I am getting a junkyard engine for my 91 and what should I do to the motor while it is out. I already have a timing set with gaskets and seal, water pump and gasket, new water pump and hoses, new plug wires, going to get a new plugs cap and rotor. And a wix oil filter and new oil. Anything else i should do before i drop it in?

 

Go ahead and put in an oil pump and rear main seal. The oil pump only cost about $50-60 and will be 100x easier to put in now. In my experience, the rear main seals go out fairly easy in these engines, and its also 100x easier to put in now.

 

Plenum gasket!

 

91's are tbi. will replace oil pump and seals gonna have the junk yard do a compression test on engine before i lay down the cash either way ill need these parts for the salavage yard engine or rebuild mine

 

Oops, missed the 91 part.

 

Has anyone thought of putting in a slant six in a dakota????

 

I think there was talk about that a while ago between a couple people. The unanswerable question back then was and still is why?? A 318 or 360 is a direct factory fit, will provide a lot more power, and has a larger aftermarket, and can be built up to a 390 or 408, respectively. The only reason a slant six might be cool is cause it would be unique, but performance wise it wouldn't do you any good.

 

i was looking for the unique factor.... i heard of someone getting 400hp out of a slant 6...

 

WOW, How???

 

Getting power is not really that hard Zack. I've seen honda civics with over 400 hp before. The bigger issue is where in the powerband is the motor going to produce that power and how much torque is going to accompany it. My guess is in a truck, a 400 hp slant 6 still won't perform as well as a 318 or 360 with the exact same amount of money put into the build.