Yep. The casting is the same, they just didn't drill that hole. If you get REALLY lucky, the hole will be there, with a pipe plug in it. But, you would have to be REALLY lucky.

 

With my luck the thermostat will have a different bolt and be stuck again lol but we shall see. I think the newer keggers also don’t have that divider too right?

 

It went away at some point. I think 99, or 2000??? 96 and newer "shouldn't" have the egr tube down the center of the intake plenum though. (my early 96 did, with a blockoff plate where the valve would be, from the factory....)

 

Do you think I can get away with a DIY polish on this crank and save myself $400? Doesn’t feel rough via the finger test

 

Use some REALLY fine grit emery cloth on 'em, clean 'em up a bit, install it. I have put bearings on worse looking cranks. Wouldn't hurt to mic 'em out, if you have the mic...

 

Sounds like a plan, would save me $390 for a new crank, or $360 to turn it. I may or may not go buy a mic, but given the mileage, and the fact that there is no obvious signs of abuse or spinning, I think I should be fine to run it.

The only thing I’ve seen so far bad with this engine is the cylinders and like 2 cam lobes but honestly those can probably just be polished and the cam will run again. I’m tempted to post the heads, cam, and other extra parts on Facebook and see what I can get for them, I’m sure somewhere there’s someone who wants OE parts on their build lol

 

Probably a recursive question but I'm assuming the motor mounts from my Dakota will match up to the 360? I'm looking at the part numbers between a 92 Dakota and a 99 full size (what engine came out of) and of course they're different because it mounts differently to the frame, but given the 3.9 is just a chopped 318, and the 318 and 360 are almost identical externally, they will match up I imagine?

 

In the sticky section of the 1st Gen Tech subforum there is access to a ‘90-‘93 parts catalog you can use to look up compatiability between motor mounts of the V6 and two V8s.

 

Got a peek at the stickies for the engine swap and got what I needed, my motor mounts work fine , but I read into some forms that Crazy4x4RT poked around in and I read one about a 360 swap into a 92 Dak and it brought up some questions.

Will a 99 full size oil pan work on my truck or do I need to buy a 92 Dakota 318 oil pan and I’d imagine pump too, maybe dipstick???

He said it needs a distributor earlier than 1997 because anything after won’t hook up? I’m assuming he means the timing advance? But isn’t that controlled via the PCM?

He also said something about keeping a 92 water pump, so should I do the same?

I need to keep a 92-93 318 fuel rail as it’s regulated on the rail vs via the pump on later models?

Lastly, I believe the clutch/flywheel kit I’m buying is a 12” clutch, I dont know why it would matter but would this still work with the AX-15? I found it on RockAuto under the 92 v6 manual trans tab. Luk parts.

A lot of questions I know, but like everyone’s said in that post I read, better to ask in a newer thread than try to revive one that’s a decade old lol.

 

Probably need the oil pan and pickup. Don't know if they are the same on the full size trucks.... Dipstick wouldn't hurt either.

I think the difference is in the connector for the cam sensor connector??? Aside from that, I don't think the dist changed.

92 water pump is likely shorter. Space IS a consideration here.

All of the port injected motors are regulated at the pump. I think there was a gender flip on the fuel rail/fuel line connection at some point.....

I would be tempted to look up a clutch kit for a full size truck.... there are likely differences between the v-6, and v-8 pressure plates and such. There is most certainly a difference in flywheels. You need a flywheel specific to the 360, 318 version won't work.