I traded a pos car for an 88 Dakota that has a seized motor. Rather then rebuild the motor I found a 93 3.9L in the local junk yard that I would like to put in. I'd get better mpg and have mpi. Everything is there including wiring harness and computer.

My question is would it be pretty much a bolt in and swap harness? Would it be best to get the transfer case and tranny from the truck as well? The truck was smashed on the front end to the point there is an indention of the fan on the radiator. This leads me to believe the motor and tranny are good on the 93.

I have a place to do the work, will be getting a hoist, have access to any tool I may need.

Thanks

88 Dakota Sport 4x4
3.9L

 

Before you do that, grab a copy of both the 1988 and the 1993 Factory Service Manuals.

But what I've found is:

You'll need to swap the engine bay harness, the engine harness, the ECU, the passenger compartment wiring harness (plugs aren't the same between the 1988 and 1993 bulkheads), the steering column (1993 should have airbags and use a clockspring; the 1988, no on both), and possibly the body harness to the back (haven't checked that.)

Easier would be to buy the 1993, lift the 1988 cab off the 1988 and drop it on the 1993 frame, remembering to swap those same harnesses.

Oh, and the fuel pump and fuel system is different.

One other choice, which I don't know how good this is (been doing this as a thought exercise):

You can get the 1993's Magnum heads redrilled to take a LA (1988) intake.

Do that, drop on the 1988 intake and TBI, use the 1988's distributor, use the 1988's accessory drives, and it SHOULD (again, this has been a thought exercise on my part!) bolt up and run.

Let me know how that works if you do that *grins*

RwP