Hello Guys and thank you for allowing me to join your group! I recently bought a really clean 1988 Dodge Dakota 4x4 standard cab with a 3.9 V-6. However the motor and trans are very tired...I picked up a wrecked 2000 Dakota V-6 4x4 that was t-boned with 87,000 miles on it for 500.00.
My question is how interchangeable is it going from the 2000 to 1988. I know the 88 is OBD-1 so I know intake change will be necessary...but will the motor and trans slide in and bolt up? any help would be appreciated.

 

It will probably bolt in but you'll have a lot of sensors, linkages and other stuff to swap. That's if the truck you got has the 3.9 and not the 3.7.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakeredition

Hello Guys and thank you for allowing me to join your group! I recently bought a really clean 1988 Dodge Dakota 4x4 standard cab with a 3.9 V-6. However the motor and trans are very tired...I picked up a wrecked 2000 Dakota V-6 4x4 that was t-boned with 87,000 miles on it for 500.00.
My question is how interchangeable is it going from the 2000 to 1988. I know the 88 is OBD-1 so I know intake change will be necessary...but will the motor and trans slide in and bolt up? any help would be appreciated.

If I understand correctly, your plans are to install the 2000 transmission, and engine, but keep the orig. 1988 intake so you can keep the ODB1 system in the truck?
IMO that is a terrible idea, but let me explain why.
1. The intake bolt pattern is different between the 88 LA style motor and the 2000 3.9 magnum motor. Its possible to have a machine shop drill the heads and tap threads so the 88 LA style intake will fit the magnum heads. But I feel sure you will need to take the heads off of the engine.
2. If you go that way, what are you going to do for tuning? The 88 has timing and fuel curves to match a 125 hp 3.9 motor. The 3.9 magnum is 170 or so.
3. The transmission in 2000 was an electronic version, and is looking for inputs from the ODB2 computer. The 88 is not.......
These are just a few of the problems you will need to overcome...

IMO if you are set on using the 2000 engine and transmission, I would think you would need to run the ODB2 computer and wiring harness as well. And even at that point, not sure what would happen with your speedometer or the speed input for the ODB2 computer....

JMO but for me it was easier to install a magnum V8 along with a carbed intake. Edelbrock 7577 and an aftermarket HEI distributor......
There is no tuning for the ODB1 trucks and there is no aftermarket distributors, intakes etc. for the V6.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

Will any year 318 or 360 work with your recommendation?

 

DefaultI know all of the 5.2 and 5.9 magnums will bolt in. Biggest problem is you need to eliminate the mech. fan. and install electric fans in front of the radiator. BTW that is the way Shelby did with the Shelby Dakota's.
But the magnum exhaust manifolds work, and you can use the stock 5.2 92-96 dakota exhaust.

 

I have located a 92 360 with 80,000 miles for 375.00 how can I identify this engine to be a 360 and the year? I’m gonna go with your recommendation

 

Didn't the 5.9 go to magnum in 93 though??? 92 might still be an LA block.

 

Here are the numbers on the block

 

Well, theoretically that is indeed a magnum block.

 

What other indentations would conclude it’s a magnum?