Gen 3 hemi into 98 Dakota, anyone do it?

Found a VERY sweet 41k miles Dakota shortbed for sale and was wondering if anyone here has any experience with this swap. Thx for any links or personal input.
Ken.

Little something to drool over...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv-UU6LjziI

I ran across a thread somewhere several years ago when I was researching engine swaps (4.7 to 5.9 since the 4.7 Durangos w/ bad engines were plentiful and cheap around here) where a guy put a Hemi in a 1st gen Durango. Complete write-up and pics. Can't seem to find it now (I didn't save it since I wasn't planning a Hemi swap).
Good luck with it.


Tim

Making the swap to a Gen III Hemi from a vehicle that originally had a 4.7 is much easier because they share the same transmission. If you are just looking to do a "race" setup, then it won't be too bad. But if it is for a daily driver, you have to figure out how to retain your PCM for the other functions the vehicle needs. I have yet to see a Magnum to Gen III Hemi conversion like this.

This is off the Dakota RT site:

2016 SRT 6.4, stock accessories. Frame trimmed for alternator clearance. Grand Cherokee SRT power steering pump and reservoir.
Ram SRT10 transmission, QuickTime small block Mopar bellhousing, 130 tooth McLeod flywheel, 10.5" clutch, stock Ram SRT10 shifter with modified Challenger SRT pistol grip shifter
Mopar 392 Crate kit. HHR fan, stock radiator. Walbro 255 pump. 6AN feed and return lines, Aeromotive A1000 fuel pressure regulator.
Schumacher engine mounts and oil pan. Milodon pickup for 5.7/6.1 cut and reclocked to fit 6.4 oil pump.
99+ brake booster for coil clearance. Tubular upper control arms for header clearance. Custom long tubes with 2" primaries into 3.5" slip on collectors. Auto Meter gauges.

Pretty simple setup, all things considered. Could be done a little cheaper with a 5.7 VVT motor and still using the Mopar stuff. Runs like a stock '16 Challenger. Doesn't get hot in traffic. 1900rpm at 80mph with 3.92 gears.

http://www.dakotart.com/forum/showthread...1219#post521219

I will be curious if all the other functions work such as AC, cruise, radio, etc..

Me too

Could an aftermarket efi computer run side-by-side with the JTEC and let you keep the sensor and gauges?

I think I would do a Hotwire harness to run the Hemi and leave the 98 computer to run the other stuff. The Hotwire harness is free standing. A 98 wouldn't be as bad as a 2002 or 2003, the later versions had more things the computer controlled. As late as 96 you could still separate out the engine control from the other things in a Dakota harness. It was a mess, but do-able. Gene

The mechanical stuff is the easy part. The electronics is the part that sucks. The OBD-2 harnesses are ugly when you start peeling them apart. Trouble is by that year, everything is controlled by the computer. Not just your cruise and a/c but also your lights, windshield wipers, gauges. I think I would gut all the original wiring, install a universal hot-rod type wiring harness and do aftermarket gauges and a manual transmission or an older hydraulic 4-speed if you must have an auto. Then carb or aftermarket EFI controller of your choice. The 90's mopar OBD-2 stuff is poorly supported and the only tuning options I know of leave you at the mercy of someone else on the internet to make your tune for you and to me that just sounds terrible. I would sooner gut all that and handle it myself.

I did use the factory electronics when I swapped a 5.2 magnum into my jeep wrangler, however I used a 1995 OBD-1 harness which is quite simple compared to the OBD-2 stuff. The OBD-1 stuff is not tunable though but for this build a stock engine was more than adequate.