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As to the rest - I'm not sure why you'd want to specify a van or RAM Magnum. Although those ECUs may be found for the 5.9, the 5.9 ECUs ran pig rich; the 5.2 will run closer to what the engine actually needs.
RwP
Why would I not want to run a 5.9 ecu on a 5.9? As far as the harness, I'm not sure what kind of differences there are for the 5.2 to 5.9 from Dakota harness to Ram. Figure if I'm cutting it up either way, may as well grab what's easy to find around here.
Ah, okay...that was the other option. Push it against the firewall like the Shelby. I put a 91+ front end on mine to fit. Didn't have to worry about driveline changes as the motor/trans sits in the same spot on mine.
Would love to see a pic of your engine as it sits. Here's mine:
Realized I don't have any good bay pics. Have to take some when I get home.
Sure you can run the 5.9 ECU from a Ram (or van) and any '92 thru '95 Dakota engine bay harness, even one from a V6. With a V6 harness you just need to add a couple wires for the additional 2 cylinders, otherwise those harnesses are pretty much the same for those years. There are a few differences, like connectors for an automatic vs a manual, but nothing that isn't relatively easy to change.
As Ralph said though, the '88 harness is quite different, primarily because the ECU was pre-multi-port injection. The good news is that the later harness will plug right into your '88 bulkhead connector on the firewall. The biggest change there is that you need to pull the fuel pump and tank wiring out of the bulkhead and run them through a the separate chassis harness used in the '88. Sounds more complicated than it is really.
The hardware parts can be a little tricky, but there's still a lot of flexibility. To show you what I mean: I have a '92 5.2 Magnum in my '89 Dakota, a return-style fuel system using a '94 pump (fuel module modified with a return line), a '94 V6 automatic engine harness (with mods for my 5 speed trans and V8), a '97 5 speed, and a '92 5.2 HP ECU. The Magnum fits nicely on the '89 motor mounts, I just had to add e-fans in front of the radiator (I have a 4X4, but that doesn't make much difference beyond the trans). Robertmee's truck and mine were built within months of each other, he went with a crate 5.9 carb setup including v-belts and I used the 5.2 Magnum with factory EFI.
Does anyone know if the full sending unit from a 91+Dakota will drop in to an 88 carb tank without modification?
Different part #'s, but I can't say whether it can't/won't work. But what's wrong with your 88 unit? My 90 unit wasn't working, so I yanked it and rebuilt it. Works great now. It's just a variable wiper POT and a tank empty contact...As long as the wiper isn't broken off, you can sand down the wiper/contacts and it'll work good as new.
Different part #'s, but I can't say whether it can't/won't work. But what's wrong with your 88 unit? My 90 unit wasn't working, so I yanked it and rebuilt it. Works great now. It's just a variable wiper POT and a tank empty contact...As long as the wiper isn't broken off, you can sand down the wiper/contacts and it'll work good as new.
My sender works perfect, just considering an in tank pump for the magnum. It is would just drop in and seal up to my carbed tank, then I could just grab a junk yard unit and wire It up. Fuel system would be done. My other passion cars are Festivas,the carb tank and sender are different completely, the tank will swap, but not the sender only. Wasn't sure if the Dakota was the same way.
My sender works perfect, just considering an in tank pump for the magnum. It is would just drop in and seal up to my carbed tank, then I could just grab a junk yard unit and wire It up. Fuel system would be done. My other passion cars are Festivas,the carb tank and sender are different completely, the tank will swap, but not the sender only. Wasn't sure if the Dakota was the same way.
Gotcha....I didn't realize the carb'd 88's had a mechanical fuel pump? I thought all the Dak's had the intank pump. As noted before, my 90 had an intank pump/sender on the TBI setup. I kept it and just used a bypass fuel regulator for my carb.
PS, I had a festiva a few years ago....that little car was a blast to drive. I actually traded it for the rims/tires on my Dakota, lol....My friend runs a tire shop so we did some bartering.
My sender works perfect, just considering an in tank pump for the magnum. It is would just drop in and seal up to my carbed tank, then I could just grab a junk yard unit and wire It up. Fuel system would be done. My other passion cars are Festivas,the carb tank and sender are different completely, the tank will swap, but not the sender only. Wasn't sure if the Dakota was the same way.
I doubt the Magnum fuel module will fit your tank. I had to grab a tank from a '94 Dakota to get the right tank and a fuel module. Instead of buying a return-type module I modified the '94 can with a return line. All '92-'93 Dak fuel systems are return style, after '93 they're returnless. It was an added effort to switch tanks, but I took the opportunity to upgrade from a 17 gallon to a 22 gallon tank.
I doubt the Magnum fuel module will fit your tank. I had to grab a tank from a '94 Dakota to get the right tank and a fuel module. Instead of buying a return-type module I modified the '94 can with a return line. All '92-'93 Dak fuel systems are return style, after '93 they're returnless. It was an added effort to switch tanks, but I took the opportunity to upgrade from a 17 gallon to a 22 gallon tank.
I have the smallest and most obscure tank for them apparently. I have never put more than just shy of 15 gallons on mine. And it ran out rolling up to the pump. All the local cheap yards like pull-a-part punch holes in the tanks and oil pans of everything, so unless I can find a deal somewhere else, I'll probably have to get a return style rail and external fuel pump.
Originally Posted by robertmee
Gotcha....I didn't realize the carb'd 88's had a mechanical fuel pump? I thought all the Dak's had the intank pump. As noted before, my 90 had an intank pump/sender on the TBI setup. I kept it and just used a bypass fuel regulator for my carb.
PS, I had a festiva a few years ago....that little car was a blast to drive. I actually traded it for the rims/tires on my Dakota, lol....My friend runs a tire shop so we did some bartering.
My wife and I both grew up in Festiva households. We met through a Festiva forum actually. Never really was a Chrysler fan till I traded a car lift I had from my previous marriage for my Dakota. It's been growing on me ever since.
