will I have to modify the electrical system and replace the boxes? Sorry for all the questions, but comming back from the dark (Chevy) side.

Yes header are availiable for the non mag version, they are from hooker, and about 375 a set full legnth....... my dak was a 96, what do ur frame mounts look like...... the header from hooker fit nice, i do have some pics of a trial fit of the mounts as well as headers, and some rough looking trans mount brackets as well, ill send u a link in your e-mail

Here is the attached file of the shumacher mounts and the ones i made....... i swaped mounts one at a time and the ones I made fit perfect with the shumachers.......

at about 100 bucks or less Vs 400
u all can also go here and look at the trial fit, of the header and the engine mounts, my Dak used to be a 2.5 4 banger 5 speed, what a dog

To get there, simply click the address below and enter your guest password: 96dakota

http://www.photoisland.com/servlet/GuestLogin?USERNAME=dakotadon

If that doesn't work, go to www.photoisland.com, and log in to my albums with the following information:

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Guest Password: 96dakota

Adding this to my list of good reading....

408 uses a stock 360 block if that truck is a v-6 or 318 it should rop right in,. you can also build the standard automatic. I have a et of the shorty Summit headers in my 318 Dak. they went in easy and are only $150 new.

yes I think if u have the older trucks 88 with V 6 or V8 it should bolt in, 1990 or 91 they changed the way the breckets mounted on the side of the block, kinda like a chevy for the ( i think the V6 made that move before the V8 did...... but the older ones i think used the brackets like the van and trucks have used.........i have a set of the bolt on V6 mounts from a dak......nothing like the the older ones...... i went to a dealer and looked up the shelby dak for 89, and it had the frame mounts welded in, with the biscut type rubber mount followed by the big engine brackets like the truck and van used for years ...it was head ache looking this stuff up for my 96,( but id do it again and plan to. It should be easier now ) i can imagine what it would be like with a 440.......... holy cow, but it sure would be one bad Mo Fo


Oh BTW i was going to use the shorties, but i decided i wanted the Hooker super Comp headers instead....
good luck

now I'm confused... the topic is 440's in a Dakota. Don, are your mounts for a BB or a SB?

Greg, the bracket that i made should work fine with the 440....... it would be easier to show someone then to type it out.. after seeing the shumacher mounts the SB mounts i made were pretty simple, and can either be bolted up or welded up...... and i am sure they will work just fine with the 440 for a little time and about 100 bucks or less, the hardest thing on the 440 would be exhaust ( cuz of the rack) and the oil pan would have to fabed, or purchaced from shumacher.. sorry i got a lil off track with the SB dak deal......... but it would not be much different makeing the frame mounts for the 440 to fit a dak...... basically make them the same way..i was hoping my photos would give or help someone and give then an idea even though i am doing a A SB dak now, hopefully i can do a 440 Dak soon...

Good Luck

IIRC there is very little room in a early v8 dakota between the motor and fan. i`m sure you will need to run an electric fan too. there is a guy on www.bigblockdart.com that put a bb in a new style dakota. he might be able to help you out, i don`t remember his user name though.