hey guys new member here. i have a 1997 dak and want to change from a 3.9 litre v6 to 318. i talked to mopar and said i can use a 318 if i keep my 5 speed tranny but it wont bolt up to a later 360. so, what all will i need? id like to keep it fuel injected. so can i get a computer from a ram that had a 318? what else will i need..thanks

 

360 won't bolt up? The 318 and 360 are nearly identical - the main bearings are larger on the 360, and you'd need an external balanced flywheel, but it should bolt right up. You might blow up the thing if you put too much torque through it though.

You'll need for sure - 318, wiring harness, ecu
You might need - motor mounts/crossmember, fuel pump, new tranny and/or rear diff soon, radiator, fan shroud, factory service manual for any wiring hacks you may need to make.

It might be cheaper to just buy a 318 dakota instead of doing the swap. You'll kill resale unless you happen to find the right buyer, and it'd be far easier.

 

ok well what if i make it carburated? would it be easier or harder??

 

it would be easier, but your resale would be even lower.

 

I fear you may be headed for the money pit my friend.....

swap trucks.....not motors.

that's my 2 cents.

 

Exactly. If it was an oldschool trail/farm rig with no resale, or if you've just got a bunch of money sitting around, then do the swap. Otherwise it's more of a headache than you really want to deal with.

 

ok well i might still do the swap because i have some money saved up. not a lot but some. ok if i get a 318 or 360, what is a good tranny i could get? i dont know any of the names of them. but it cant be tooooo expensive. id like to make it carburated then. what exactly will i need since i wont need and ecu and wiring harness and all that crap?