This is my first post, I have a 1989 Dakota with a 3.9. I found a 2000 3.9 with all the wiring harness and computer, alt, starter, and most everything else. Has anyone done this swap? Can it be done? Any help would be appreciated. Mike

 

Should be possible, but it's gonna be a lot of headache. If I remember correctly the speedo, tranny, and MULTIPLE other components are run via the comp in a 2000. Your truck will not have all the sensors it needs, and you'll either have to add sensors to your truck or have the comp reprogrammed.

 

I'd say just find a V-8 out of like a 1992-1995 Dakota or Ram, and heres why.
In 1992 they changed over to the Magnum series of motors. They changed a lot of things. Amoung others, they ditched the throttle body injection (2 injectors on the thottle body for the V-6 and maybe V-8 too?), and they went to every cylinder havin'g its own injector right above it. So you'd have to get a new computer for that reason alone.
The Magnum motors are also more powerful (thus why I suggest 1992-1995, which is pre-OBDII). But yes, that 2000 3.9L is a Magnum too (as you probably know)

You might run into problems getting the computer and everything to work in your 1988. Sometime around 1996, they went over to a electronic-controlled transmission, so the 2000's computer might set off the check-engine light for transmission related stuff.

Plus other headaches that I can't think of right now. We know how they love to over-engineer vehicles these days.

 

I know that this is going to be fun (sic) but I'm going to give it a shot. I allreaddy figured out that the 2000 has a crank trigger that triggers off the flywheel, flexplate. If any one has done this, I would like to get any help, so I'm not blazing the trail. Thanx for your help, and your time. Mike

 

in my opinoin it would not be worth the time/money to swap them over. if i had a pre magnum i would ditch the copmuter system and do an LA swap. plus i think the mounts are different on the magnums and not magnums, but not sure.