Well i used to be on here for a 1996 Dodge Dakota

But unfortunately i totaled it in January

bent the frame and cab when i struck the lamp post.
I was glad nothing happend to be or anybody else but was heartbroken to say the least.
Since then ive been wanting another Dakota or a 1st gen Durango with a magnum engine.
I found and a bought a 98(the exact year ive been wanting) with a blown 5.2, the piston went trough the block, for 400.

Before i bought it i thought to myself, "you wanted a car that needed work and was cheap, well here you go!"
Now, my first question is do you guys think my 96' Dakotas V6 will sit and hook up to this 98 Durango? Motor mounts are different, fuel pump might have to be changed. What about the tranny is there any major bolt pattern difference between the 42re (in my dakota) and 44re in the Durango? Thanks ! Hopefully i can be driving this cutie soon! Also its 4wd which is new to me.

 

You won't like the performance of the six in the Durango..... But, The engine should bolt right in, and hook right up. You will have a couple extra injector connectors, (and temp sensor as well.) and you will need to reflash the PCM for the six. You *might* need to move the engine mounts, but, I am not 100% sure on that.....

I think you would be happier dropping another 5.2 in there, or, taking this opportunity to upgrade, and drop in a 5.9. Granted, you already have the six.......

Welcome to DF!

 

Hmm this gives me hope, hah. The 5.2 looks to have a beacket that holds the mounts so hopefully that hooks up to my V6. I was actually thinking of using the same wiring and pcm thats in the dakota, i thought that would be easier
Iwould say i was ok with the v6 in the dakota, weighing 4700 pounds and my Durango weighs 4500. At the moment i wont be doing much but daily driving or hauling metal in the back area so performance isnt much of a problem right now.

 

You won't be able to use the Dakota wiring, (the one with the six.) Between 97-98 a LOT changed in the way things worked, and the older wiring harness/computer simply isn't compatible with the newer interior electronics.

 

Hmmm that sucks , atleast im forced to do less work now. , how about using the same v6 computer?. Theres a couple of extra wires in two of the connectors, but they all click into "their respective" slots. Im currently looking at the wiring diagrams to see whats different and what those extra wires go to. Correct me if im wrong but I feel like it would be more difficult to program the v8 pcm to correspond with the v6 electronis than finding a way of using my old pcm.

 

Nope. You can simply leave the extraneous connectors hangin', and flash the PCM, and be done. The 96 PCM won't talk to the instrument cluster, so, NONE of your gauges will work. (yes, even the friggin GAS gauge goes thru the PCM.......) Takes about half an hour to have the dealer flash the PCM for you. (of course, they want money for that as well......) I don't think it is even possible to make the 96 PCM talk to your dash instruments. Unless you want to swap in the Dakota dash as well.......

It's going to be a LOT easier, and probably cheaper, in the long run, to just use what's there, and get the existing PCM programmed for the different motor. Easier still would be sourcing another 5.2..... that would be a simple direct swap. Pick up a decent used motor, slam it in there, and you are done.

 

Thats disappointing. I hate to go back on a plan. Might even swap that dash in there hahaha(even if it was a joke i do like that idea) . But ill more than likely give up on using my trucks engine and ill just look for a 5.2 or 5.9. Wow thanks for your help, this would have taken a couple of hours of diagram searching to figure out! I will update with my decision soon. I want this truck ready by next month, which i doubt will happen hah!

 

What are your thoughts on me getting wiring from a 98 v6 durango?

 

I'm not sure how that would go since as far as I can remember, I have NEVER come across a V6 1st generation Durango. I can't imagine a Dakota harness of the same generation would be much different.

 

But that's just it. You don't NEED to change the wiring, just the programming in the PCM.