Firstly I'd like to state I'm nearly completely new to this. I've done some front end suspension work on both the trucks and that's really been about it, maybe a little tlc here and there. I have a totaled (cab crushed in) 2001 5.9L Sport and a 1997 5.2L with a bad and high mileage motor. I've done a little research into motor swapping these specific motors however I usually just end up finding an old durango forum or something like the one I'm typing on now ( they're very helpful btw). The part I'm worried about before I start tearing anything apart is the rear differential difference. They're both 2wd trucks but the 01 is a sport model and the 97 is a laramie. Will just straight swapping the trans over mess up the differential? That was my main question but I'm also curious to what other supplies/tools I need. I already have some tools like a impact and some sockets, as well as a way to lift the motor once it's detached from the mounts. Any advice for my first swap would be highly beneficial to me !

 

Quite likely the differentials are exactly the same between trucks. Only difference that might be there is whether it uses a flange or u-joint yoke for the rear driveshaft. Or different gear ratio, but, as far as the motor is concerned, that just doesn't matter.

If you are swapping in JUST the motor, be sure and use the flexplate that came on the 5.9. Balance is different between the engines.

Also, the 01 intake manifold will only have provision for one temp sensor, the 97 uses two, one for the gauge, one for the PCM, so, swap over the intake as well. (I think both engines use the same injectors, so, just swap the whole thing over.)

The 97 PCM is going to run the 5.9 a bit lean in open loop, but, you should be able to get it flashed for the larger engine. After all, they came from the factory that way. Too much changed in 98, so, you cannot use the 01 PCM in the 97 truck.

 

Swap shouldn't bee too difficult. While the 5.9 motor is out of the truck, I'd take the time to replace all of the freeze plugs with deep cup brass freeze plugs. The block plugs should be 1-5/8" and the 4 plugs in the heads should be 1-1/4". You will also need to swap the intake from the 5.2 and install it on the 5.9, so that all of the sensors match up with your '97 wiring harness. I would also take the time to install a double roller timing chain and gear set and install a new water pump, in addition to checking the oil pan gaskets/rear main seal and replace them, if needed. I would re-use the '97 transmission instead of the '01 transmission, as the sensors/solenoids will not play well with the '97 PCM. The 5.9 should have a weighted flexplate and will need to be used with the unbalanced torque converter from the '01 transmission.

 

I think I understand that the 01 PCM will not allow the 97 to run correctly.Thanks for the info I'll end up taking those off before I do the swap. I noticed you said something about the torque converter for the 01. Will the torque converter off the 97 be REQUIRED in order for the swap to work?

My original plan was just to take out both motor and trannies, both still attached to one another, and swap straight across. I see now the PCM will need to be swapped but will the torque converter need to be taken from the bell housing?

 

PCM Will NOT swap. Wiring is radically different. It's not just the engine harness either, its everything in the cab as well. The 01 trans won't work with the 97 PCM. Sensors changed. You can swap the sensors, but, if your current trans still works, just leave it in the truck.