I have a 1996 2WD Dakota Club Cab with about 275K miles on the motor. I am going to startchecking the wrecking yards for a used engine, but I don't know if I can get any year 3.9 and put it in my 96. Are the motor mounts the same on the dakota's and ram's? I read that the exhaust was shrunk in 94 and the fuel injection was changed in 97. Does that mean I have to find one that is between 94 and 96? Any help on this subject would be appreciated.

 

any wrecking yard or used parts distributor will know which motors are compatible with your '96. I dont know for certain on earlier year dakotas, but when they switched to the Magnum V6 I dont think is compatible.

 

I would figure any 3.9 threw 92-96 would work as far as rams go they didn't come with a V6 and I beileve the exhaust ports were just shrunk on the 5.2 heads not the 3.9.

 

Fox you got the first parts right about the 92-96 3.9L working, but the exhaust manifolds were shrunk in 94 going off first hand experience. I changed out my 93 3.9L to a 95 3.9L due to a broken cam on the 93 and the 95 being the only available engine in salvage.The different manifolds arean easy fix though cause the bolt patternsand what not all line up and fit, its just the exiting port of the manifold that is shrunk and won't fit snuggly to the existing exhaust pipes.

 

Ah so the 3.9's have them too see I knew the 5.2 lost the 10hp in 94 due to the change in exhaust ports but didn't know the 3.9 did too. Oh well Im lucky I got a 1993 top speed 125

 

try http://car-part.com/forarea slavageyardsfor engines. You may even find one on Craigs' Listin your area

 

dude that carparts site is freakin awsome now I freakin can get factory seats again I don't what the hell seats are in my dak but they ain't factoryevery time I turn left the seat leans with me[&:]