I am new to this forum.


I have a 1989 Dodge Dakota Convertible with a 6v 3.9.


200,000 mile on the truck, time to replace the engine.


I am looking to put a 360 (maybe stroker) EFI in my truck.


I have been a Chevy guy till I own this. I change to the Mopar.


I am learning about the LA and magnum engines. More complicated then Chevy SB engines.


Any suggestions?


I have to work on a budget.

I am a teacher at a foster group home.


I have some of my student work on my truck. I replace the rack & pinion and steering pump.


I want to fix up my truck to be a daily drive getting about 20 mpg while being street/drag/ and show truck to take the kids to.


Most of student never went to a car truck show.


Thank you in advice for your time.


Dan

 

grab a shoehorn, gonna need it like Carroll Shelby did with the 318 in the early dakota. the dakota up till 90/91 cant remeber had a smaller front end so the V8 going in was little trickier and had to go to electric fan push style in front of rad due to NO room.. if you look up the Shelby Dakota it might help with information you need

as for MPG i dont think the dakota ever got 20mpg.. the estimated was like 14 town 19 highway or something like that, same as the ram was around 13 town and 16 highway with the 5.9 360 from that area.

even the 2011 2wd 4.7L regular cab only gets 14 town 19 highway .. so no progress really from 87 to 2011 in fuel consumption lol

now tih some mods to engine and so fourth , not without cost im sure you can get it to were you want..

 

I want some of what the OP is smoking.

On a budget, wants a stroker 360, in an 89 Dakota, and he want's 20 mpg.

Yeah, right-o. We all have impossible dreams. . .

 

20 mpg in a Dakota, let alone with a 360 is not going to happen. A stroker on a budget is not going to happen. A 360 LA possibly because they're both throttle body injected but you'll need a V8 computer. A magnum is not going to happen because you're going to need a stronger transmission, a wiring harness, and computer. I bought my '94 Dakota with a bad 318 and installed a 360 magnum. It cost me $1100 to do that swap (to get it to the point I could emission and register it). But I was able to use my existing trans, wiring harness, and computer and I didn't pay for labor. The engine was used and about $500. The rest was incidentals like engine mounts and fluids.