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white dodge
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
10:44:35

Subject: engine swap
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has anyone actually done an engine swap, how did it go? was it worth it? im not intrested in buying a new truck but the opportunity presented itself.



IntenseDak39
*GenIII*
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3/22/2005
14:01:46

RE: engine swap
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yes and yes



whitedodge
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
16:56:38

RE: engine swap
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is it incredibly hard? i can pretty much work my way around a motor.



IntenseDak39
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3/22/2005
17:10:57

RE: engine swap
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mine was a little unique, but it wasnt too hard for me. It just took more time to collect parts amung other things.



whitedodge
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
19:04:48

RE: engine swap
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and it was awsome. i love my truck to death i jus hate the engine and i can honestly say i dnt want to get rid of the body god knows i have worked hard enough on it. so i figured an engine swap would b nice, i jus dnt know how its gonna do. why was yours unique?



IntenseDak39
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3/22/2005
20:11:04

RE: engine swap
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here's why





wow
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
20:22:14

RE: engine swap
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haha that's the nicest looking engine i've ever seen! anyway so the swap...anyone else do it?



IntenseDak39
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3/22/2005
20:26:30

RE: engine swap
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thanx!

nothing like a big block under the hood



whitedodge
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
22:18:00

RE: engine swap
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so how much did that swap all cost, how much would jus doing a 5.2 cost?....very nice engine what you running now?



IntenseDak39
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3/22/2005
22:22:25

RE: engine swap
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a magnum would be more expensive


i bought eBay stuff, got some stuff for free... shopped around, sold stuff


i really dont have much invested... couple grand at tops.



whitedodge
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
23:19:56

RE: engine swap
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im confused how did u get stuff for free? uve been through nos/turbo/super. damn share the welth



IntenseDak39
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3/23/2005
10:26:36

RE: engine swap
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it's not wealth.... it's effecient shopping ;-)

nitrous system

$580 NX Dodge EFI kit
$100 NX purge kit

purchased when i was 19 years old with a bonus from work

turbo system

$100 turbo
$100 compressor
$100 oil lines/fittings/gaskets
$ 75 header flange and exhaust pieces
$ 50 exhaust built
free 24lb injectors
free gauges
free gauge pod
free air hat

i funded that by selling the nitrous kit

sold the turbo stuff to pay bills

big block

$262 big block including water pump, complete pulleys, mopar valve covers, edelbrock performer intake, holley 650 carb, torque converter, flexplate, msd 8.5 wires, alternator, brand new mopar chrome timing cover, mopar chrome dip stick, stainless steel bolt kit (complete motor)

i sold the carb for $150, converter for $40, and the msd wires for $40. That right there leaves me $32 invested.

purchased
$200 carb (new)
$135 1.5 roller rockers (new)
$150 valve springs/pushrods (new)
$100 camshaft/lifters (used)
$ 75 alternator (pos) worst purchase
$100 727 transmission (broke it)
$140 727 transmission
$250 valve job/shaved/new guides.. etc etc
free double roller timing chain (new)
free mopar distributor

now i know there is a lot of little purchases like gaskets here and there and some paint. BUT probably totalled no more than $100


now how did i fund all that??

sold

$300 3.9 V6
$ 25 3.9 waterpump
$150 msd 6a/wires/coil
$150 1.7 roller rockers
$ 75 throttle body
$100 passenger side air bag

see.. i am not in the whole too much on this project... and keep in mind it took me 10 months from the moment i got the motor, to the moment i started it.. so it's not like i just laid down a lot of cash.



whitedodge
Dodge Dakota
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3/23/2005
10:39:04

RE: engine swap
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ur my hero. wish i woulda been around when you sold some of that stuff. so how hard would it be for me to do the swap and how much would it cost for a shop to do it?



whitedodge
Dodge Dakota
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3/23/2005
10:41:33

RE: engine swap
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dude now you got my thinkin about turbos and nos!!! idk what to do anymore i dnt like spending my money on stuff that wont help all that much. any recomendations?



IntenseDak39
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3/23/2005
10:42:22

RE: engine swap
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if you did a magnum swap, it would be much easier.. for instance if you have a 3.9 V6 right now, you could use all the accessories off of the 3.9, the motor mounts, same exhaust you had before and even the tranny if you go for a 5.2 (but i dont recommend it). the 5.2/5.9 will bolt right in place just like the 3.9 came out..

i'm helping a friend do a 2.5 - 5.9 right now.. to get him ahead, i gave him all the accessories off of my 3.9 and the motor mounts. By the time we get all the pieces, it will just bolt right on in.



IntenseDak39
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3/23/2005
10:43:40

RE: engine swap
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turbos would be more costly to be done right.. and if you arent doing it yourself, it would cost a whole lot more.

nitrous is very fun... for about the first 7 lbs in the bottle.



whitedodge
Dodge Dakota
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3/23/2005
17:10:08

RE: engine swap
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jus bolt right in eh? wouldnt it be a challange to get it running and everything? and wouldnt i have alot of problems doing so?




IntenseDak39
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3/23/2005
17:47:46

RE: engine swap
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what kind of problems do you think you're gonna have?



whitedodge
Dodge Dakota
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3/23/2005
20:27:36

RE: engine swap
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i think ima get the motor in, screw up the transmission, and it not run properly. i mean once i get it in is it going to not work and suck? can it be reliable if its a decent engine? it sounds so easy why dont alot of people do it?



IntenseDak39
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3/23/2005
22:23:22

RE: engine swap
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it's easy for some.. but not all.


a lot of people dont have the knowledge, tools and are intimidated by such a project... that's my guess.



Richard R
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2005
12:20:25

RE: engine swap
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I have a 89'Dakota convertable with a 3.9L and i want to swap to a v8 .ive heard that this might be difficult cuase it might have different motor mounts than a reg dakota. any thouhgts on this.




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