Ok. Maybe this will sound like a strange idea, but there is a really nice 2004 Dakota near me with a junk 3.7 v6 in it. The 3.7 is an expensive little engine, even from a junkyard, I was searching ebay and $1200 seems to be about as cheap as they get.

Here is my crazy(?) idea. How hard would it be to swap a 3.9 into it? The 3.9 can be picked up from a junkyard for about 1/2 that price or better. I would consider it to be a better motor, albeit slightly less powerful on paper. I imagine there would be some ECM and wiring work that may eat up some of the savings... but could it work?

 

The amount of effort, time, and money you would dump into that project would be the same as putting in a 5.9 magnum. As an owner of a 3.9 Dakota... While the engine is reasonably durable it isn't a rocket or a fuel saver. Given your scenario I would take the hit on getting a fresh 3.7 to drop into that truck. Or just keep looking for the truck with the stuff you want already.

 

The truck has 147k on it. The most reasonably priced engine had 111k. How long will that thing last?
From my viewpoint, the 3.9 is the last of the old school (cast iron block, pushrods) engines that were not overly powerful but are less finicky than the newer engines.

It's a beautiful black truck, but till I put an engine in it or rebuild it, I'll have $4,000 in the truck.

Ha. 5.9 mag? That's way too much power for me. I'm happy with a 4 cyl, so when I get to drive a v6 I think it has a lot of power

I probably will just keep looking until I find something that suits my tastes.

 

i have a 2004 dodge dakota v6 3.7l 2wd automatic and i found another dakota which is a 2000 with a 3.9l 4wd manual and i was wondering if i could put the motor transmission and the front axle on my truck. so in so many words im want to make my 2004 dodge dakota v6 3.7l 2wd auto into a 3.9l 4wd manual is that possibly

 

You would be better off getting a 3.7/manual combo, and installing that..... far fewer issues.

 

the pushrod and OHC engines are completely different, not just by principle, but the entire truck electrical system from the cluster to the radiator fan is different.

 

The part truck is running its just has a bad frame and i cant really find a 3.7l manual dakota for the second gen for a crew cab

 

Here is the pic of my truck but i cant find a 2nd gen dakota 3.7l manual 2wd crew cab

 

The 2nd gens came with a 3.7???

All you really need is a 3.7 with a manual, doesn't matter what cab style it came out of.

 

My 3.9 extended cab 5 speed was slow, I can only imagine what a turd a crew cab 3.9 would be.