Hi everyone! I like reading this forum and i just became a member so i can post. I have in the past several years i have got my 440 big block swap in my 1999 dakota sport runing and had a little fun! It is one heck of a project. Still working out the bugs and alot of custom parts to be finalized yet though.
My question is i cannot find annyone that has done this and its hard to find help but i have ran into several little quirks i would like to work out and hoped in finding some answers here.
Has anyone on here done this swap? these are the problems I am having
-headers
-no room for brake booster now
-want to make stock gauges work if possible

thanks in advance

 

Sounds like a fun project.

Are you still using the PCM? The instrument cluster is a computer itself and "talks" to the PCM. All the data comes over the CCD bus, oil pressure, fuel level, rpm, everything. Without the PCM, no gauges.

Custom headers?

Not sure about a booster. I've seen different sizes in some years.

 

Try block huggers. If your not running the PCM I would get rid of the brake booster. Or you can relocate it to the lower part of the firewall. I want to do a 440 swap when I quit using this truck as a DD. We need some pics!!!

 

This pic came from Dak-Dur

P6042569.jpg

 

Thanks a lot for the replies. Years of busting my head trying to get the stock gauges to work just answered by you guys! Yea pcm is gone. entire engine harness is gone. Was trying to keep it as stock look as possible but gauges will have to go now. Yea I tried block huggers and they still didn't fit. if you do one of these swaps it is actually easier than you think. I will give you all the tricks I learned. Driver side exhaust sucks. starter and steering shaft is in the way. even added a flaming river universal into the steering stem to try to change the angle. no luck really!