'01 Durango or Dakota 5.9 swap in place of a 4.7?

Anyone done a 5.9 swap into a 1st gen Durango that came original with a 4.7? What is required besides the PCM/harness? Are the motor mounts the same and will a 5.9 bolt up to a 45RE trans? I have a 01 4.7 Rango and pretty sure the motor is smoked. Would like to avoid another 4.7. Any help would be much appreciated!

Hi Mike.
Sorry don't have and info for you. Just wanted to say hey.

I asked the same question when I was looking for a Durango a couple of years ago (bought a '00 w/ a 5.9). They were dirt-cheap and plentiful around here w/ a bad 4.7 so I figured it would be easy.
The 5.9 has a different bellhousing pattern than the 4.7 (4.7 has same pattern as a Hemi).
IIRC, the 5.9 would bolt up to the 4.7 mounts.

BTW, a Hemi would be sweet but from what I can find, it is a LOT of work.


Tim

The LA, magnum, 4.7 and 3rd Gen hemi all have the same bellhousing bolt pattern.

I can tell you there is very little that interchanges between a 5.9 and a 5.7. If the stuff from a 4.7 is an easy swap to the 5.7, I'd be suspect that it would work on a 5.9.

I suspect that if you use the 5.9 stuff, it would bolt onto the chassis OK. Full size trucks are set up for the 4.7, the 5.9, and the 5.7 motors with the same chassis. Gene

Way simpler to do a 5.7 and take the extra 100hp over the 360.

Computer from a 5.7 truck or 5.7 Durango should set you straight.

Jonesey, I see what you are getting at, but the 5.9 needs to talk to the RFE: I don't think it's doable. If it is: let me know how so I can boot my 46RE Turd out and put a 545RFE behind my 360 in an '01 Ram.

What if you ran the separate TCM from a pre 2003 durango/Dakota 4.7? It'd definitely take some doing, but it might do the trick!

Interfacing the 5.9 to the later truck is the problem and not just with the trans.

But the trans will bolt to the engine, that's about it though.

I do not know them personally by any means but I do know of someone who works?/worked for Chrysler and had such a prototype combination. Of course such a combination never officially occurred because the 5.7 was in the pipeline.

The service manual for a 2002 Ram 1500 would be a good cheap starting point as those trucks had the option for the 5.9/46RE and the 4.7/45RFE as well as still using the old JTEC and EATX controller to run either combination. Figure out the interface of how/what the 4.7 talks to the RFE and see what the 5.9 needs to do, to accomplish the same.

The only feasable way is to find a wrecked 01 02 durango with the desired drivetrain. It will bolt up to the trans despite what others have said but it will not work it. The ECU controls the trans on the 5.9 while the 4.7 has a seperate TCU. Motor mounts are different, wiring harness, exhaust... many other things. If your donor computer or the recepiant rig have security you will need the BCM from the donor, that is one reason you can't use a dakota for a donor. If neither has a security system then you only have to modify the harness up front for the lighting, no idea why dodge thought the dak and dur needed different light wiring but they did so the harness is not a direct swap. A 2000 will not work as the complete under hood harness and the interior and BCM were changed with the updated interior in 2001. 2003 may or may not work depending on if you have a 3 plug or 4 plug ECU (you will need a 3 plug for an 01 and they seem to have done both through 2003).

The 5.7 may easier but you need to hook up a DBW throttle sensor and a 5.7 computer as the tooth count on your early 4.7 is wrrong for the 5.7 and you will need to swap the BCM to match whatever computer you use.

I curently own 6 durangos, have owned and worked on many, many more and have contemplated many swap posibilities but unless you keep the same engine family any swap is a PITB. Since nice 5.9 durangos are still cheap an plentifull I would sell the 4.7 rig put a few more bucks with it and just buy a 5.9 durango. If you decide you need a 5.7 durango at least find a blown up 2003 4.7 example so you can potentially leave the computers in it.

Thanks all for your input!



Dave -- I own 3 Durangos, myself...the 4.7 being the oddball out. My other two are a 99 4x4 5.9 and an 02 R/T. I was hoping to get away with swapping a 5.9 into the 4.7, but from the looks of it, I guess I'll be finding a 4.7 for it or selling it as is.

Funny thing is, I paid less for the two 5.9 rigs together than I did for the 4.7 one.

Thanks much for your input -- much appreciated. Makes my decision much easier.

You are correct, sir. Went back and reread the info I was given and I missed the part where it would bolt up but would not work with that trans.


Tim