I've got a 96 2wd v6 Dakota, and a totalled 97 Jeep grand Cherokee 318 awd. My question is, could I transfer everything from the jeep, to make an awd 318 dakota?

My biggest concern is the computers, it's not something I plan on doing in the next few days; but, if I can transfer everything over, I'm going to rebuild and overhaul the 318. Both have a quarter of a mil on them. V6 runs fine, I just want the jeep out of the driveway.

 

Hello Nick,

Welcome to the forum.
I will tell you what I have read and believe to be true, but I have not yet, swapped motors. That being said, here goes
1. you can use your existing dodge v6 harness and just add the 2 additional injector wires.
2. In fact, you can keep all of your accessories ie, starter, alt. ps. pump, ac compressor, etc.
3. You will need dodge exhaust manifolds. The jeep starter is on the other side of the engine......
4. You will need the correct computer, and I have no idea if the jeep computer will work.

Before putting the motor in, I would do these things as well.
1. put a new timing chain in it. Dodge is hard on these things.
2 If the rear main seal looks like its leaking, go ahead and pull pan and replace it. BTW double check to make sure the jeep pan will work.
3. Replace the freeze plugs. This is a 20+ year old motor, no matter how many miles are on it, and they rust out.

All of these parts are cheap, and are known to go bad on the magnum motors. Much easier to replace now, then when in the truck!!

Good luck, and I feel sure there will be others popping in here.

 

What 93_ragtop doesn't mention is the 2WD/AWD conversion.

If you check, that JGC has a recirc ball gearbox in the front suspension; you may have to swap the front of the frame out to get the proper mounting parts for it, the idler arm, and the front diff.

(Given that, it'd be easier than a 4WD conversion ... the Dakota 4WD used torsion rods AND the recirc ball)

For a V6/V8 conversion, you will need the proper wiring harness if you keep the Jeep transmission for the reason that 93_ragtop mentioned (starter on the wrong side for a Dodge).

So ... I'd find a 1996 2WD Dakota donor, get the engine harness and the #7/#8 injector wires from it, also the 96 Dakota computer (I don't know if the JGC used an electronic dash or if it was basically a stand-alone dash, for instance), and for now use your V6 automatic transmission (you'll still need to pick up a proper torque converter; good chance the one on the truck now will do the job, but I'd cross check part numbers before I said that.) I'd also consider grabbing the exhaust manifolds; 94-96 Dakota will work just fine, 92-93 are slightly bigger and will call for a new exhaust system, but do have the benefit they flow a bit better. You can also go headers, but shorties that bolt to the current exhaust won't do you anything worth mentioning performance-wise (they do SOUND better, though; keep that in mind.)

The JGC pan won't fit; you'll need a Dakota pan (the Ram pan may, or may not, fit; most books say it will, most people reporting say it won't. C'ie la vie.)

While pulling the pan to swap, consider freshening up the oil pump since you'll have to change the oil pickup anyway. Also go ahead, while the pan is off, do the timing chain (and I'd either go double row or use the TSB tensioner that replaces the cam retainer). Of course, if you're rebuilding the motor anyway, that's a perfect time to do all that along with punching the bore out a bit (0.030 over?) and possibly stroking it. The 1996 Dakota used the JTEC ECU; that's full OBDII, so you can buy a tune for it off the shelf (Flyin' Ryan Performance sells tuners with a tune preinstalled; there's other tuners out there also for the OBDII Magnum motors.)

You may be able to part out what's left of the JGC and make back some of the money.

RwP

 

[QUOTE=RalphP;3364019]What 93_ragtop doesn't mention is the 2WD/AWD conversion.


You are correct. What can I say, it was early in the morning and I didnt read it all!!

I was thinking upgrade engine only. Sorry about that.

 

Doesn't sound bad at all. A lot better than trying for a 4bt. On the awd conversion, can I bolt the transfer case up to the v6 tranny? I plan on swapping front axles as well. Thank you both for your help.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Webb

Doesn't sound bad at all. A lot better than trying for a 4bt. On the awd conversion, can I bolt the transfer case up to the v6 tranny? I plan on swapping front axles as well. Thank you both for your help.

Not for sure on automatics, but on manual trans, they are completely different. I would assume an automatic trans has a different tailshaft set up as well. (4wd vs 2wd)

 

And you would be correct. The t-case will not bolt to the 2wd trans. Need a trans for 4x4.

Putting the front axle and such from the GC onto the dakota is not going to be a 'bolt on' operation.... I suspect a LOT of fabrication is going to be in order there...... and won't be worth the expense. Better to start with a truck that is already 4x4......

 

Doesn't have to have awd if it's too much work, just trying to use as much from GC as possible. I'm primarily after the 318. Still going to do a full rebuild on it and bore/stroke it. A good set of snow tires and some firewood in the bed will do just the same.

 

Limited slip diff doesn't hurt either. I have gone some truly stupid places in a 4x2 with just a limited slip, and decent tires.

 

Good point, I'm not trying to fabricate the truck to death. I just like the 318 better than the v6, never had good luck out of smaller dodge motors. Trying to get by without going a few grand in the hole.