I have a 2003 Dakota with a v6 and 5-speed. I also have a 1998 RT with a v8 and 5-speed. The '03 is in pretty good condition but the RT is in rough shape with high miles. It is fully loaded, though.

I would like to exchange the running gear from both trucks but I'm wondering if it's a good idea to pull the engine out of an RT that is fully loaded. Would these trucks ever be considered collectors items? It needs alot of work but the engine seems to run well. I would probably rebuild it, replace the clutch and even swap out the rear ends.

Should I restore the RT instead or just forget the whole thing and pump up the v6?

Thanks for any comments.

 

Well.. if your R/T is a 5 speed then your lucky or somone already swapped the trannys, because the 98-03 R/Ts only came with a 46re tranny which is a 4 speed AUTO.. no 5 speeds ever made, people have swapped the Viper 6 speed into them though, are you sure you dont have a 5.2 Sport 5speed?

The sports had optional 5.2 and 5speed. R/Ts didnt.. they had the 5.9 with a 46re.

you might want to look into that also if the VIN doesnt have a Z in it then its not an R/T

 

In point of fact, the 5.9 was never mated to a manual transmission in any Dakota. Which could make it real interesting finding a balanced flywheel to fit in a Dakota 5 speed. I honestly can't tell you whether the one from the full size 5.9 ram would work.

The only way to circumvent the balanced flywheel issue would be to have the 5.9 internally balanced, about a $400 job if you carry the rotating assembly in to the machine shop. That doesn't include everything else that will go into rebuilding the motor. It cost me nearly $1k to have my block cleaned, bored 0.040", crank turned, rods reconditioned, pistons pressed, cam bearings installed and assembly custom balanced. The $1k includes milling the heads, but I did the valve work.

 

There is no Z in the VIN.
The guy I bought it from mentioned to me that it was an RT, and I did not know any better.
He didn't try to sell as an RT, just a fully loaded, v8 w/ 5 speed. It had a strip down the middle, though.

Thank you for the clarification! Darn. [&o]

I guess Sports with a v8 and 5 speed are pretty common? If so,I won't feel so bad swapping out the running gear.

 

is it a 5.9 or 5.2?

 

if it doesn't have a Z in the VIN it would make it a 5.2. UNLESS somone did a swap on it already.

The 5.2 is the same thing as the 5.9, just the 5.9 is a bord out verison of the 5.2 both make almost the same HP, i think maybe a 10 -15hp diffrence. Not that bad. The 5.2 is still good to work with.

 

It has a 5.2.
Wow, is this truck fun to drive. Compared to my 3.9, it's a screamer. No wonder everybody wants to upgrade to V8s.

OK, maybe not everyone. But my v6 gets 12 miles to the gallon and I would think that a v8 should get at least that without having to drive around with the "pedal to the metal" just to keep up. I really love this truck butI hate the lack of power.

I had the opportunity to purchase a 99 with v8 and 5-speed when I started looking for a Dakota. It did not have power windows, locks, etc. like the one that I bought, whichwas fully loaded but had the v6. I've not seen the v8 5 speed combo since then. That was about two years ago. I have regreted it ever since.

To me, that was the big draw for the Dakota besides the good looks and slightly larger size. What other midsize truck can you get a v8 with manual transmission? The new trucks have a nicer 6 speed, shorter throw tranny butI have heard that they are being phased out and harder to find.

I used to have a big block, 4-speed el camino back in the 70's and this dakota is a close modern version.
I'll get off my soapbox now and go do some burnouts for old time sakes.

 

360 also has a longer stroke as well.

HP is 230 vs. 245,torque is 300 vs. 335. The difference feels much more pronounced actually driving them.

 

Heh, a V8 Would be awesome but If you end up rebuilding the 5.2 You could turn it easily into a 5.9, But More, it's the same engine just bored and Stroked a bit more, but you can push it even more so No reason to not use a 5.2 It will work just as good. But I think the best thing would be to get a hemi in there, now that would kick ***. But Thats another story and a lot of work.

 

I think that a Diesel would be better