Cool. Sounds like its comming along.
Ya photobucket will work. Use the links with the IMG tags in it.

 

Thanks. I will say through all my reading that most never ever comes back to follow up on what they are doing. I assume that they are so eccstatic that they go drive a couple hundred miles and forget about everyone else. I am definately committed to finishing this though. I ordered a set of GM Performance springs, retainers, and keepers. I only need to order some spring seats to finish assembling the heads (with the exception of retapping 2 coolant plugs on one of them) which were one of the first things I bought at the beginning of the year. And, drilling out the guides for the 3/8ths bolts for the rockers. The aluminum Magnum Heads are based on the Commando's with few exceptions to the valvetrain attachment. They both have the same casting number, but they are set up for Magnum valvetrain in lieu of the LA valvetrain. I apparently got them under the list price and at a steal paying $700 for the set (bare of course). Got the valvetrain for $130 today and the locators are about $30-$40. Home ported by yours truly.

 

The oil pans are definately different. I swapped out some longer main bolts that would not allow me to use the stock Ram pan with a windage tray. So nogo on the windage tray. The Dakota pan is a few inches shorter in the pickup area, providing crossmember clearance. I will, of course, start the photo's as I progress. I am awaiting delivery on the engine hoist to start.

 

Started removing the ol' 3.9l. Funny how the vehicle history starts to show itself. Whomever had it put an 8 blade water pump in it (I will shelf it for now). Here are some pics of the engine painting/ assembly/ engine and tranny removal.

http://photobucket.com/siggie30

 

No more ECU. I am still waiting on the hoist to get here to pull her out. I thought I would expedite later things and go ahead and start on the wiring.

 

Nice. Rip the sucker out of there.

 

Just an update for those that want to know what it takes to remove the engine.

I used the cross headbolt holes for the chain.



Then I proceeded to pump. Pump a little then pull forward as the pans begin to clear. This is an excellent lift option for 2wd Dakota's.




You will have to lift the tranny out at some point by hand. FYI, I did this by myself, because noone wants to help when real work is being done.



The empty engine bay.

 

Nice. What I would have done is remove the fenders and grill and radiator core. So you can basically get a 360 around the entire engine. Only 30min of work. Especially with the larger engine going in. But it looks like you got her out easy.

 

Trust me, I was tempted, but I figured I would "see what happens" and never had a problem except the occasional tranny stall (no pun intended). Plus, the Mopar Action articles noted it was not an issue. I started to clean out the area, but got discouraged without a pressure hose. Which I will get on soon. No reason to swap a mink coat onto a scag..... right? Still waiting on the spring locators (I am using GM LS1 springs on aluminum heads) to come in, so it gives me a few days to do other things, like deleting all of the wires that will not be used......ever. Plus, I will be running the new fuel line before the swap, so that is my week.

 

Look what I found. I guess the previous owner was unaware of any rust on the floors.