I recently swapped out the 3.9L V6 LA for a 5.2L (318) LA. Some suggested that I put in a Magnum instead of the older LA, but I wanted the LA because I wouldn't have to deal with computer modules and also because I think Trucks with a carb are neat. That being said I got custom motor mounts, rebuilt an old 318 V8 LA, and dropped it in, but the problem now is clearance issues with the water pump nose where the normal fan would bolt on, and that being in the way of the radiator. I thought originally that clearance would be fine as long as I just didn't use the engine fan and went electric, but the spinning cross where the pully attaches actually obstructs the radiator from going back in.

I pulled out the condenser because I would like to get a radiator that would fit where the condenser was, which is fine because A/C had been long gone in the truck anyways. I really just have two questions for anyone who can help me out here;
1. What's a tried and true A/C delete swap radiator that would be the right for a 318 LA, plus any mods I will have to do to the truck to get it in?
2. Is there any sort of water pump that is short enough to allow for the necessary clearance and wouldn't mess up the pulley system?

Any answers or suggestions are really appreciated. I'm 17 and this is my first engine swap, so I'm a little desperate for guidance

 

Maybe look at parts for the 89 shelby dakota. That was the first model to get a V-8...

 

You could have used a magnum, Need a different intake and distubutor. Do you have any room to move the motor back any?

 

No unfortunately the engine is as far back as possible because of the custom motor mounts and also when I was dropping it in i had to shove it all the way back just to get it to align with the mounts.

 

I'll look into the shelby model radiator clearance and water pumps. thank you

 

I put a 5.9 magnum with a carb. in my 87......

At this point in your conversion, this would be my suggestions.

1. Look into using the complete accessory drive off of a magnum engine.
Swap over the timing cover from a magnum as well as the water pump.
This would require an electric fuel pump as the magnum has no provisions for a mechanical pump.
You may have to swap the camshaft as well. Not sure if the long snout cams will fit under the magnum timing cover.
On mine, the power steering hooked up with no mods.
AC lines had to be modified, but they will have to be when going to a V8 anyways.

2. Swap to a front end of a 92-96 dakota.
These move the radiator out about 4 inches.
Myself, I would not use a 91 as a lot ot the parts are 1 year only production.

3. Get a complete 5.2 or maybe a 5.9 magnum, with all accessories.
Use a edelbrock 7577 intake with your choice of a 4 bbl carb.
Use the existing distributor and ignition from your 318 engine.
You have to use an electric fuel pump. (I used a carter )
And you have to use a fan set up sandwiched between the condenser and radiator
Other then that, its about as close as a bolt in swap can be.
Even the y pipe form a V8 magnum dakota is a bolt in.

If you do a search in the first gen section, you can find several build threads that have a lot of info on this.
The closest one I remember, tried using the v-belt drive like you are, but ended up swapping to a newer truck front end.
He even attemped to sink a radiator into the core support, and he did not run AC, (if my memory serves me correct)

If you have problems finding the build threads I mentioned. Post back and I will try to search.

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.

 

Thank you very much!

I will definitely try to do one of these options in the future, I thought about swapping the front end with a newer Dakota at first but for an engine that I don't even know if it will work I don't want to put in more money than what I've invested already.

For now, however, I probably did the most ill-advised solution possible. I took the current radiator, flipped the top mounting rubber around so that the shorter end will give me like a quarter inch of space, so when I put it back in the bay, the bolts on the pulley were barely touching at all, really just scraping the aluminum gills. Then I took the radiator back out, cut the fins out from around the tubes that were in the way, then carefully bent the tubes sideways until they gave a comfortable amount of clearance. I will definitely see if I can upload pictures of what I did, I know it's putting a Band-Aid on something that needs stitches, but I just need the engine to run before I dump more money into a better solution.

I know it's the most red-neck thing I could've done, don't hate me hahaha!

 

It's a bad photo but there you go

 

Johnny,
Thought I would post a few links that may be of interest to you.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...-solution.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ert-build.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...le-dakota.html

 

Thanks for those links, you made my day.

Edit: I love you