Hello everyone, I have 96 ram with a 5.2. It is getting very tired(random misfire, burning oil, no power whatsoever). I have done some research an I realize that it most has blown the plenum gasket. With that said, I was told that a 360 would bolt up to everything in the truck, except I would need a different flywheel and computer. Is that true? The main questions I have are:
1. Does the computer have to come from 4x4 truck if I have 4x4?
2. Will the swap be worth it? I want to have power down low(the 318 didn't have any power till after 3k).
3. The motor will be rebuilt so I might but some performance parts in right? Where is a good place to start?
4. There is a 360 on cl right now from a Dakota rt. is there any difference between it and a regular 360?


I am very new to this and I would really appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Will

 

I'm in the same boat.
Here is what you need to know.
94-96 trucks have OBDI and EGR - not easily tunable.
97-01 trucks have OBDII and No EGR - you can plug in programmer/scanner for tuning
I also have 5.2 and want to go to 5.9
One of the options is to just use 5.9 motor and swap it directly. Keeping the EGR and OBDI. You should keep the 5.9 mostly stock so the OBDI has no problem running it.

If you want build up your 5.9 with cam, heads, intake you'll need OBDII to make it run right.
It is quite difficult to change from OBDI to OBDII, cause you have to tear the whole dash apart and do some rewiring. This is the route I might take if I get a donor vehicle.
If no donor then I'll just rebuild stock 5.9 and swap it in.

 

I thought 96 and up was OBDII?

 

It is, it was the first year for OBD2.

 

So the I can get hemifever to make a custom tune for which ever route a go correct?

 

Yes you can or you can look for a 96 5.9 Mopar Performance Pcm.

 

Thank you. Now would 5.9 from the Dakota rt work with my harness and a regular comp?

 

Yes, at worst you would have to swap out the intake manifold, this depends on the year of the new motor. I am not a auto trany guy but I think you will need a diff torque converter when going to the 5.9L.

 

Ok I will see if i can go pick up the motor this weekend. Thanks for all the help I'm sure I will back with more questions.

 

The rt head have larger valves so thats a plus. You will need ECM from a 5.9 for it to run like it should. You will need torque converter and flexplate for a 5.9 as well. Other than that its a direct swap.