I have a friend who might be selling me a '96 ram 4x4 318 for 2500. its only so cheap cuz the guy blew the tranny on it. i have been told that the frame for that truck can be used on my truck, which is a '93 dakota v6 ext. cab. the ram is ext. cab too but has a 318 in it which is what i initially planned on changing on my dakota. my question is, is it worth the body swap or should i just use the ram body. Im not a big truck fan, i like my mid-sized one. my dakota is also 2wd so to swap the body, i will be getting a beefed up frame and 4x4. i need opinions on what to do. so far im leaning towards using the ram frame for my dakota and junking anything thats unusable from the dakota and the ram.

 

The frames are not swappable. You're dakota frame, being an extended cab, is set up for a 131" wheelbase. There is no Ram frame that is set up for a 131 inch wheelbase (those gen Rams have either a 118, 134, 138, or 162 inch wheelbase), which means the body would not be swappable (the wheels wells would not line up with the wheels!)

 

really? hmmm... well whatever then. i was just told that if anything the only thing that wouldnt match up is the body mounts, and in such a case its just a matter of making new ones. but if you say the wheels and wheel wells wont match up, then i wont do it, i was just hoping to have an easy 2wd - 4x4 swap but guess not. meh, not like anything i try to do to this truck works out anyway lol, still wouldnt part with it tho. gotta say i really like my dak. its a hell of a lot better than anything else ive owned, and a hell of a lot more fun, even with the 3.9 in it

 

Would the 318 engine fit though??

 

If you mean will it fit in the dakota, yes, but $2500 is a lot of money to buy the truck just for the engine.

 

Where do you live? I have the 46rh I took out of the dakota for sale locally that will fit in the Ram if all it needs is a tranny! Of course, judging by the snow in your signature pic, you probably don't live anywhere near me.

 

im in canada.

 

Canada is a pretty big place. i live in it too, but i dont know where you are lol.

imo, fix the ram, you have 2 dakotas so sell the one you dont like as much.

 

Im in winnipeg, manitoba

thats what i was thinking of doing, but then im left with a nice ram, and my dakota still being a rust bucket right now.. cuz regardless im selling the truck i dont like, its a piece of **** and i like my '93 a lot more. meh, i might just buy the 318 off the guy instead of the truck and throw it into my dakota