2003 dakota sport, 3.9, 5spd. man. 4x4 ext. cab. 117,xxx miles.
I want to swap in a 5.2. but Dodge stopped putting the 5.2 in the dakotas in 99. want to know if anybody knows of somebody that did this in NY, and failed insp. because dodge didnt put the 5.2s in any dakota newwer than 99?? before i go and wast time and money doing this swap just to get kicked in the ***** by albany, i want to know if anybody ran in to this problem first hand. thanks!!!

 

Are you sure you want the 5.2?

You won't find a PCM to run a 5.2 in '03. Dodge also changed the computer bus in '01 so anything from '00 or earlier won't work.

You can use one for a 5.9. It'll work with the 5.2 but the fuel trims are off a bit, nothing a tuner probably couldn't fix though.

 

Why would you fail inspection for a motor swap?

 

Because NY like a lot of the northeast have restrictive emission laws. In MD when I was there modification of the emissions was illegal. So swapping engines that aren't direct replacements in the states can lead to issues.

 

First place I'd start is asking the NY smog compliance agency what you can get away with. It may turn out that they won't even let the OP put in a 5.9. & it might be very tough to get past a visual inspection--some places can be very finicky.

I wouldn't even hazard a guess, tho. In California, it can be done, but it ain't easy.

 

I was thinking of a 360, but heard the v6 trans. Wouldn't hold up to task. I have a couple older 3.9s laying around i just can't justify putting money into a v6 to achieve the same goal as v8 swap......if only dodge still used man.Trans. in their trucks I'd have a full size v8 with a man.Trans. Then there is the other route with the 4.7........more time and money, changing the Trans. To because i know the 3.9,5.2, and 5.9 all bolt the same, but the 4.7 is different......lots of choices, lol.....I'll keep searching for a full size, much easier that way.........and the reason it might fail NY inspection is when they hook up the obdII to the computer and it connects to Albany, and after they scan the registration sticker a few things may not register, and you're dead in the water. You can't even renew your registration if your car isn't up to current inspection.