going with the 318 in my 88 dakota using a 78 318. Seems the motor mounts are completely differant on the older block than the newer 3.9 I need to make some mounts has anyone done this? if so do you have any pictures of the part? I'm cheap so not willing to spend almost $400 on mounts

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ert-build.html

 

He has a nice build but he's using the magnum engine I'm not, so block is differant premagnum

 

I stumbled across some pix on eBay of a Shelby Dakota in the process of being restored/modded. And the motor-mount scheme was kind of unique; it looks like a second crossmember was welded in place just ahead of the Dakota's original, and the engine mounts attach to it.. I don't know what the 'extra' crossmember is out of, but I imagine just about anything could work, though you'd have to do a little cutting/welding. And it's definitely the old-style 'LA' engine.

I've no idea if this is Shelby's work or the person doing the restore.

 

not sure what im looking at either but it's a simple idea I might give it a try. Thanks for taking the time to find the pictures

 

For what it's worth, this is a solution that is rather old and I'm a little embarrassed to say I'd forgotten about it. It seems like a rather elegant way to do this and I plan on doing mine that way when I get that far., probably next year.

Also, I'm told the stock 318 pan won't clear the Dakota's original crossmember. The often-mentioned solution is to rework the 318 pan with the sump from the V6 pan, or purchase the expen$ive Schumacher pan. Dodge used to make a pan for '91 V8 Dakotas (which used LA-type 318 engines), but it's my understanding that it's been discontinued and is almost impossible to find used.

Finally, as I'm sure you'll hear in this forum, there isn't much room up front for the engine-driven fan, and probably the easiest solution is to run electric 'pusher' fan(s) on the front of the radiator.

 

wouldnt you know i just took my old 3.9 to the salvage yard thursday, I'm sure it's still there. My pan looks right or atleast the sumps at the right end but the pan could be a little deep i geuss i'll find out. thanks again for the help

 

The Shelbly cross member is hard to find...I tried one from an old dodge but it was a poor fit.

End result, I built my own, they attach to the inside of the frame just ahead of the main crossmember.....

 

pics....
haven't drilled the holes for the motor mounts yet...using a simple rubber mount typical of A body cars, and same time frame dodge trucks, and some steel plate extensions from the motor down to the mount surface, it should work...

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...project-2.html

 

Bill, I don't suppose you have some drawings or schematics of your setup, do you? I'd love to make some 'blueprints' of them and post them in the FAQ or something. I like your scheme better than I do the Schumacher kit.