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Marky522
Dodge Dakota
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1/13/2003
23:49:46

Subject: Need help on rebuild!!!
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I recently got a good deal on a 89 dakota with a 3.9 Magnum, 209000 MI (actually rolled over on the ride home) needed brakes cause the old ownner power braked it till the rear cyl blew apart so brakes went to the floor. Problem is its tired, i want to rebuild the engine, i have been working on cars for about 6-7 years but have never rebuilt an engine, i have all the tools i should need, shouldent i be able to it??? I am buying a house tomorrow, i need this to be fairly inexpensive, someone said i would have to hone the cycls would i have to get new pistons or could i run oversize rings? can i get a kit for all the parts i need? and where? any inexpensive mods i can do, suggest away, would like more power. Any info or links would be VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. Also, great board i have a similar board for my 81 porsche 924 and the info is invaluable, been looking for a week to finda good board for the dakota,

Thanks,
Mark



Chip B.
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
00:19:23

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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89 didn't have Magnums. Power braking does'nt cause wheel cylinder failure. Haynes Automotive Repair manuals are easy to understand and probably have one for rebuilding the 3.9....and unless your in need of a project, large engine remanufacturing companies can install and warrantee a motor darn near as cheap as you can do it yourself.



Todd W
GenIII
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1/14/2003
04:22:21

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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But where is the fun in -that-?



Chip B.
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
04:24:25

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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Point well taken.



Marky522
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
10:09:26

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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about the brakes, he told me he was power braking it and the pedal went to the floor, i pulled everything apart and the rear passenger wheel the cycl was blown apart. So i guess that DOES mean that power breaking it will blow up a wheel cycl, concidering that the whole assembly was new 2 months prior. Anyone know aobut the oversize rings or if i do in fact have to get pistons also?

Thanks for the help,
Mark



tbirdkiri
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
11:33:39

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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i wouldn't dare oversizing the rings on an engine with milage like that, infact, with luck like i had, your pistons are probably shot, and the cyls are clean. either way you will want new pistons ,and to take about .20 off. that shouldnt be too expensive. pistons arent outrageous. worse case you could find a set for a 318 on ebay and have 2 spares. crank should bt fine, rods might be. upper end is gonna be a mess either way, and your probably gonna want to find a rebuild kit for that.

i have no other advice on hand, but if more comes to, i will post again.



Deep Purple
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1/14/2003
12:40:01

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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The motor rebuild is not a job for a first timer. I agree with Chip, a good reman short block is the best way to go. But if you do try, have the block cleaned and magnafluxed. Have the machine shop check the cyclinder walls. That many mile, you may have to rebore the block and use oversize pistons. Replace the cam and use a reground crank. Plastigage all rods and mains. Follow all instructions in a good motor book. Good luck.



DakotaDan
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1/14/2003
12:47:11

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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Time for a 360 crate motor....hehehe...





Dan

Next Time You Think You're Perfect
~~~~~Try Walking On Water~~~~~

Marky522
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
17:42:20

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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About the 360, i already thought about it and i f the right deal came along... About this being "not a good job for a beginner" I have been working on cars for 7-8 years constant, doesnt make me a full mechaninc but i am pretty competant, just never done a rebuild, and i want to so i figured this was cheaper than learining on my porsche :) Thanks for the info tbirdkiri
thats not exactly what i wanted to hear but its what i had to hear, the 318 pistons will work??? Are they the same dia. or will stock 318 give me the +.02 i will need after the bore, i was told that locally a guy will bore for $13 a cycl. dont know the details yet though. Thanks for the help off to e-bay!!!!

Mark



Deep Purple
Gen III
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1/14/2003
20:22:00

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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Hope you didn't take offense, just didn't want to see a fellow Dak owner invest in a rebuild job without good advise on some of the hard areas on doing a rebuild the first time. I too have experience at a rebuild. But the reman motors are way above anything I could do own my own. A short block still allows you to make many changes. A crate motor is even better. Good luck on which ever path you take.



covedeog
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
20:25:48

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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i need to know the firing order on a 87 dakota (3.9 engine)



Kracker
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
20:35:08

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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1,6,5,4,3,2



Marky522
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
21:23:33

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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i dont have the avail. cash for a short block (how much do they run???)

Mark



tbirdkiri
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
21:57:09

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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no, dont be confused. 3.9l v6's are just 318s with 2 less pistons. so everything bottom end (except crank) will work on your engine. in alot of cases top end stuff applies as well.

so a 318 piston will work with std bore on a 3.9, and a 318 +.3 will work with a 3.9 with a +.3 overbore. hope that helps



Marky522
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
22:52:09

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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Thank you very much, that makes a lot of sense, so what are the reccomendations for boring ???? .02, .04, .06????????? or any other variation, its going to be a daily driver, but i want to have some fun...

Mark



tbirdkiri
Dodge Dakota
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1/14/2003
23:14:52

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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+.02 is about as far as your gonna want to go, cause the casting on these blocks are thin. dont expect anything amazing from it either, because it wont make much improvment, but its better then sleaves.



Marky522
Dodge Dakota
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1/15/2003
00:18:27

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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is .04 too much? There is a set of them on e-bay right now for >$100????????

Mark,

Thanks for the help...



tbirdkiri
Dodge Dakota
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1/15/2003
02:32:49

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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hahaha no you dont, i saw em first, nice try tho...

j/k

thats a truely iffy call, you would really have to have the machinist look at your block. each block is different, and some have more cyl walls then others (not alot more).



dakruzr
Dodge Dakota
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1/15/2003
03:17:09

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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http://www.enginekitsonline.com/chry_dodge_ply.htm

Hey Try this site it may help.



covedog
Dodge Dakota
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1/15/2003
20:40:20

RE: Need help on rebuild!!!
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thanks for the info kracker, it worked perfectly.



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