I am replacing the engine in my 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2L with a 5.2L from a '97 dodge.. Will it be a direct swap in or will there be anything that I need to carry over from my engine to the new..?

 

you need to swap everything from the intake up including the wiring harness onto the 97. I swapped my 2001 ram 318 for a 97 360 and after getting the computer reprogrammed for the 360 and I added bigger injectors everything went perfect. I just pulled the intake off the 318, put the hughes plenum plate on after I did the kegger mod, put on an aftermarket throttle body and the truck runs great with no problems.

 

He has an 01. All he needs to do is swap intakes, and everything on it, to the new motor, and drop it in.

 

If I plug the extra holes on the 97 intake, swap the distributor and that sensor next to it.. will that work instead of swapping the intakes, or does the fuel rail, injectors, and throttle body all need to be swapped as well?

 

Your correct. That is what I was implying. Swap everything from the intake up off of the 2001 motor onto the 97 block. Oh and make sure from now on you tell the auto parts guys that you need 1997 spark plugs and not 2001. they are different for some reason.

 

The fuel rail on the 97 is plastic and on the 01 it is metal. It will not connect to the supply line. And don't touch the distributor.

 

IIRC, the plugs are the same, but The gap is different.

 

I understood that. Sorry I didn't make myself clear. Yes you need to swap the intake, wiring harness, fuel injectors, everything up from the intake from the 2001 engine onto the 1997 engine.

Everything needs to be swapped. Actually it takes about 20 minutes to do it. Plus you need to go ahead and change the pleunum gasket with a hughes kit or equivalent, do the kegger mod that it is the DIY, and when you change spark plugs make sure you ask for 1997 because they are different. Also the pcv valve and the breather hose will have to be swapped from one valve cover to the other. Just pull the gromets out of each valve cover and swap them. The valve covers do not have to come off. It wouldn't hurt to replace those too while your at it. $7 fix. I would also replace the rotor and distributor cap too. As mentioned above, just don't turn or take off the distributor.

I thought for some reason that first message didn't post.

 

Just use the wiring harness that's in the truck. Swap the manifold from the 01 onto the "new" motor, and that will take care of it. Distributor, oil pressure sensor, and anything else on the block is essentially the same. Can use plug gap as recommended for the 01 motor. (might swap the 01 coil onto the new motor as well, just in case. )

Fixing the plenum is a GREAT idea while the manifold is off anyway. Hughes, or Ebay plate. Yep.

 

I just looked it up, the .040 gap is 97 up . 94,95, and 96 are .035