Just a got a cheap Dakota Convertible and found the engine is toast. It look to either have a thrown bearing or rod due to an overheat that blew a headgasket that filled the crankcase with coolant. I was thinking if I don't decide to sell this truck that I would try to source another V6 engine down the road maybe but, weighing my options. I see that there is a few remanufacturer companies out there. I see there is Powertrain Products, ATK Engines, A&J, and Extreme Performance. I'm just wondering if anyone has an experience with any of these vendors? Thank you in advance.

You could also try www.car-part.com

Is there a hole in the pan? Your suggested chain of events suggested as to how the engine got to how it is seems "out of order"haha.... A pre magnum 3.9 shouldn't be hard to find.

Also, Jasper is a reman source.
Likely by now there are no trustworthy junkyard engines, but it's also worth checking out.

Before I'd sink $$$ in the truck, I'd want to check over the other expensive stuff as well as possible without a running engine:
Trans, rearend, HVAC, electronic stuff.
Hopefully the OP knows the truck's market value, if getting upside-down on the thing is a consideration.

The 3.9s were good motors. The Magnum was introduced in 92 and has completely different electronics that do not interchange well, so the 3.9s engine line is split between 91 and older, or 92 and newer. The older versions are getting harder to find, most motor rebuilders would have to locate a rebuildable core to build an older motor for you. A rebuilt version of the older 3.9 is about $300 more money then the newer 3.9, probably due to the lower availability of good rebuildable cores.

That convert stuff is very hard to find, so you want to be sure anything specifically related to that convertible top is in really good condition. Get under the truck and look over the frame! The area just behind the trans crossmember where the frame changes from the box to the "C" channel tends to rot out, as does the bottom of the rear boxed section. Beyond that, the convert truck is pretty much a standard 1st gen Dakota. Some argue that the 1st gen Dakota (1988-1996) was the best version.

I just helped a Bud replace the engine in his Saturn mini-van. He got a reman long block from NAPA.

Thank you all. This definitely gives me some more options. If could pull it off, I would buy a running driving truck but, I'm limited on space right now and then I would have to either scrap or sell the donor vehicle cheap. My experience with these Pre-Magnum V6 engines is with higher mileage the engine the timing chain probably should be replaced since there wasn't a guide until the Magnum engines. The other part is the pan would have to come for gaskets and to make sure none of the old cork gaskets made their way to the oil pan. From what I was able to verify, the horn works, the buzzer works, fuel system works, and need to verify the other stuff. The A/C stuff looks newer, tires are dated coded from 2014 and 2015, and the radiator is a newer cheap unit but, I would replace that anyways. I need to see what repair receipts it might have. Last registered in California in 2016 and towed from their to near Spokane, Washington.

Might try Jasper

I bought a remanufactured 4.7 for my Dakota from Powertrain. I have no complaints at all and would buy from them again in a heartbeat. If your existing 3.9 is destroyed, you will have to pay a core charge if you can't locate a rebuildable engine to exchange. Good luck with it.

Does Jasper still do plant tours?

I have driven by the plant and stopped for gas numerous times and think I remember they used to do tours.

Jasper has or had a classic car division that jacked me around for several months on a 429 Cadillac engine. Motor had a knock under accel after getting it back. motor went back 3 times with them claiming we found this we found that, it's all good now. I even put 102 octane in the flippin thing.
My local machinist finally took pity on the situation and slipped the motor in line. .0065 on the mains. Spec I think was .002-.003 Wonder where the subtle knock was? They did do a full refund and partial compensation for labor but I lost my backside on that one.
they are probably OK on late model stuff but the circle jerk with what should have been caught the first and definite 2nd go round p'd me off.

While I have never purchased a remanufactured engine I have a thought. Summit and Jegs generally have good return policies. Maybe consider a remanufactured OEM type engine thru them. I believe they both sell ATK. Regardless of name brand read and adhere to their fine print. For example- for warranty compliance on modern type (modern meaning fuel injection- plastic aluminum radiator era) remanufactured engines the owner must replace the radiator and replace-or clean the intake manifold or any passageways that coolant flows thru. This is so a plugged existing radiator or other doesn't create an overheat condition destroying the new unit. In this case- the warranty claim will be denied due to the re use of substandard components.