how much trouble would it be to swap my dead 3.7 for a 318 with 904 tranny?

You need a 03 5.9 donor dakota for mounts, fuel lines, harness, computer, a 904, a new driveshaft (or two if 4x4), you will have to fab the trans mount and you will need a 318 magnum, if you are talking a 318 LA than you will be doing a ton of wiring and fighting with computer systems. If you have a grey ignition key your job gets even harder either way.

key is not grey, but what is it?

The grey key means it has a security system and you have to keep all the computers together with it. A Plain metal or black key is the one you want, then the engine computer for an 03 5.9 computer without security will run a 318 magnum.

thanks for great info. can you recommend any websites or people that have done similar swaps?

I'm going to guess that by the time you get your halfbreed running you'll wish you'd just found another 3.7. The compatibility issues are pretty large in my estimation.

R.

I don't know of any, just what I have learned on my own. Most people end up putting a used 3.7-4.7 back in and selling it when the costs are added up. You can buy a nice 5.2 5.9 truck for less than the swap. If you decide to do it though I Have a ton of parts I could sell to help you out.

dogdays is probably right, might just part it out. unless i can find a good low mileage replacement. doesn't the replacement have to be the same year?