Im very new to Dodge trucks. I have a 98 2wd 1500 with a 5.2. It currently has 183,000 miles. Hold low oil pressure and lacks power, but otherwise runs fine. I have the oportunity to buy a freshly rebuilt 5.9 complete from intake to oil pan. Has brand new heads (old ones were cracked). Very reputable shop. It was abandoned at the machine shop and they want to sell it. Is it a pretty straight forward swap? The engine was supposedly from a 98 as well. Any special considerations. Thanks for the help. Im using a friends computer now or I would do some more searching..

 

Have to reflash your PCM to run the bigger motor. PM Hemifever on this website for an SCT tuner, 275 bucks. Let him know what you are doing, and he can set ya right up.

Need a 5.9 flex plate. (or, in chrysler parlance: Drive Plate.)

I am unsure if the 5.9 uses a different torque converter than the 5.2, jury is still out on that one.

Should bolt right in, and the harness should all hook right up. Get the flash, and the drive plate, and maybe torque converter, and you will be down the road.

Welcome to DF!

 

thanks, I was reading some more post and noticed some say replace or flash the computer and some say don't. I looked at the 5.9 today and nboticed it did have a balancer on it but I didn't look to see if it had a flywheel. I was planning on just rebuilding the 5.2 but I can get this completly rebuilt 5.9 for Around $700. So i figured I would be hard pressed to freshen up the 5.2 for less than that... The convertor is not a problem, I would have had the current one refurbed so I will just get the one I need. We have a good convertor manufacturer locally. What about timing. Once I do the swap. Whats the process for setting the timing?

Keep the comments coming

 

You don't set the timing. The PCM (programming) does that.

Thats another thing that Hemifever can set you up with with the SCT, get every bit of extra timing out of that new (to you) engine.

I would suggest installing a Hughes or APS plenum plate before the install. Much easier while the engine is out of the drive bay, should eliminate the blown plenum gasket that the factory plate/bolts usually cause.

 

That's a heck of a deal man. Good luck and welcome to DF.