You would need to change the intake manifold, probably the exhaust manifolds as well, and maybe the oil pan. Aside from that, it's the same motor. (the 98 intake doesn't have the hole drilled for the second temp sensor your 97 has. also, the fuel rail will be different.)

 

Where can I hoist the engine from? I took the intake off, valve covers, headers, radiator, bumper, hood, and all the stuff up front and in the way is gone already. All I need to do is unbolt the motor from the trans, motor mounts, and lift it up. Maybe a few connections I forgot too lol. So where can I hoist the engine from? I'll get a chain\hook and I'm gonna go get a picker tomorrow morning and get started on removing it next week. Put two bolts on the back left and front right of the heads and wrap the chain around those?

First time ever removing a motor
Thanks.

 

Didn't need to remove the hood, fenders, or valve covers so you did a little more work then needed. I also hoisted them from the manifolds or in your case just ran a bolt and nut in opposite corners of the motor wherever I can get them to go in. For example the LA motor mount on the pass side and usually somewhere I can find on driver's side front

 

 

When I've pulled motors out of these 2nd gen Dodge Rams, I've bolted a chain to the engine's heads. I haven't had any trouble doing that, done it twice. I used the holes on the front of the right head and the back of the left head.

 

Another question, I got a motor from the salvage yard with 130k miles, Its a 5.9 out of a 1996 Ram. What all do I need to swap from my motor? Also, how do I remove the torque converter from my old engine and put it on my new one? Is there anything I need to line up? Should I put the torque converter on the trans or engine when I go to put it in?

Thank you for all the help again lol, Jake. My truck is 1997 ^

 

You don't need to change anything as 96-97 are exactly the same. On the flex plate (thing between the motor and converter) has 4 bolts holding it to the converter. Unfortunately you will have a right time as the converter will soon. I usually disconnect them before removing an engine. You will want to install that into the trans first and make sure it is seated by turning it and listening for it to click (usually twice).

 

Gotcha, and got the converter onto the trans. Now I've got some more problems lol. I've got like three or four spark plugs that are stripped inside the motor I think, or I just need to figure out what is preventing it from spinning. How do I get those out do you think?

I took the motor mounts off of my old motor without looking at how they were oriented lol, so does anybody have a photo of an engine with the motor mounts attached?

The new motor did not come with a dipstick and my dipstick from my 97 motor doesn't fit in that little hole. How would I go about getting that to fit or do I need to buy one off a 96 engine?

One more question, when I took the motor out, the torque converter was still on the engine, so a little bit of trans fluid spilled out, how can I drain and replace the trans fluid while the engine is out?

Thank you! -Jake

 

Blow all the crap out of the spark plug heat shields, and then grab them with a pair of vice grips, and rip them out. The only real purpose they serve is to make plug changes more difficult. You likely have a bunch of junk built up down there, such that you can't get the socket down onto the spark plug. With the heat shields out of the way, it's a LOT easier.

For the dipstick...... if the tube itself is missing, it's likely broke off in whatever it goes into...... you might get lucky, and be able to pull it out, as, so far as I know, those were the same from 94 to 03.......

 

I'll check all of that tomorrow when I hopefully get the new motor ready to go in. I'm hoping this s.o.b runs right when I put it back in. Thank you!