Just curious since this is related... Were all the Dakotas up to 96 throttle body engines? and Would one be able to use later model (97-up) engines without major modification?

 

i know i'll get trashed for this one but have you considered a 4.0 jeep high output. has only slightly lower #'s than the 318 magnum and gets 18/14. it will bolt up to your tranny (amc has been using the torqueflite since the early 70's). i had one and got gas numbers about the same as the 3.9 - 20/16 but 190 horses is a lot better than the 3.9L , length should not be a problem it should just be a mount issue but since the grand Cherokee came with a 318 or 4.0L you could get something.
just throwing it out there because of the better mpg.
never heard of anyone trying that.

 

Do you mean throttle body injected? If so, no. The LA engines, pre '92 for the 5.2 and 3.9 and pre '93 for the 5.9 were throttle body injected. The magnum engines, '92+ 5.2 and 3.9 and '93+ 5.9 were all multiport injected. Since the 5.9 was not available in a Dakota until '98, it doesn't apply, so '92+ v6 and v8 Dakotas were all multiport injected.

To swap an LA for a Magnum, you need the complete engine, computer, and wiring harness. I don't remember if the mounts are the same or not. It would definately be a job to splice the magnum engine harness and pre-magnum dakota body harnesses together though!

 

there all throttlebody engines. it all depends on where the injectors are. 87-carbed, 88-91 injectors in the throttlebody, 92-96 injectors in the intake (multi-port) but they still have a throttlebody for air intake.

 

whats the length on the ho 4.0 im up for power and milage will it work on a 5 spd

 

not sure dk but i think it will. amc and dodge where interchangible as far as bell housings will go. will tell you this. a toyota v-6 came up on my rear on a straight stretch and kept running my rear for a race. 10 miles later i pulled into a store to get a pop, i got out of the truck walked across the parking lot, up the steps, put my hand on the door and turned to watch him go by at full speed. not a word of a lie got a guy that can back that up. don't know about him but my limiter started cutting out at 105 mph. if it hadn't i probably could of had lunch before he got there.

i will say i love my dak but i truly believe 4.0 HO was one of the best made.

the 318 and 4.0 where put in the grand Cherokee so the dimensions must be similar.

 

I love I6s but I hate that Jeep 4.0.. As said, both 4.0s and 5.2/5,92 were used in ZJs so the 4.0 should fit in a Dak, it is a long engine though..

I have several friends with 4.0 XJs, my truck gets better mileage than all but one of them, and the one will only beat mine slightly.

 

i got great mileage with my 4.0, but you do have to take into account the fact my Comanche was a lighter truck and had 2.70 gears in it. lightning fast and could pull a good load. but still if you look at the numbers the 4.0 still comes out on top for power and mileage. read an article in the late 80's where one of the off road magazines (can't remember which one, i read them all) said the 4.0 was bulletproof. and it was, the only real problem with them was leaking oil from the valve cover. my 90 went through 10 years of abuse without a hitch.

in my opinion the dak was the best 4x4 i ever had but the 4.0 was the best engine, why not put the two together?

 

Define great mileage.. My 5.2 4x4 CC Dakota will do 20-21MPG freeway, the most I've seen a friend of mine's jeep do is 21.. The rest hover in the teens on the freeway..
And the other big problem is they all crack exhaust manifolds, all my friend's 4.0s have done it, one has done it twice. I've looked at dozens on XJs in the junkyard, all had cracked exhaust manifolds, I can't stand exhaust leaks. Working on anything on the front of the engine is a huge pain, hell even getting to stuff on the sides is a pain for an I6, the shared intake/exhaust manifold gasket is super fun too. JMO after working on them, I'll take my 4.0 in Ford's V6 favor, please.

 

I am just gunna vouch for the 5.9. I know a bias opinion. Would not want anything else. (: