[RobertMc]

Hello all.

Does anyone know if it's possible to safely remove the 3.9 and it's auto tranny from a 1990 4x4 Dakota as a single unit ?

If not.. what is the easiest way to remove the engine, auto trans and transfer case from a Gen 1 4x4 Dakota ?
The order would be, Engine, transfer case, tranny... or ???
(I have an engine hoist and tranny jack and floor jack.. but no fancy stuff like a complete vehicle hoist)

I have a factory service manual and a Haynes manual.
The Haynes manuals tell you how to pull each component as if you are repairing it, but doesn't consider that you may be swapping the whole deal.
The Haynes also talks about raising the vehicle on jackstands to pull the tranny....but no mention of how high it should be raised.
Surely the tranny and transfer case are too big to be pulled out sideways from under the truck ?

The drivetrain is in a "totalled" truck
I am going to be dropping them into 1989 4x4 Dakota with the same
specs (but which has a very high mileage engine and a bad transmission)

Why you ask ???
Well... the truck with the bad drivetrain is completely rust free and the swap drivetrain has around 50k miles on it.

Also... I assume it's a "simple" direct swap... Any known gotchas between the 1989 and the 1990 ?

Any pointers ?


Thanks for you help !

Robert