So long story short, my 2001 dakota, 4.7l 4x4 developed a main seal oil leak while i let my sister and mother borrow it for about a year. They ended up driving it until the oil eventually drained all out and it stopped running while my sister was drivig it. . If i try to crank it the crankshaft pully moves very little but wont crank over, i cannot turn the crankshaft pully by hand either.

Im thinking somethinb in the lower half broke and is jamming the engine, what do you guys think?

What is my replacement options? I can get a used engine for around 300-600$ around here, then i would rebuild it changine all the seals and ect. . I would also like to know what my options are for rebuilding this engine (im not worried about the work, i have worked on plenty of cars, but moreso is it cost effective?) how about swaps? If i swapped the engine for a more efficient/powerful/overall better one what price tag am i looking at for it? I love the way the 4.7l magnum acted as far as speed vs pulling beig a good daily driver engine so any swap would need to provide the same feeling. The budget for a swap would probably be around 3k.

What words of wisdom do you guys have to offer?

 

They seized the motor, end of story.

$300-600 for a 4.7? Good luck on finding one for that price. You have limited choices...unless:

The problem is the tone ring. You have a 16 tooth tone ring. In the '02 and later model years they used a 32 tooth tone ring. They are not compatible. You'd have to pull the crank and replace the tone ring, and also the one on the right hand cam.

Swaps? The transmission isn't compatible with the 3.9, 5.2, or 5.9. You COULD put a 5.7 in it if you wanted.

 

Thanks for the reply dan. Its very apparent the engine is seized. Any clue as to what is seized? I would probably guess the crankshaft. Im looking into buying a engine stand next weekend so i can start pulling it so i can tear it apart and see if i can salvage the top end and just source out the bottom end or if the whole thing is toast.

Like i said 500$ isnt so farfetched for an engine for me. As far as swaps go i wanted to see how involved a swap to a 5.7 hemi would be but i have been looking around a bit and see. I think ill stick to just getting a replacement for this truck.

 

The crank is likely seized, probably the rod bearings. I'm sure the rest are pretty scored and burnt.

The top end should be salvageable. The bottom end might be as well, depends on how the bore is.

Did it overheat when it seized?

 

No dan it didnt overheat. I got a chance to drain what oil there was, no metal shavings in the oil or oil filter and about a quart of oil came out.

The furthest i have been into a motor is down to the headgasket, i have done mechanic work for about 10 years as a hobby, when i pull the motor and tear it apart am i going to be able to tell if its salvageable or not?

 

You'll get an idea when you pull it apart. You'll have to go over it very thoroughly.

 

Honestly, if the money is there might as well do the 5.7 swap. Same transmission and computer can be used. Then again, dodge has troubles with almost every engine that ends in .7. I'd never own own that has a.7 at the end.


Good luck in your search. I'd definitely get rid of that 4.7 though.

Oh, and FYI, ik what the intake box says, but your 4.7 is NOT a magnum in anyway. Its a Mercedes fiat engine.