I have a1987 2 wheel drive Dakota with a 4 cylinder engine. I want to take that engine out and replace it with a 318 engine. What modifications do I need to make to make this work? Thanks for any help! The truck has a 5 speed manual transmission

 

What trans ya got?

Welcome to DF!

Moving this to 1st Gen Dak section for ya.

 

The truck has a 5 speed manual transmission

 

I will try to give you answers based on my experience with putting the 5.9 in my 87 and things to consider.
1. Will you have to pass an emissions inspection with this truck?
2. A 5.2-5.9 with the factory serpentine accessory drive will fit provided you dont install a fan. You have to mount pusher fans in front of the radiator. This is the way Shelby did it on the trucks they converted.
3. A 318-360 with the v belt accessory drive will not clear the radiator
3. With the 5.2-5.9 you can use the edelbrock 7577 intake, 4 bbl. carb of your choice, (I used a holley 670 street avenger) and an electronic ignition of your choice. (I used one of the GM hei style ignitions)
4. The factory magnum exhaust manifolds are fine, and with them you can use a y-pipe off of a V8 dakota and then run exhaust of your choice.
5. Motor mounts, Im not sure about for your 4 cyl. On my V6 they bolted up to the Magnum block
6. You need a oil pan and pickup off of a newer V8 dakota.
7. Transmission, IMO I think would work, but its weak at best. I used a NV3500, which came stock in the 94 to 99 V8 dakotas, and all dakotas from 2000-2004.
8 Lots of little things, like needing an electric fuel pump, etc. but this list will get you started.
If you look under my ID 93 ragtop I pretty well documented my mods on this forum.
Good luck and let us know what you do.

 

Thanks for the info. No emissions test here. Looks like a big project ahead for me.