Hi All,
My trucks a 1998 Dakota 4x4 with a 5.2L V8 magnum with just about 190,000 miles. I got the truck from my old man at about 160,000 and it gets its oil changes every 3,000 miles. Im starting to run into problems with A/C compressor(again), Water pump(again), intake, timing change and all that fun stuff. I figured i'd be better off getting a crate motor, but instead of sticking with the 5.2L I've been reading the 4.7L is a better motor but will it fit into my dak?

Whats better, the 4.7, 5.2, or 5.9?

Thanks

 

Do you really need to replace the engine? Basically you're pointing out minor issues. How's the bottom end?

A water pump, no big deal. While you're in there change the timing chain if you want. A/C compressor, you'd have to change that if you do the crate motor anyways. What's up with the intake - the plenum gasket? Common problem, just replace it.

You're not talking a lot of money if you do the work.

I'd stick with the 5.2 or 5.9. They should basically just drop in.

You'll have a lot more options in performance parts, if you want to go that route. Also, since the 4.7 never came in a '98, you won't run into problems with trying to make it work electrically. For one thing, your current harness won't have the connections for the coil on plug.

Nothing would be insurmountable with the 4.7, just a lot of time and money to get it up and running right.

 

Thanks

The reason I'm looking to go with the crate motor on top of the issues I listed above it hasn't been running full strength for awhile and has gotten to the point where its fix one thing and 10 others fail. From what Ive seen online i can get a crate 5.2 for about 1700. To fix the problems completely under the hood Im looking at 1000 anyway.

Would you happen to know about the check engine light for cylinder 1 misfire. That warning has gone on and off since Ive gotten the truck anyway.

Thanks

 

If you're going to replace the motor, replace it with a 5.2/5.9. While I love my 4.7, it would make things a lot easier to replace it with the same motor. If you want more performance you could get a 5.9 which would bolt in, you would just need a 5.9 computer which you can get at a junkyard pretty cheap.

You know, if you're mechanically inclined (which I'm assuming you're since you plan to replace the motor), you could always rebuild the current motor and do so with better parts. Maybe upgrade the cam, rockers, lifters, etc. as you want. It's probably cheaper than replacing the motor, I'm not sure how far $1700 goes for parts, I've never priced it out, but it's worth looking into. Then you can get some added performance and a newly rebuilt engine while you're at it. Just a thought, like I said, I haven't priced it out so I'm not sure how practical it is, but worth looking into.

 

Cyl 1 misfire could be a bunch of things.

Bad plug, bad wire, bad distributor cap, vacuum leak, etc. I assume it is intermittent, I'd look hard at the electrical then.

Pull the plug it should give you a good idea as to what's happening.

If it was mechanical it shouldn't be intermittent.

Like bpark says, rebuild it. You know what you have now to begin with. The 5.2 is not a hard engine to rebuild and you have lots of options for parts.

 

4.7 is a totally different motor. tranny wouldnt work behind it also. Stick with a 5.2 or 5.9 you will be looking at a straight drop in.

 

What did the 5.2 have behind it? AX15 or NV3500?

 

ax15's came behind the v6s, the nv3500 were behind the v6's and v8's(5.2) Rams with the 360s ran the nv4500 I believe.