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97 Dakota 2WD engine swap #2737320
01/28/20 01:16 AM
01/28/20 01:16 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,027
Dearborn Hts, MI
Sledge_57 Offline OP
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Sledge_57  Offline OP
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Dearborn Hts, MI
I inherited my dads Dakota a few years back, 2wd, 3.9 V6, auto. Body and interior are beautiful (Florida truck has never seen a Michigan winter) but that V6 is a TURD. Either it has to go or the truck does...

I'm being forced to retire soon (chemo ...) and I'm going to lose my company vehicle (after 22 years) so I need a daily driver. The Dakota would be perfect but again that V6...

So what would be a good, reliable, relatively inexpensive swap. Not looking for a race truck here but I want something that has some guts.

My company vehicle is a Grand Caravan and I love the Pentastar V6, if the Dakota ran like the Caravan I'd be happy but looking all over the net it doesn't seem like the Pentastar swap is easy and hasn't been done much.

I've thought about a 5.7 or an old school small block and I've also looked at a doing a LS swap (Blasphemy I know but I don't care... :^ ) )

Anyone?


Doug

1967 "Pedal Car" 500" low deck , TF 727, 4.30 Locker
Best to Date: 11.67 @ 114.9 1.64 60ft

"Kids in cars cause accidents. Accidents in cars cause kids..."
Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: Sledge_57] #2737472
01/28/20 05:08 PM
01/28/20 05:08 PM
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Arlington, Texas
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bobby66 Offline
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Magnumswap.com has some info on swapping the Magnum V-8's in. Got 230,000 on my 3.9. It's been good to me. work

Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: Sledge_57] #2737501
01/28/20 07:24 PM
01/28/20 07:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,666
Buford, GA
I_bleed_MOPAR Offline
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I'm in the middle of swapping in a 5.9 into a '00 quad cab that had a 3.9. Bought the truck sans engine and had my Durango already so all I needed was on hand. Mine is a 5 speed though. A 5.2 would be a bolt-in, a 5.9 would require a converter change, IIRC. Dakota/Durango pans are different from Ram truck pans, at least on 4wd versions. And you can use the 3.9 fan shroud by trimming it down.



Tim


'71 Charger 383/727
'17 Challenger SXT (Wifeys car wink )
Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: I_bleed_MOPAR] #2737573
01/29/20 12:11 AM
01/29/20 12:11 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 954
garnett kansas
rhad Offline
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garnett kansas
i have a 03 dakota with a 3.9 v6,it had a 3.55 rear axle and was kinda doggy,i swapped in a 3.92 rear axle and that woke it right up!!,if you have drum rears and find a disc rear dont sweat it the stuff all swaps right over,i never changed the master cyl!!,tho mine had discs to start with and the replacement had drums

Last edited by rhad; 01/29/20 12:14 AM.

my ladder of success is missing some rungs
Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: Sledge_57] #2737598
01/29/20 03:43 AM
01/29/20 03:43 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,027
Dearborn Hts, MI
Sledge_57 Offline OP
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Dearborn Hts, MI
Thanks for the input, my 3.9 just has all kinds of issues, the newest is a coolant leak and I have no idea where it's going. I never see it on the ground and the oil looks perfect, doesn't show any signs of it in the engine... Yet the radiator will be empty in a month even if it hasn't been started, which it hasn't

I'm going to look at a couple of Journeys and Grand Caravans tomorrow.

I've about had it with the truck...


Doug

1967 "Pedal Car" 500" low deck , TF 727, 4.30 Locker
Best to Date: 11.67 @ 114.9 1.64 60ft

"Kids in cars cause accidents. Accidents in cars cause kids..."
Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: Sledge_57] #2737719
01/29/20 01:44 PM
01/29/20 01:44 PM
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Kalispell Mt.
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HotRodDave Offline
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A 5.9 bolts right in with the same motor mounts and even the same trans, if you bolt it in with the a-500 from the v6 it will be very peppy. You need a V8 harness and computer, it is ok if they are from a 318 truck, they work fine.


I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!



Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: Sledge_57] #2737903
01/29/20 10:25 PM
01/29/20 10:25 PM
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Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
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JDMopar Offline
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Check the carpet on the drivers side to see if it's wet. The heater cores in those trucks give up fairly easy. As bad as I hate to say it, an LS is almost a bolt in for a 2WD Dakota. There are several on You Tube. I was gonna put a 5.3 and 4L60E in my wifes 04 quad cab Dakota, and make it emissions legal and everything. The NCDMV inspectors tried to help me get it ok'd, but their big wheels in Raleigh said it would not pass inspection because when the place I go to for inspections plug it in, and DMV sees a GM computer in a Dodge truck.....it will automatically fail even if emissions passes 100%. eyes I just had to suck it up and put a new 4.7 in it so she can go down the road!

Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: HotRodDave] #2738357
01/31/20 11:00 AM
01/31/20 11:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,666
Buford, GA
I_bleed_MOPAR Offline
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Buford, GA
Well, that sucks, Jackie. frown


Originally Posted by HotRodDave
A 5.9 bolts right in with the same motor mounts and even the same trans, if you bolt it in with the a-500 from the v6 it will be very peppy. You need a V8 harness and computer, it is ok if they are from a 318 truck, they work fine.


Discovered yesterday you have to trim a little off the bottom of the pass. side mount bracket when using the 3.9 mounts (then remembered reading that somewhere). Hits the oil pan lip. Would have dropped it in but got a little careless with the cut-off wheel and cut my finger pretty bad. blush Better half said it could stand some stitches but I just used some super glue like I used to before I retired. biggrin Need to go clean up the garage floor since it now looks like a crime scene. wink laugh2


'71 Charger 383/727
'17 Challenger SXT (Wifeys car wink )
Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: I_bleed_MOPAR] #2738500
01/31/20 08:13 PM
01/31/20 08:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Online content
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poorboy  Online Content
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Freeport IL USA
Gotta watch those cut off wheels, they don't care much what they are cutting, they just do the job.
You don't want to bind them up either, I had one wheel explode, it split the safety glasses I was wearing into two pieces, right between my eyes! Fortunately for me, the safety glasses were the only thing damaged, that time. Gene

Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: I_bleed_MOPAR] #2738863
02/01/20 11:27 PM
02/01/20 11:27 PM
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Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
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JDMopar Offline
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Dang, Tim! I bet that will be sore for a while. Was it the bracket that bolts to the motor you have to trim? The ones on the 4.7 in Susan's Dakota were aluminum. I think the 5.9 Magnum brackets that were on the motor I plan to put in my beater 88 D100 were aluminum also. I went to the N. GA Swap meet today....scored some 67 Sport Satellite fenders CHEAP! I had to walk away from a pile of 452 big block heads the same guy was selling for $10 a pair! I have too many already. hop

Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: JDMopar] #2739027
02/02/20 02:10 PM
02/02/20 02:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,666
Buford, GA
I_bleed_MOPAR Offline
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Yes, it was the steel part that bolts to the block. Had to trim about a 1/4" off the bottom. I had read about it then forgot it until I tried to bolt the bracket on. blush

Finger was pretty sore until last night. Fortunately I have a high pain tolerance and am a quick healer. grin

Back at it first thing tomorrow. Really nice day and calling for rain Tues.-Thurs. I have to have the hoist halfway out the door so I need to drop it in tomorrow after I test the heater core as you suggested. up



Tim


'71 Charger 383/727
'17 Challenger SXT (Wifeys car wink )
Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: poorboy] #2739028
02/02/20 02:15 PM
02/02/20 02:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,666
Buford, GA
I_bleed_MOPAR Offline
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Originally Posted by poorboy
Gotta watch those cut off wheels, they don't care much what they are cutting, they just do the job.
You don't want to bind them up either, I had one wheel explode, it split the safety glasses I was wearing into two pieces, right between my eyes! Fortunately for me, the safety glasses were the only thing damaged, that time. Gene


Amen to that, Gene. Used to ask the younger guys at the dealership who didn't wear safety glasses, especially using a cut-off wheel, if they were wanting to possibly be blinded by the crap coming off the wheel and whatever they were cutting. Some would stop and grab glasses, some would keep going. rolleyes

Sorry to 'jack your thread, Sledge.



Tim


'71 Charger 383/727
'17 Challenger SXT (Wifeys car wink )
Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: Sledge_57] #2741704
02/10/20 07:08 PM
02/10/20 07:08 PM
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Atlanta, GA
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mgoblue9798 Offline
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Make things easy on yourself and swap in a 5.9. Factory v8 computer swap, correct converter/flexplate for v8, along with pinning a couple additional wires for the other two injectors and you are done.

Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: I_bleed_MOPAR] #2741709
02/10/20 07:21 PM
02/10/20 07:21 PM
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Atlanta, GA
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mgoblue9798 Offline
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Originally Posted by I_bleed_MOPAR
Originally Posted by poorboy
Gotta watch those cut off wheels, they don't care much what they are cutting, they just do the job.
You don't want to bind them up either, I had one wheel explode, it split the safety glasses I was wearing into two pieces, right between my eyes! Fortunately for me, the safety glasses were the only thing damaged, that time. Gene


Amen to that, Gene. Used to ask the younger guys at the dealership who didn't wear safety glasses, especially using a cut-off wheel, if they were wanting to possibly be blinded by the crap coming off the wheel and whatever they were cutting. Some would stop and grab glasses, some would keep going. rolleyes

Sorry to 'jack your thread, Sledge.



Tim



If you need a hand with your truck I live right around the corner in Lawrenceville. Let me know happy to help out.

Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: mgoblue9798] #2741988
02/11/20 03:33 PM
02/11/20 03:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,666
Buford, GA
I_bleed_MOPAR Offline
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Originally Posted by mgoblue9798
Make things easy on yourself and swap in a 5.9. Factory v8 computer swap, correct converter/flexplate for v8, along with pinning a couple additional wires for the other two injectors and you are done.


iagree

For my swap, I used the Durango harness & truck PCM that I had put in for the manual trans swap. Engine is in and bolted up. Need to plug in the PCM, install exhaust and radiator then it's ready to fire up. boogie Headed back over tomorrow to work on it. Should finish it this weekend.
Thanks for the offer to help. up Funny thing is it's at my SIL's old house in the edge of Lawrenceville, off 124 near Hi Hope Road. grin Small 2 car garage that is pretty cramped but had enough room on one side to get the truck in. Between my PT job and helping him pack stuff up to sell the house, it's taken a little longer to finish.



Tim


'71 Charger 383/727
'17 Challenger SXT (Wifeys car wink )
Re: 97 Dakota 2WD engine swap [Re: I_bleed_MOPAR] #2742149
02/12/20 12:47 AM
02/12/20 12:47 AM
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Atlanta, GA
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mgoblue9798 Offline
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Originally Posted by I_bleed_MOPAR
Originally Posted by mgoblue9798
Make things easy on yourself and swap in a 5.9. Factory v8 computer swap, correct converter/flexplate for v8, along with pinning a couple additional wires for the other two injectors and you are done.


iagree

For my swap, I used the Durango harness & truck PCM that I had put in for the manual trans swap. Engine is in and bolted up. Need to plug in the PCM, install exhaust and radiator then it's ready to fire up. boogie Headed back over tomorrow to work on it. Should finish it this weekend.
Thanks for the offer to help. up Funny thing is it's at my SIL's old house in the edge of Lawrenceville, off 124 near Hi Hope Road. grin Small 2 car garage that is pretty cramped but had enough room on one side to get the truck in. Between my PT job and helping him pack stuff up to sell the house, it's taken a little longer to finish.



Tim



Small world. I am a stones throw away from your SIL's house. Anyways my offer stands. It seems there is about 10% or so of stuff that would be so much easier with an extra set of hands. We should at least grab a beer one night and talk mopar. I don't have any local friends that are into Chrysler stuff.







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