HI all,
First let me say I just signed up on here so I haven't spent a lot of time surfing the posts. So I thought I would ask. I have a 1998 3.9 Dakota that I bought new. It has 78k miles on it and the motor lost oil pressure and needless to say, it needs a rebuild. I'm pulling out this weekend and taking to an engine builder buddy of mine. I was wondering if anyone had any input for some cheap performance upgrades that I should do while I have it gone through. I was thinking mainly the cam. Something that would give me better torque than stock. I'm not looking for a street screamer just a little bump up from stock.
thanks in adavance
-John

 

Go with a V8, the only cam for the 3.9l is a regrind from Hughes engines and you will have to buy a Diablo, Superchips, etc... to reprogram the computer. (or find someone to burn the chip for you) Lots of posts on this, and the usual consensus is to go bigger since it will cost the same in the end. Other than that, cold air kit and V8 TB are all I have found worth doing. Good luck.

 

there aren't any "cheap" upgrades for the 3.9. If you have some money to spend, you could go with the V8 tb and a cold air intake as mentioned above, and open the heads up just a hair, throw on a set of headers an aftermarket free flowing exhaust, and you can have custom grinds done for a cam, but they are expensive! Also, a programmer of some sort will help as well. A superchip programmer is preferred

 

is the V8 (i'm assuming your talking about a 5.2l) a direct bolt in? meaning, same motor mounts and transmission? I really didn't want to get into a ton of work. I guess I'll have to rebuild the 3.9 as stock and live with it. Is the V8 throttle body a direct bolt on?
thanks

 

you mean no one out there makes a torque cam for the 3.9? who would-a thunk it! That must be why I couldn't turn anything up on the crane cams web site. oh well
thanks for the input

 

the first thing you should do to a 3.9 is get a cold air intake and put on a v8 throttle body, then do a catback exhaust. I have an AIRAID cold air intake and a v8 throttle cable for sale if you plan on doing the v8 tb swap (you'll need a v8 tb cable). I dont think there are any v6 cams available that wont require a spring change/computer flash. For a while comp cams had one that you could just install without doing anything else.... but they are literally impossible to find.

 

Really the v8 is the way to go you wont be happy until you do. The v8 swap can be done in a weekend the only thing I would look at is see what tranny you have if you have the 42re it will still work with the 5.2 but wont last long with a heavy foot you will need atleast a 44re to hold up the power and torque.

 

The 5.2 & 5.9 will bolt right in, but you will need to check the tranny. Most likely you have the 44re which is behind most v6s and almost all of the 318s (some 318s had the 46re which is better) As far as I could find out, the 44re will hold up to a stock 360, but if you start upgrading that motor, better upgrade the tranny too. You also already have the stock radiator for the 318, so you can keep that. Just my two cents, I plan on a swap this winter hopefully...360!

 

comp cams actually has 3 diffrent ones for the 3.9

 

timdirt

comp cams actually has 3 diffrent ones for the 3.9

I asked them at the tech dept, I was told they could grind one IF you can find a blank. Post a link to the cams if you would please, Thanks