1987 Dodge Dakota 5.9 swap with a NV3500

-

Magnum87

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2020
Messages
47
Reaction score
22
Location
Ohio
I have a 1987 Dodge Dakota that has a 3.9 in it and was a factory 5 speed truck. The truck originally came with a A535 aka NV2500 tranny. Tranny has been pulled but everything else is there. My question is would a NV3500 bolt in the Dakota behind a 5.9 Mag that’s being converted over to carb? Motor is stock except for the carb conversion. The NV3500 came out of a 99 Dakota RT where the guy had did a swap but he but a big block in the Dakota. I’m getting a new clutch and pressure plate etc... included in all the deal. Just want to make sure the tranny will work in the Dakota. Thanks
 
I think you have two issues. You need a flywheel weighted properly to balance the 5.9, so what was this all out of, and the 5.9 in my 3/4T ram ---the crank WAS NOT DRILLED AT ALL

Now if you don't mind "improperly" doing it, you can just "rough" drill it and make sure it's large enough and deep enough to clear the crank, because the pilot bearing fits into the converter bore. So the deeper, smaller pilot hole would not HAVE to be precision, just as long as it "clears"

What is not clear to me is "what" if any bellhousing do you get? You getting the matching one for the 3500? I don't know if the 2500 bell would fit or not
 
Bellhousing is coming with the tranny and the flywheel. The flywheel is matched to a 5.9. And my 5.9 has a pilot bearing already installed in the crank.
 
On the 3500, the bellhouse is integral to the trans, which splits in half longitudinally. pretty slick. The Dakota ratios are
3.49-2.14-1.38-1.00-.73od.
But you gotta be careful not to run too much rear gear else low becomes a race gear. But if you don't, then you shoot yourself in the foot, cuz the first two splits are so far apart. The splits are
.61-.645-.725-.73
so you gotta put second gear where it does the most good, and let first be what it will be. It's made for a low-rpm tractor engine. It'll be Ok with a stock Magnum, but with a low-compression, cammed-up LA, it's gonna lay down in a hurry.
With the stock 5.9, it will be fun. until it breaks; it's only rated 300ftlbs.
I would want second to be ~3200 at about 32 mph. and that would take 3.73s... which would make the starter gear 13.02, and then 65mph cruises at 2200. That's pretty good as long as you don't mind revving first out a ways before grabbing second ...... like a Mustang do.
That 13.02starter is nice if your 5.9 can pull itself at 550 cuz with 27s that makes 3.4 mph, walking speed, so you can parade the thing.
You can't put third anywhere decent;on a streeter, it's just too far away; 60mph is only 3840 with 27s It's not even a good passing gear. But the 5.9 will help with that.

Here's 5.2M, notice the 300ftlb peak at 3200. Sorry no 5.9 graph.But Ima thinking it'll be 350ish also at 3200 or perhaps a lil sooner, so you might want to make that 4bbl a small one. and no neutral drops, and no sticky tires or traction aides,lol.
power-318.gif
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the info AJ! It’s just a bone stock 5.9 I’m just gonna run a carb on it. Motor only had 50,000 miles on it. And is real clean. I’m thinking of running a 625 Street Demon. As far as the rear goes it has a 7.25 rear and I’m gonna swap in a 8.25 rear with either 3.55 gears or 3.90 gears. Gonna get one out of another Dakota. Some of these trannys came behind a 5.9 in a Ram from the factory I don’t know yet what this tranny came out of from the factory. I think the Ram has like a 4.01 first gear??? They were rated for the 5.9
 
Yeah the HD 3500, for full-size trucks had the deeper low and second,(4.02/2.32) making the splits worse, and 340ftlbs power handling.
3.55s or 3.91s can either be used, they are only 5% in either direction from 3.73.
I read that the weak point was the input bearings on the early models, and that you HAVE to use the original oil type and brand to help them survive.
I'd like to run that trans with an HO318LA I got on the drawing board, in a first gen Dakota. I guess we'll see if I get to it. At 67, I'm not real excited to get to it.
 
So this should pretty well be a direct swap then. I’m thinking the crossmember everything will work from the original tranny which was a A535/NV2500.
 
I can't say; I haven't done it.
I rebuilt a couple and judging by the size of the components, I think my 367 would blow it up pretty easy.
Back in the day,
340s were rated at 340ftlbs@3200 and
the early 318s were 340@2400
Even NET that would likely be over 300 still.
Butchakno, they only make those number over a narrow range at WOT. Not at idle,lol. So no neutral drops at peak-torque,lol.
 
I am in the middle of putting a 5.9 in my 87 dakota! But mine is 4wd
So far I have done the following.
1. Installed a carter rotary fuel pump and new line.
2. Installed a 8.8 explorer rear with disc brakes
3. Swapped radiator to a 26in
4. Installed 2, 12 in spal pusher fans between the radiator and condenser
5. Installed a NV3500 out of a 2002 dakota that had a 4.7 engine.
6. I am still running the 3.9 using a magnum 5.2 flywheel, and clutch assy.......

I can tell you the following from my experience and what I have read.....
1. You need a NV3500 out of a dakota. The shifter location is different from the ram.
2. In your case, consider if it has a speedometer hook up. Some dont....
3. NV3500 were only in V8 (5.2) dakotas from 94 or 95 till 99. Starting in 2000 the NV3500 was put in the V6 version as well.
4. You need a 5.9 ram flywheel for the correct engine balance. The 5.2 is wrong.
5. The length of a NV3500 is actually about 3/4in shorter then the NV2500 (4wd)

FWIW I dont believe the NV3500 was ever used with a 5.9. The only 5.9 dakotas were automatic's and my understanding, the ram, when equipped with a 5.9 got the nv4500 or a automatic.

Look forward to following your build, and if you need to see any pictures or have questions of me, please ask!!
 
They also used the AX15 behind the 5.2 and later 3.9 plus the 4.7. The NV3500 and AX15 will bolt in place of each other and there's really no advantage to one over the other. They would both live fine behind the 5.2 but I wouldn't expect either one to put up with a lot of abuse behind a stout 360.
 
It’s just going behind a stock 5.9 converted to carb
 
below are some pictures of the clearance needed to fit a v-8 in the engine bay of a early (87-90) dakota.
Hopefully it makes sense. If not, ask me what you want to explain or post additional pictures of.


3.9 head
3.9 head length.jpeg


5.9 head
5.9 head length.jpeg


3.9 clearance to radiator
clearance from pulley to radiator.jpeg


Overall picture of 3.9 to radiator
overall picture with 3.9.jpeg
 
Ok I’m trying to figure out my crossmember....... this is the original 87 crossmember. The NV3500 has this mount on it. I also have the original mount. The truck had a NV2500 in it. But it was in the bed when I bought the truck. Do I need a plate? Or a different mount? My original mount looks like it might work but I would have to make a plate to for the holes on the tranny to work. They are wider the mount on the tranny. And if u see something wrong please let me. New at this as far as manual transmissions go. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

93A70B58-6193-4C67-99B1-69F6CE26684A.jpeg


E2667F16-1777-454D-9C69-F0CD0B628E3F.jpeg


19F5C692-1A28-47FF-8B07-688A7BC7966B.jpeg


05342053-78CA-474C-95CB-9D4FC758C30D.jpeg


369880F9-9C2E-4EDF-A7CC-C9D0C7915262.jpeg


4AA11927-9A79-454F-B79A-CF16ECDF5E7B.jpeg


B7EB1518-F47A-4461-9220-73BC73E68B99.jpeg


C0735C24-4408-40CD-A989-882CF1F8C6E7.jpeg
 
Ok I took the mount off the NV3500 and this is what I came up with

871BA392-6E71-4704-BEE9-DA81D6DB76C3.jpeg


E45BE92F-B173-4399-BEA1-2B93029353D2.jpeg
 
That fits the crossmember and the tranny. So I think this is the way this goes?
 
Going to clean the crossmember etc... just wanting to make sure this will work
 
The motor will be sitting at the right place it’s a Magnum so it will bolt right up to where the 3.9 bolts up. As far as the fan goes haven’t addressed that yet but do have a plan when I get there I think.
 
Is that at the right distance from the back of the engine? what about set back? Are you gonna have to move the engine back to have room for the fan to not hit the rad?

For 5 years or so, I have been reading and researching this topic..... In order to put a 5.2 or 5.9 in the 87-90 dakota's these are the 3 ways I have seen it done.

1. Shelby Dakota was built by using a special cross member that moved the engine back. It still used v-belt accessories..... But they had to use 2 11in pusher fans mounted between the condenser and the radiator.
2. I seen a 89 that used a 5.2 magnum along with the serpentine belt accessories. It barely cleared the radiator, and he used an intrepid fan, pushing through the radiator..... He removed the ac condenser.
3. I seen a 89 that had a 5.9 magnum with v-belt drive...... It would not clear the radiator. He checked on a custom radiator that would fit inside the core support, and then was going to mount an electric (pusher) fan in front. He was fine with no AC. However the custom radiator was more expensive..... and he ended up buying a front end off of a 92? Dodge redesigned the fronts in 91, moving the radiator 3-4 in forward to allow the v-8 and fan to fit.

Myself, I have a 87 4wd 5sp dakota. So far I have done the following
1. Replaced the wore out 8.25 rear with a 8.8 out of a explorer.
2. Replaced the NV2500 trans with a NV3500. I had to use the clutch and flywheel out of a 95 5.2 dakota to tie it together with my existing 3.9.
3. I have added a carter rotary fuel pump.
4. Replaced the radiator (20in) with a 26in single core factory radiator.
5. I made mounts to sandwich 2- 12in spal pusher fans between the condenser and radiator.
6. I used a relay box from a 93? dakota to run the 2 fans, and fuel pump. I have them wired in 2 stages. both for engine cooling and ac cycling.

I am in the middle of putting a 2000 5.9 out of a ram back together. I left it stock, but I plan on using a 7577 edelbrock intake, 670 holley carb. (already have the carb) and a GM style hei dist. Im using the serpentine acc. from the ram.
If anyone has any questions I may be able to help with, please ask.
I can send links for the other builds I was talking about, but did not know if it should go through pm's .... Not sure if its ok to send links to other forums or not
 
@Magnum87 , reviving this semi-dated thread, if you need some parts, I might have what you need.

I have a 94 Dakota Sport that I changed almost everything on and kept almost all the stock parts (tranny, rear end, wiring harness, computer, etc.). If you end up needing any of these parts, let me know and we can work something out. They were all perfectly fine when I pulled them and had 114k miles on them.
 
I’m still working on the truck. I have the front clip off and getting ready to put the motor and tranny in soon.
 
Just saw your thread. Looking forward to your progress. The NV3500 was the stock trans in the Dakota with a 5.2. I have never seen an AX-15 behind a 5.2 stock but it will bolt up. The Ax-15 came behind the 3.9. My 95 was born a 5.2/NV3500 truck. I built a 5.9 for it 10 years ago or so. It has run high 13's on drag radials and the original tranny has 330k on it. I run a Zoom clutch but besides gear oil changes the tranny has never been touched. I have been told since I did the swap that the trans is gonna go any second. She is still hanging in with no noise or issues of any kind. Get the Hurst shifter if you can find one and I agree with the above on gearing. You go to deep and first becomes useless. I have a 3.21 in my truck and it works great with the 315/35 tire. I swapped to a 3.91 years ago and first was useless. The truck actually slowed down because you either had to leave in second or come out on the clutch and immediately grab second. It took two weeks to go back to the 3.21. If you don't do clutch dumps though they can live for a long time.

image1.jpeg


image0.jpeg
 
Nice truck. I’m running a 2001 NV3500 behind the 5.9 still waiting to install it. I scored a original Hurst Shifter for $60 they only fit the 94-2000 Dakotas though but I found a adapter that will make it work with the 2001. Hurst no longer makes the shifters but u can buy one from core shifters but they are around $350. Hopefully this works. I still need to find a 8.25 rear though
 
-
Back
Top