motor swap
#1
02-17-2018, 02:34 PM
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motor swap
i have a 1994 2 wheel drive 5 speed dodge dakota with a 4 cylinder. i am wanting to swap it with a 360.out of a 2003 dodge ram 1500 4x4 i have never done anything like this and was wanting to know all of what i need to do to make it work if it can work
Last edited by Cumminscowboy94; 02-17-2018 at 02:43 PM.
#2
02-17-2018, 02:55 PM
Champion
Find a 94/95 Dakota 5.2 with a transmission for a donor.
You'll need the motor mounts, the ECU, the engine bay wiring, a matching transmission (note: they changed the way they control the auto transmission in 1996, along with a totally different ECU, and later they changed how the instrument panel connects to the rest of the vehicle; both changes are there by 2003; OTOH, your manual will be hit with the torque of the 5.9 one time and go "Mama!" and probably spit its gears out the bottom, or maybe not, but the bellhousing probably won't bolt up anyway), matching driveshaft, and I'd replace that 7.25 the 94 probably has with a 8.25 or 9.25 rear end also.
Basically - you'll rebuild the truck.
If you're considering this for economic reasons ... don't. It isn't.
If you want to do something different, then have at it.
One thing that helps is that the 5.2 Magnum was a factory option, so a lot of the bits and pieces can be had out of a 92-96 (and maybe a 91!) for mounting the motor and for the transmission mounting; but again, it'll still take basically rebuilding the truck from ground up.
(Oh, and if you really want to - new intake, distributor, and carb to convert the motor to carbed; a matching transmission, and that will possibly be easier.)
The speedo is driven off the VSS, so you'll either have to have that, or graft in an earlier mechanical cluster; the tach wants 2x per revolution, so if you don't use an ECU and keep it EFI, you'll have to address that also.
RwP
You'll need the motor mounts, the ECU, the engine bay wiring, a matching transmission (note: they changed the way they control the auto transmission in 1996, along with a totally different ECU, and later they changed how the instrument panel connects to the rest of the vehicle; both changes are there by 2003; OTOH, your manual will be hit with the torque of the 5.9 one time and go "Mama!" and probably spit its gears out the bottom, or maybe not, but the bellhousing probably won't bolt up anyway), matching driveshaft, and I'd replace that 7.25 the 94 probably has with a 8.25 or 9.25 rear end also.
Basically - you'll rebuild the truck.
If you're considering this for economic reasons ... don't. It isn't.
If you want to do something different, then have at it.
One thing that helps is that the 5.2 Magnum was a factory option, so a lot of the bits and pieces can be had out of a 92-96 (and maybe a 91!) for mounting the motor and for the transmission mounting; but again, it'll still take basically rebuilding the truck from ground up.
(Oh, and if you really want to - new intake, distributor, and carb to convert the motor to carbed; a matching transmission, and that will possibly be easier.)
The speedo is driven off the VSS, so you'll either have to have that, or graft in an earlier mechanical cluster; the tach wants 2x per revolution, so if you don't use an ECU and keep it EFI, you'll have to address that also.
RwP
#6
02-18-2018, 07:49 AM
Not real clear on what you are wanting to do. Is it swap engine only or is it to convert to 4wd?
Just so you know, the front end of a 2wd vs 4wd 1st gen dakota's are totally different. To begin with, the 2wd used rack and pinion steering, 4wd used a standard gear style.
That being said, IMO this swap could be fairly simple (in terms of swaps!!) to very complex.
IMO simple would be engine only.
IF, you are not concerned with emissions, You could get a magnum carb style intake, (edelbrock 7577), a small 4bbl carb, and a standard HEI ignition for a SB mopar engine. You would need a fuel pressure regulator, and would need to set up the cooling as desired. I personally would use an electric fan and a V8 radiator.
Not sure on motor mounts if stock will work or if aftermarket would be needed.
Looking at rockauto, I believe the 4cyl. used the same AX15 transmission that the 92-99? used V6 dakota used.
This is just my opinion, but as long as you are not going to be really beating on it, I would try the stock transmission. FWIW in other forums, there are several running 318 and 360 magnums in front of the AX15. They like them for the overdrive, but not so much for the wide ratio!!
Oh, I do like Ralph's idea of a LS and a 4L80!! Course, what would be even cooler would be a T56!!
Just so you know, the front end of a 2wd vs 4wd 1st gen dakota's are totally different. To begin with, the 2wd used rack and pinion steering, 4wd used a standard gear style.
That being said, IMO this swap could be fairly simple (in terms of swaps!!) to very complex.
IMO simple would be engine only.
IF, you are not concerned with emissions, You could get a magnum carb style intake, (edelbrock 7577), a small 4bbl carb, and a standard HEI ignition for a SB mopar engine. You would need a fuel pressure regulator, and would need to set up the cooling as desired. I personally would use an electric fan and a V8 radiator.
Not sure on motor mounts if stock will work or if aftermarket would be needed.
Looking at rockauto, I believe the 4cyl. used the same AX15 transmission that the 92-99? used V6 dakota used.
This is just my opinion, but as long as you are not going to be really beating on it, I would try the stock transmission. FWIW in other forums, there are several running 318 and 360 magnums in front of the AX15. They like them for the overdrive, but not so much for the wide ratio!!
Oh, I do like Ralph's idea of a LS and a 4L80!! Course, what would be even cooler would be a T56!!