Hello. Got an 1989 Dakota 4x4 currently and while I've thought about just replacing the V6 with another LA style 3.9 but, I'm considering other options as well. For now, I can still find more Magnum powered trucks so, that's something I'm considering. Mostly everything I see is Magnum V8 swap posts but, it got to me thinking I'm wondering if the Magnum V6 will fit the same as my LA style V6 with the Fan Clutch and all? I know the 1991 up Dakotas had the front end changed to fit the V8 plus the clutch fan as well.

I don't have a problem swapping to the Magnum V6 as it would serve my purpose just the same as any other engine that would go into this truck. I'm just wondering if I would have to use electric fans for this setup and in that case maybe the Magnum V8 would be a better choice if I can't use the Magnum setup with the belt and A/C Compressor. The thing for me is I would like to keep my A/C setup and cruise control. I would also like to use the A500 that's in the 1989 as well.

At this point, I'm just throwing some options around in my head and I see the Magnum V6 is more commonplace (for now) over the LA V6. It's something I figure I would come here and ask to see if anyone has done this swap into an older 1987-1990 Dakota. I will add that I would also like to keep fuel injection as well. Anyways, any help or information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance and Happy Thanksgiving.

A 5.2 (318) in a 90 or older Dakota would get very tight at the radiator, that was the reason the 91 & up got the curved front bumper and grille, it gave them the space needed for the belt driven fan. The magnum 3.9 has pretty much the same dimensions as the LA 3.9, but all the Magnum motors I've seen have the serpentine belt system, and all have the OBD2 EFI system. That means all the belt driven pumps and AC compressor either have to be changed, or maybe you could change the belt drive on your AC compressor. The serpentine belt driven water pump has a pressed on pulley and the pump turns backwards from the V belt water pump, so at least the water pump has to match the belt drive. You may be able to convert the Magnum motor over to the V belt drive, but I have no idea what would be involved.

The magnum fuel injection system is completely different then the fuel injection system in your truck. It involves a full wire harness and computer swap which may also involve the under dash and instrument cluster change. Or it takes someone with a lot more smarts then I have to know what parts will function with each other between the two systems. Moving your fuel injection system onto the Magnum motor would at least involve an intake manifold and throttle body change and then hope the various sensors from the LA motor will attach to the magnum motor, but at least you get to keep the current wiring, computer, and instrument cluster. Were I in your shoes, I would see what it would take to swap your LA intake and EFI system, and convert the serpentine belt system back to your V belt setup. onto a Magnum V6 and keep as much of your truck as original as you can.

I'm kind of at the same point right now with my 48 Plymouth coupe. It was originally built with the V6 out of a 90 Dakota. That V6 is getting tired. I too am looking at the options, but I don't have the radiator clearance issue you have. I'm also not totally in love with the 90 fuel injection system. It has been trouble free so far, but this system and wiring has nearly 200,000 miles on it When I first built the car, I had the donor Dakota that gave up everything. I am not beyond the point of doing that again. That Gen 3 Hemi is starting to look pretty good for my coupe....

I kind of figured it's going to be tight. Running a set of electric fans would be the way to go if doing a V8 swap anyways. With regards to OBD1 and OBD2. I would probably try to buy a 91-93 truck if I'm looking for a donor. Those should be OBD1 rather both V6 or V8 application still and I think 1996 was the change over year for the Dakota. What my line of thinking was to use all the harness/computer/cluster (if need be) from the donor anyways plus the fuel system. From what I'm seeing on the cluster appears to work for 1988-1993 application and then might have changed for 1994 anyways. The reason why I'm considering the Magnum V6 as well it is might be easier if I wanted to stay with the V6.

Simply put, I can find more Magnum based donors than LA/TBI donor as this point and even with regards to a remanufactured engine, it's slightly easier to find a Magnum V6 and even used is the same scenario here in these parts. A remanufactured TBI V6 is about $2,500 not including gaskets, water pump, oil pan, etc. For that price point, I can pretty much buy a running donor vehicle plus have some extra potential spare parts as well. A potentially easier swap would be a carbureted Magnum V8 but, I would rather retain some form of EFI and would like to retain my A/C.

With regards to the 5.7L Hemi, I have condered to do that but, there is a few caveats with that regarding the 4x4. Engine Mounts would have to be specially made since there is none I'm aware for the 4x4 application. The other part is one might be stuck using a Milodon pan that produce (for now) for a 4x4 application which also still might require some additional massaging. The other part is I would want to run the 2003-2008 5.7L Hemi as the accessories would be best and the throttle body mounted on top vs the front of the engine. The other part would making integrating a Ram PCM to talk to the Dakota Cluster. If I were doing a Hemi Swap, I would look to get a whole 4x4 donor vehicle. The other part is also a scan tool would be needed to program the VIN into the vehicle and to turn on/off some options with regards to the PCM.

At this point, I'm still brainstorming and just weighing my options. Even a used engine (1988-1990) engine and having it shipped gets fairly close to what a donor vehicle could be potentially obtained for. For your application you have some flexibility being that it's a custom build. In my case, I could custom or kind of custom build since this engine is toast with even a bent rod(s) and thrown rod bearing since, I have a small hole in the oil pan. The other thing is I already have one Magnum swapped D-Series truck and a Gen III Hemi swapped 2002 Dakota R/T Club Cab (I didn't do the swap or wiring) that I bought in it's current state.

The V6 Magnum would be just fine for me. It would be interesting to see how much wiring I would actually need from the Magnum harness though. I know the wiring on the Magnum engines in the Dakotas goes through the cab instead under the cab from what little information I have found so far and that's wiring relates to the fuel system and tail lights. Speaking of that, finding a whole pump assembly for a 1988-1991 truck is pretty much unobtainable. I'm just trying to figure out what I'm up against. I have some information but, not a lot especially when it comes to swap even the Magnum V6 in. Thank you for your reply.

The 93 was the change over year from the LA 3.9 to the magnum 3.9. I had a 93 Dakota 4x4 with the magnum 3.9. and I had a 92 Dakota parts truck with an LA 3.9. The magnum was an OBD2, the 92 LA 3.9 was OBD1. The 93 under dash uses the modern "bus bar" electronics, the 92 did not.

Information about swapping between the LA 3.8 and the Magnum 3.8 is pretty scarce. It almost seems like they either swapped everything, or then kept the same motor style.

Another fun thing is trying to get good info on the Dakota 4x4 torsion bars. The standard story is the 88-96 torsion bars come in two choices, a 1600lbs pair or a heavy duty 2000lbs pair. The supposedly the 97-03 Dakota has completely different bars that do not interchange with the older bars (nor the newer bars), which is too bad, because the 97 - 03 Durango has torsion bars with 500lbs more capacity which does interchange with the Dakota those years. Then its the same story with the 04 + bars, does not interchange. The strange part is, other then the diameter (which one expects to be different with different weight limits), all the bars I've seen have the same measurements in length, and hex dimensions, all (88-07?) use the same adjusting bar anchor part (or its upgrade which change the angle of the hex to get more lift). My 49 Dodge truck has a 93 Dakota 4x4 chassis and I believe it is exceeding the 2,000lbs bar capacity on the front end. I was perusing this story, but have backed off for right now.

I've had several Dakota's, from 89-99, and the only 2 that were OBD2 are my 96 and the 99 I used to have.
I've had an 89, a 90, a 91 (bought as parts truck, had it about 3 days) a 92, a 93,(these both 318) a 94 (3.9, definitely magnum and obd1) a 99(3.9, worst "dog" , underpowered, even for a 3.9) and still have the 96 (318, only 4wd of the bunch,)
The 89&90 were 8' bed, the 94 was reg cab short bed, the rest club cab.

Another thing to add to this from what I've seen is that the later 4x4 engine mounts are different but, I think generally the 1987-1996 2wd are pretty much the same. Anyways, I'll guess we'll see what happens. I don't have a problem with the V6. For what my intended goal is with this truck for, it would suit my needs just fine. Anyways, thank you all again.

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Another thing to add to this from what I've seen is that the later 4x4 engine mounts are different but, I think generally the 1987-1996 2wd are pretty much the same. Anyways, I'll guess we'll see what happens. I don't have a problem with the V6. For what my intended goal is with this truck for, it would suit my needs just fine. Anyways, thank you all again. [/quote]

At least with the 88-96, the motor mounts for a 4x4 are completely different then the motor mounts for the same era 2wd (rear wheel drive) truck. They won't interchange without a huge amount of work.

The 2wd (rear drive motor mounts are much like the 80s full sized trucks. The rubber mount bolts to brackets that bolt to the motor, and then bolt directly to the front crossmember. The 4x4 has brackets that bolt to the motor, but the other end also supports the center section of the front axle. The 4x4 motor mounts are specific to the 4x4 Dakota. I don't believe they are motor specific, and I don't believe they are model year specific (at least through 96). You definitely need 4x4 motor mounts.

OBD II wasn't introduced until 96. All 92 and up 3.9s and 5.2s were magnum engines, 92-95s were OBD I. The 91 LA 318 in the Dakota was a one year only, Dakota only package. The Shelby Dakota package stuffed a regular LA 318 into the old body style so they will fit with electric fans.

Basically the Shelby with it's 318 and the 91 318 were very much the same, other than the 91 used a 1 year only, Dakota only serpentine belt system.