i want to swap my 3.9 for a 5.2 could i use any year 5.2 i have 1997 dakota would i need a 97 5.2 and and a 97 44re tranny or would any year work

 

Do you have smog testing where you live? There are differences between what will fit and what is legal.

 

smog? well i live in Pennsylvania so im exactly sure

 

He means emissions testing. You being in pa are gonna be a hit a miss area. Some countys do and others dont.

 

what would be illegal about putting a 5.2 in a my dakota

 

Nothing, if you use the right engine and retain the proper emission control equipment.

If you don't have to worry about testing, you can get away with using any engine. If you do get tested, you need to check the regulations in your state (probably needs to be the same year engine or newer, and keep all the goodies that were originally on the engine, but you'd have to check to be sure).

 

so with testing i sense i got the 3.9 and the wiring harnesses are different and i didnt put a new wiring harness in and just added to more things for the cylinders i couldnt get away with that if i wanted to

 

You would probably be fine with a modified harness, as long as everything works the way it's supposed to. The best thing would be to find a donor truck the same year as yours with a 5.2 and switch everything over, but finding one might be easier said than done.

 

u got that right ive been trying for a couple months now on craigslist but i havent called any junk yards yet

 

Depends on where you live but around me dakotas are pretty easy to find in the yards.