Hello,

I'm considering a 5.2 to 5.9 engine swap on my 1995 Dakota. I'd pick one up at a boneyard and rebuild it with a hotter cam and various aftermarket goodies.
Then use a MegaSquirt to control it.

It seems that the Dakota never came with a 5.9, but the Ram did. What years are more or less a direct swap?

Thanks!

 

The 2nd Gen Dakota 5.9s already have the oil pan; the RAMs, not so much.

If you are using a MegaSquirt, then any Magnum 5.9 will work, given a) oil pan, b) harmonic balancer, and c) flex plate or flywheel is kept to match the motor (and the oil pan for a Dakota).

RwP

 

Okay so a second gen 5.9 Dakota (RT) would be the best? Then I make sure to get the flex plate and harmonic balancer that comes with the vehicle. If I can't find a flex plate, that came with the vehicle, then what do I do? Balance all the internals and use on from the 5.2?

 

5.2 was internally balance, 5.9 was externally balanced, so, the balancer is specific to the 5.9. In 95 and older trucks, the flexplate was neutral balance, and the weights were on the torque converter, 96 and up, weights were on the flexplate, and the converter was neutral balance. So, if you want to use your existing trans/torque converter, just get the 96 and up flexplate for your 5.9, and it should bolt right up. (test that theory before dropping the engine in...... )