Like everything it depends on the care taken and some luck. Ive seen 4.0 motors blow at the 100,000 mark or last a long time. I dont think the 4.0 would have anywhere near the power of the 318, and it would take a good deal more work to get it into the truck. I havent taken any measurements, but I would assume new motor mounts would need to be fabricated, and probably new transmission braces. You might need to move the crossmember depending on the length of the transmission.

The 4.0's Ive worked with seem to blow valve cover gaskets like they were nothing. I also hate the windy sound jeep motors make when starting, but thats just personal preference.

 

Yea but what about compared to an LA 318, i read that at stock they only pushed out like 175-190HP though ive also read and checked out different sites that the 318 can really be modified to push a whole sh*tload more Power, ill probably will go with the 318 but wanted to know some more about the 4.0 and if that was possible

 

If you have mod skills technically anything is possible. Ive seen a 7.3 turbodiesel stuffed in a 63 scout 80. So yeah....if it exists theres a way. Just a matter of how much fabricating and modifying skills you have.

The 4.0 is a jeep motor, and if its in a jeep its got options for aftermarket all over. But it wasnt an incredible motor to start with, and wouldnt really have anything that would make me want to go through the work of sticking it in a dakota. Not when I have a motor available with more power, a better power curve for a pickup and a fair availability of upgrades. Plus, since it was a factory option the modifying is kept to a minimum.

 

Yea but the 318 wasnt even a factory option for the 87 Dakota but i still want and plan to stick one in there (of course with a 318's tranny too) how much power though do you think i could get one (an LA 318)with a 4 Barrel carb to push out....if i had the extra money

 

There are a lot of possibilities for the 318! You could realitically get an easy 300+ hp and 400+ ft*lbs of torque without sacraficing reliability. You could stroke it with a mild cam and bigger rockers with higher flow heads. Just start looking on summitracing.com and hugesengines.com for performance parts!

 

Some of that sh*t is expensive!
well anyways i was wondering How many lights are under the dash and where are they? I only have one light on the passenger side by the door that still works and stays lit for 30 secs or however long it set to stay on after you close the doors and i cant find any lights besides that one under the dash, used to have the key light but that died back in like April and i havent been to a dealer yet because Autozone said it was a dealer special light thats in the steering collom

 

^^Id still like to know if any one can anser my last question about the lights under the dash ^^
Well anyways I found out a while back my A/C actually still cools as long as its ran for around 2-5 minutes and is like in the high 70s or above but only cools like 5 degrees (an estament because i have not tried using a theremometer) and i cant refill it, but when i do turn it on i sometimes hear a hiss inside the cab, is it leaking through the ventalation system or do they normaly do that when you first turn it on?

 

I still want ansers to the posts 46 and 47 so if any one knows about them please post
Anyways I noticed today that theres an add in a local paper for a 318, dosnt really give any information but i plan on calling the person tomorow but the price sounds too good to be true unless they really want to get rid of it or the engine is a complete peice of sh*t, anyways they only want $50.00, thats all, how does that sound to you all on here?

 

I'm not sure about the lights under. I feel like there was just one under the passengers side. Maybe the driver side. But I added my own light under the dash, as well as a lighted rear view mirror from my Trans Am. As for the AC mine doesn't hiss so I don't think that is normal. You may have a leak. Take it to a shop and they can check. As for that engine at that price it may be dead. If your planning on installing it stock it is not work it. But if your planning on rebuilding it, it might be worth it.

 

Huh, youd think they'd put a light under at least both sides of the dash,
Hopefully it dont cost too much to get the whole A/C system switched to R134 and have that hiss fixed if it is a problem,
For the engine ill probably rebuild what ever one I get with a friend unless i can see it running, if it runs good and everything checked out to be good over tests and an actual inspection of taking it apart then i wouldnt rebuild it, probably just replace seals and stuff like that, but How much do rebuild kits cost? and How much at an estament would it be to easily get it to push out at least around 250HP and like 320 Tourque?