i looked around but did not find everything i was looking for.
I have a 2004 dakota QC 4x4 with a 4.7 v8. the truck has 180400 miles on it and still is going just fine, has the first start up chatter for about 30 sec. witch from reading around is more then likely the valve lash adjusters.
first off, if i swap in some new lash adjusters. would that stop the first start up chatter?
and cuz iam sure this engine will not last for ever, if i swap in a new/used engine i would like to go with the H.O. 4.7 for the extra power and forged internals. are all the H.O. the same, could i get one from a 02 jeep or a newer 05 dakota, put my oil pan/pick up and what ever els may need changed over, and drop it in bolt it up and drive, or is there more to it?

 

from talking to thunder yes thats about it idk if you have to swap out the pan or not but there the same bolt up wise but the ho has two knock sensors that dont have to be hooked up but ill pm thunder or urbanrdneck they have both done the swaps and 04 is a good year for the dakota

 

there are alot of jeeps around here, i should be able to find a HO out of a jeep just wanted to make sure there was not anyting diffrent about them that would stop a swap into my dakota. the way i looked at it, if the truck needs a new motor why not go with the one that has more power.

 

Well that's what alot people see mine as well but they have two types of tone wheels and u need the later 32 tooth tone wheel that's a little harder to find

 

What do you wanna know about swapping engines?

 

when you put the 2006 H.O. into your 04 dakota, was it just a bolt in swap, or did you run into things you had to change. and i also read that you need the H.O. pcm swaped in too. i to have a 04 dakota, with a 4.7 that has 180500 miles. so it might need a swap before to long.

 

H.O PCM? Pssh. You don't need that... It was a direct bolt on swap. I only had to make an EGR block off plate and that is it. I think. Just make sure you get one that was a 32 tooth tone wheel which is dakotas 03+ and I forget the years for the Jeeps. So if you wanna do a H.O swap I would suggest finding a Dakota from 05-07 with the engine. The only extra thing that engine should have besides an EGR is a knock sensors which you can leave unplugged.