so i have a 1987 dodge Dakota with a 3.9 magnum in it. Im looking to put a 79 318 into it. Never done an egine swap so need to know things to look for and maybe if anyones got an idea how much it would cost. Also wondering if there would be lots of wiring to mess with and redo or if since its carb it would be and easy switch.

if anyone could help id really appreciate it!

 

Motor mounts; the 79 doesn't have the Magnum bosses on it.

Radiator / fan clearance.

If you have the tach, the tach will need to be adjusted; it's doing 2 pulses per revolution, and your coil is firing 4x per revolution.

How much? Depends on a metric boatload of stuff; anywhere from free to $125,000 ...

Oh, yeah, also you'll have to fake the lockup logic for the torque converter if you're sticking with the A998 3 speed; I wouldn't, I'd go manual or upgrade to a 42RH/A518 4 speed, which takes faking the lockup and the OD logic. Both can be done; but it is something to keep in mind.

Also, hopefully, you've just rebuild the front suspension and the brakes all around, with new brake lines. No? Can I get you to make me the beneficiary of your life insurance policy then?

There's a few V6/V8 swap posts here over the past few years.

RwP

 

I have a 87 and im slowly converting to a 5.9. I will share some of the things I have done and learned.
1. 87 is unique in some ways.
a. Has a mechanical fuel pump.
b. Carbed, but still has a computer for ignition and feedback from the carb.

The easiest way to convert, IMO are the following.
1. Go with a magnum engine (92-03 5.2 or 93-03 5.9) The main reason is, the serpentine belt system is shorter, and will just clear the radiator. The V-belt will not.
2. Electric fans must be used, unless you convert the front of the truck to the 91 and up style. Assuming you want to keep the body orig. you have to put the fans in front of the radiator.....
3. Use a edelbrock 7577 intake. Dont go cheap with the crosswind, etc. The reason being is the edelbrock bolts on and works with the serpentine system. The crosswind is set up for the old style v-belt system.
4. Ignition can be "stand alone" any electronic system designed for a SBM will work on a carbed magnum....... Then power in start and run.......
5. The magnum alternator can be wired to work with your regulator......
6. Exhaust, I believe can be Dakota, 92-96, 5.2 magnum.
7. For a fuel pump, use something like a Carter low pressure pump. They are cheap, external and can be mounted on the frame by the fuel tank. Also, can be run without a regulator.

I suggest you look up members ragged89 and robertmc. Both have done conversions, and have posted lots of tips.

A few other thoughts.
If your truck is an automatic, you can use your existing flexplate.
If manual, can use existing flywheel.
Both as long as you go 5.2 and carbed.
I think you can use all of the factory harness for sensors, etc,

Look forward to watching your conversion, and please ask any questions we may be able to help with.

Edit to say, Welcome to the forum!!!

 

Guys, he already has a '79 engine he wants to swap in. Everybody is adding things to do when he may be working with a short budget.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol' grouch

Guys, he already has a '79 engine he wants to swap in. Everybody is adding things to do when he may be working with a short budget.

LOL and who isn't?
Take the time to read instead of writing a quick one liner and you will see why I suggested what I did.
A hint: Its got to do with trying to fit 10lbs of sardines in a 5lb can.

 

When I ran a salvage yard, I had a special section for overly ambitious projects. Some were a poor choice with a real rust buggy to begin with. Others, the owner got in over his head. Usually, a mild custom will get extreme due to peer pressure. Sometimes someone else would take the project on. Usually, these got done on a lower budget than the original owner planned. For every ride that gets done like the shows on TV show, there are probably a dozen that get taken apart and then sort of sit, for years at times. I don't know how many old cars like SuperBee's, Baracuda's, Camaro's, Mustang's and so on sit and rust into the ground. The owner refuses to sell as he's going to "fix it up some day".Fast forward 20 years and the hulk is sold for scrap after he dies and when they try tp pull it out of the mud, the rotted carcass pulls in half. I looked at a Z28 last fall that was a dream car originally. All the options and one owner. It sat in a leaky barn under a leaky tarp for 40 years. They originally asked $10,000. It ended up selling for $1500 for parts and was hauled off on two flat bed trailers.

The point is to work with what you have and keep everything in focus.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol' grouch

When I ran a salvage yard, I had a special section for overly ambitious projects. Some were a poor choice with a real rust buggy to begin with. Others, the owner got in over his head. Usually, a mild custom will get extreme due to peer pressure. Sometimes someone else would take the project on. Usually, these got done on a lower budget than the original owner planned. For every ride that gets done like the shows on TV show, there are probably a dozen that get taken apart and then sort of sit, for years at times. I don't know how many old cars like SuperBee's, Baracuda's, Camaro's, Mustang's and so on sit and rust into the ground. The owner refuses to sell as he's going to "fix it up some day".Fast forward 20 years and the hulk is sold for scrap after he dies and when they try tp pull it out of the mud, the rotted carcass pulls in half. I looked at a Z28 last fall that was a dream car originally. All the options and one owner. It sat in a leaky barn under a leaky tarp for 40 years. They originally asked $10,000. It ended up selling for $1500 for parts and was hauled off on two flat bed trailers.

The point is to work with what you have and keep everything in focus.

Aah, another long winded post, with nothing related to putting a 79 318 in a 87 dakota.
I have to go to work now, but latter will post why, I believe a 5.2 magnum is not only a better choice, but will be the cheaper choice in the end.
How about YOU, post up how YOU or at least someone you have seen, fit a standard SBM in a 87-90 Dakota.

 

Every Dakota I've had, I've got it running like it was supposed to. Now, as to putting a bigger engine into something that didn't have it, I have done that in the past. Back in the early 90's, I took a 460 out of a Lincoln, with the transmission and put it into a Ford Ranger. Was it tight? Extremely. With a stick welder, a sawzall and plenty of fiddling, I got it in. It drove, sort of. I cut the center of the radiator support out and flipped it around. I put an external electric fan with an electric water pump and a sawn out notch in the passenger fender well to put the alternator and a really long belt to power it. Plenty of work with a DBH to clear the transmission hump. The truck was nearly undriveable but it did run and drive. Any throttle at all and it would swap ends. After nearly killing myself, I found a 1980 Mustang and since there was a kit for it, dropped the drive train into the Mustang. My home made oil pan was replaced with one designed for the Mustang suspension. Total cost for the truck and Lincoln donor car was $1000. Another $300 or so in new parts and lots of making things fit. It looked odd with the radiator that far out but we found a grill off an old Citroen and it certainly looked unique. The truck never ran after pulling the engine as the frame had torqued when I was trying to get it to hook up.