Dakota Engine swap help !

-
AdamR

AdamR

Big Member
Joined
Dec 31, 1969
Messages
17,342
Reaction score
562
Location
Bethel, CT
Has anyone here ever swapped a 3.9L for a small block in a Dakota? I have a 88 2wd with a good body and interior but a bad motor/tranny. Id like to build a nice driver with a mild 318/904. I cant find much (usefull) info on this swap other then the Schumacher kit wich is $400 for mounts.

What I need to know is whats need to boly the 318 in place of the 3.9L ?

What oil pans will work ?

What headers will work ?

Seeing the 3.9 is a 318 missing 2 cylinders I would asume its bolt in or close.
 
I made motor mounts when I did this swap, and the 2 blocks bolt in miles differently. The magnum 3.9 bolts to the middle of the block , and the old 318 bolts to the old ear style, so when you make the mounts they do indeed sit quit far forward in comperison. I used the steering rack bolts for a support place to bolt the new mount to. The original pan from the fith ave worked. The old 318 exhaust manifold's will not work so I used spit fire headers (used bought on ebay), the trans mount just is off a bit so I just used flat steel to move it about 1.5 inches. You ahve to eliminate the fule pump in the tank or put in a regulator. The front end of the truck went down about 3/4 of an inch. The truck I started with was a 89 3.9 model. Hope this helps.
 
Hey Adam, I think a trip to the local Mopar dealer to talk to one of the better mechanics would go a long way into determining what is needed. Once you new, you might be able to get the parts cheaper at the local pick-a-part.

Jack
 
Coyote Jack said:
Hey Adam, I think a trip to the local Mopar dealer to talk to one of the better mechanics would go a long way into determining what is needed. Once you new, you might be able to get the parts cheaper at the local pick-a-part.
Click to expand...

Don't think you will get any help there. A v8 wasn't offered by the factory from 87-90. There were a small number of trucks converted by Shelby but that was it. It was 91 when they redesigned the nose of the Dakota specifically to accomodate a v8 that

The biggest issue is getting the v8 to fit. The Gen1 Dakota has a flat nose and the extra length of the engine is a tight squeeze. The Shelby trucks used an electric fan mounted infront of the radiator.

I would look for someone with a Shelby Dakota and see if you can get some pictures.
 
Thanks, this is going to be a real mild motor so Im sure an electric fan will work fine. All I need is motor mount and oil pan info that doesnt have a $500 price tag on it, LOL

I thought this was going to be easy !
 
Front what I see the big problem is that the 3.9 and 318 bolth have the motor mounts in the front of the block. So when you try to bolt the 318 in it will move the motor against the firewall and the tranny wont line up. No if you move the motor forward you run in to fan/radiator problems and need to fabricate a mount. Im wondering if I can use a magnum motor which has the mounts further back?
 
Magnum motor mounts bolt in differently, they use a flat pad in the middle of the block, if your 318 is a magnum, you should be able to use a magnum mount.
When I did my swap I used early 65/66 motor mounts. The oil pan from the 318 fifth ave (I think 1984) my motor came from worked ok. I left the motor in about the stock location, I think I went back about an inch, just so the distributer cleared. And then I built the mounting surface toward the front of the truck. I beleive I used 3/8 flat steel to bolt the motor mount into. One side of the vehicle the mount sits over the streering rack, so I made a bracket down to the big bolt that bolts the rack to the truck.
 
His 3.9L is not a mag motor.....that didn't start until like '95 so he is dealing with a TBI 3.9L. And that is not true about the V8 not being offered until ;ike '94......Shelby was making 318 Dakota's in the late 80's early 90's......remember the convertible Dakota.....those had 318's in them. If you have seen one the dist is right up against the fire wall......I'd take and empty block and swing it into the engine bay and see how it fits before I'd shell out the $400......you might be able to fab up some mounts then.
 
I realized that it is a TBI motor, but he asked if he could use magnum mounts to put the 318 into his Dakota.
I'd take and empty block and swing it into the engine bay and see how it fits before I'd shell out the $400......you might be able to fab up some mounts then.
Click to expand...
That is what I did, put the motor as far back as it will go and built the front mounts from there. I think the trans mount ends up about an inch further back from where the V6 trans mounted to. I had no problem with fan hitting rad, just used a small fan and no spacer.
Sorry for the confusion!
 
Dusterb318 said:
His 3.9L is not a mag motor.....that didn't start until like '95 so he is dealing with a TBI 3.9L. And that is not true about the V8 not being offered until ;ike '94......Shelby was making 318 Dakota's in the late 80's early 90's......remember the convertible Dakota.....those had 318's in them. If you have seen one the dist is right up against the fire wall......I'd take and empty block and swing it into the engine bay and see how it fits before I'd shell out the $400......you might be able to fab up some mounts then.
Click to expand...

The factory v8 started in 91 when they redesigned the front of truck to make the engine compartment bigger. The Shelby Dakota was a one year only vehicle in 1989, had a TBI LA 318 and only 1500 were made. The convertable Dakotas were all v6's.

I can't help any on the motor mount issue other than my 89 Dakota 4x4 had the front axle hung from the motor mounts.
 
Duster318, My '92 Dakota is a 3.9 and a Magnum.
AdamR, I too am going to convert over to a 5.2. I have found a fresh '96 5.2 Magnum , and I have been told (Can't confirm this to be true..yet), that the 3.9 mag, and 5.2 mag, share the same mounts and radiators and trans. Adam can you change over too a '91 or later front end, (doghouse)? Radiator support location allow this? Good luck, Terry.
 
Looked up the part numbers for the motor mounts, 88-96 use the same ones for bolth 3.9l and 5.2l. So Id think its 100% bolt in if I use a Magnum motor like Keith Mopar said.

Id rather not change sheet metal. The body is in good shape as it is wich is why I picked it up in the first place. Im planning on pulling the hood ltach and running hood pins so I can move the radiator back a little to clear the fan.

I have to get this thing together and running cheap so I can sell my currant daily driver. Then I can put a little more money in to it. Im not looking for anything things fancy, just a fun truck to get me to work and back and haul parts around.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top