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Tony
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
18:27:44
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 Subject: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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Hey again. I havent visited for a while. I hope this isnt a repetative message. I know it is annoying when people ask if you can do a V8 engine swap, because obviously you can, but I was really wondering exactly what engines can go into my dodge dakota. I know the 318 and 360 will fit in there. I have sort of a limited budget, and I would seriously like to swap the 3.9L V6 in my 1989 standard cab dakota with some kind of V8.
I noticed that people have thrown in old carbeurated engines from dodge rams and I think ram vans from the 70's and 80's. I was very curious if I can put a newer magnum engine im my truck, even if there has to be a few mods to the mounts for it to fit. I see you can put any 6 cyl and 8 cyl engine from dakotas from 1987 to 1991.
Can I put a 318 magnum from a 1992 or 1993 in the dakota? Can I fit an even newer engine in there (up to a '96, or even the genIII dak engines)? I would love to have a Magnum series 318 V8 with MPI!! I am currently drooling... but seriously, if anybody could tell me what will fit in the '89 dakota, and/or where they saw something for sale (an engine by itself of a beat up dakota or ram with one in it to pull out) that would be awesome!!! If a newer 360 can fit, that would be great, too. Thanks!
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2004
19:00:36
|  RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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Even a 426 Hemi will fit with the bolt-in crossmember kit from engine-swaps.com.($300ish). The MPI stuff is no bigger than TBI 318/360. You'll just need to ditch the engine-driven fan for an electric setup. Stick with 1995 or earlier OBDI systems for MPI transplants. The 1996 and newer computers are OBDII, and unless you enjoy pain.....anyway, you can use the 1996 and newer engines if you swap to OBDI electronics. Also, the '96 and newer trannies are totally electronic and need the OBDII computer to function properly...just another reason to avoid them in a swap.
The mounting for a Magnum V8 will size right up to where your V6 is mounted. The pre-Magnums only mount by their "ears," but the Magnums have the "triad" mounting points like your V6, so if using the 1992 and up Magnum smallblock, you will not need the bolt-in crossmember.
eBay is a great place to pick up Magnum parts. I snagged a Magnum engine harness for under $30. Get the Magnum heads/intake/and associated electronics and misc bolts, bolt them onto a pre-Magnum (LA smallblock) and make your own Magnum. Mopar Performance even sells heads with this conversion in mind.
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Kenny
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2004
13:25:50
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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well do you think i could swap in a 340 w/ a 4bbl carb in my 87 3.9L 2bbl carb dakota?
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2004
13:32:26
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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Oh yeah, now you're talkin'!
You will need the bolt-in crossmember, better tranny, and at least some added beef (LSD especially) to the rear to handle the power.
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2004
13:42:57
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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I was just thinking the same thing today. I crashed my 96 dakota and was goona get rid of it, but i'm thinking of turning it into a low budget project truck. It has the AX-15 manual trans in it, which is the same trans used in a lot of the Toyota Trucks, it is a real popular swap to put a 350 checvy in the toyota's because it bolts right up to the trans. Has anyone ever put a chevy in a Dak?? I'm going to check into it to see if it really will bolt up to my dak trans. Chevy 350's and 454's are a dime a dozen around here.
-Jon
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tony
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2004
15:06:08
|  RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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WOW! That is awesome! I saw on ebay an '02 dodge ram magnum engine (4.7 V8) for very cheap (around $700). I know, it is extremely new, and most likely has the painful electronics on it, but I thought it is nice because it has everything there. It has the engine, engine wiring harness, computer, transmission (for another $450), ac compressor, power steering pump, alternator, starter, and fan blade and clutch still together. The thing has 60k miles on it and it was just recently dropped from a new dodge ram! Wouldnt it be cool though popping the hood and seeing this new engine in there with no rust, freshly painted a glossy black, and the new plastic airhat on it?
I will look around for the older magnums. A 1992 or 1993 318 magnum would be great! My '89 3.9L V6 has about 194,000 miles on it, so if I could convert it to a magnum, it may be a waste. I dont know. So you said that if I found one of these older magnums, I wouldnt need anything else? Do I have a pre-magnum, or were those made after 1989? Anyways, thanks a lot for the advice! I wasnt sure if you were still around here gen1dak. Its nice that others are still doing stuff to their generation I dakotas.
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kenny
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2004
23:24:15
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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what about wiring, ignition system, fuel system what all would i have to modify?
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Martin
GenII
5/18/2004
23:25:27
|  RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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Jon you are sick and wrong puting a chevy engine in a dakota or any mopar that is just sick and wrong.
<----There Is A Real Dodge truck!
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
00:05:08
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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It depends on your goal. Your '89 is a LA V6. Magnums appeared in 1992 (1993 for 360's). Ironically, the 3.9 V6 had the Magnum style mounts from the beginning (yours has this), which is why the Magnum V8 blocks do not need the add-on crossmember.
If the truck is solid, it's not a waste. If you want a carbureted system, you need little else. The electric fuel pump will provide plenty of fuel. Add a fuel pressure regulator set for about 6 psi(I use the Mallory single inlet/dual outlet/fuel in, main line to carb, secondary line plumbs to fuel tank return line to vent excess fuel) and a V8 electronic ignition kit from Mopar Performance, and you're pretty well set. The Shelby's started out as V6 Sport Dakotas. They added 3.90 gears with a limited slip diff. to the 8 1/4 rear. They required electric fans, and had an external tranny cooler and a high stall torque converter with a tweaked valvebody in the A500 automatic.
Now, if you want to run the Magnum MPI system, you'd need to swap in a Magnum fuel pump module in the fuel tank and beef up the fuel lines for upwards of 50 psi. You'll need the MPI computer as well as the Magnum engine harness.
Your V6 engine pieces will swap over to a Magnum block so you can run your '89 pulleys and accessory drive stuff, water pump, etc. Now, if you want to run the Magnum serpentine stuff, you will need to use a Magnum water pump since it's designed to run in the opposite direction because of the serpentine system.
The point is, be careful what you mix and match. If you use '89 stuff, use all of it....serpentine, same deal. The fans won't matter since you'll need the electric units anyway.
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Kenny
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
10:49:55
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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well mine is already carbed but how do i swap in the 340 w/ a 4bbl like what all would i have to modify. ive got a A904 trans that needs rebuildin now but id rather have a A727 w/ a full forward pattern manual valbe body B&M shifter (got to decide on which one) and a shift kit. i know my stock trans will bolt up to a small block but am i gonna have to change the trans cross member? Also for coolin: do i need to put a bigger alluminum radiator or is mine up to the job? Do i need to put stiffer front springs to handle the weight of a 340 v8? is installin a mopar electronic ignition all i have to do for the ignition? Ive got a 7 1/4 rear w/ an open 2.71 gear my truck is about as slow as they get but some how that lil v6 can still power brake and also whip some alright kinda doughnuts. How hard would it be to swap in a Ford 9 inch rear for my truck?
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kenny
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
10:54:54
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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also how would i put in a floor shifter in my truck? can i just buy a steering colum from a manual trans truck and bolt it in?
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
14:55:25
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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Trust me i try not to go within 10 feet of a Chevy, but the engines are all over the place and are dirt cheap, and since it should bolt right up to the Dodge trans it will be an easy swap. I have a Ford 393 with about 600 horsepower sitting here but i don't think the Dak could handle it.
-Jon
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
21:20:17
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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Okay, front to back. Electric fan in front of radiator. I would pop for a larger aluminum radiator. The 340 will already tax the stock system, and wringing it out will really push things, so more cooling capacity is always a plus. You will need the bolt-in crossmember to mount the 340 to the truck frame. You shouldn't need to change the tranny crossmember. Typically, the 904 and 727 have the same mounting points relative to the vehicle. The longer tailshaft of the 727 will require a shorter driveshaft. B&M makes a floor shifter intended for trucks (Light Truck Megashifter). It is has a longer stick, but it's not required that you use that one. If you already have a V6, the front springs will easily handle the 340, but a good set of gas-charged shocks would be a good move. The Mopar ignition kit is a great deal. Very complete. Instructions show how to bypass the ASD (auto shutdown relay) when installing so the fuel pump, etc still work.... which is basically just jumping a hot wire past it. The rear will have to be upgraded. Don't know about a Ford 9 incher, but as often as it's done, it can't be too bad. On the steering column issue, uhhhh, I don't have a clue, but, again, it can't be that bad either. I would think you would use the same column, but basically remove the column stalk. Gotta look into that issue myself, 'cause I'd eventually like to get one of those floor shifters too. If you opted for the manual-shift column, yeah, the floor shift base just basically bolts down to the floorboards. You'll need to cut a hole in the floorboard for it to connect to the tranny. If you get all the heavy stuff done, you can do the floor shift anytime. Oh, and get an external tranny cooler too. Your tranny will thank you.
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
21:24:48
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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Oh, with a HP 340, you'd be wise to get a quality mechanical fuel pump for a 340. The V6 pump will fit, but I'm not sure if it'd feed the 340 at high rpm, so a fresh HP pump would be better.
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
21:31:05
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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The v6 pump should work just fine with a 340, but if not i would go with an inline electric holley pump and a return fuel sustem. Mechanical pumps can have problems with vapor lock.
If you call Currie Enterprises with some measurements they will build you a custom 9" rear that will bolt right in where the dodge rear used to sit. I had a custom one made for my f-150.
-Jon
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kenny
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2004
21:46:45
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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well if i could chit out money id call currie but i guess im gonna have to find a swap thats some what near the right width. I was kinda startin to think using a lokar 23" shift and gettin a boot kit so it would actually look like a manual trans(i just wish it was and i like not having to play w/ the clutch though) where could i get a bigger alluminum radiator? anything that will bolt in w/ a lil bit of mods from Be Cool? and about the front shocks and suspension i think im gonna get together w/ a local fab shop and see if i can get some wider stronger a-arms (hopefully lift it about 4inches) get a shock hoop made and put some rancho 9000Xs (pair on each of the front wheels and singles on the rear) and probly a lil bit stiffer front spring (i want to build a street legal bad ass prerunner) and do you think one of them B&M super coolers would be good enough for the trans?
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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5/20/2004
20:22:49
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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Yeah, the B&M cooler would be fine. BeCool is what I had in mind. Summit sells some generic style units from BeCool. They cost less than the custom units. Snag a rear out of a '97 or newer Jeep Grand Cherokee if you can. It retains the 5-lug pattern, but the 8 1/4 is beefed over the previous generation. A little welding for the shock mounts and you're there.
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chili dog
Dodge Dakota
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7/11/2014
20:42:14
| what should I replace my v6 dakota motor with?
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what size motor will fit in my 95 v6
dakota I need something that will haul a
18 foot bay boat. I think I have a lifter
going out and I may need to replace the
motor soon what should I replace it with?
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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7/12/2014
10:28:42
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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Depending on the size of your bank account you could put any
size engine you want to. But if you want a Dodge power plant
you. Could install a 318 or 360 without too much trouble. A
PCM, trans and some minor wiring should make it work.
Another way is repair the 3.9 and change your rear gears to a
higher numerically ratio. Say 3.92 or 4.1:1.
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logan
Dodge Dakota
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11/16/2014
19:22:23
|  RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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I am wondering what type of hemi I can put
in a 1999 dodge Dakota?
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pinky
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2014
16:43:31
| RE: What V8's can fit in my genI dak?
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We are here to listen to your problems.
Answer is: None
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