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Corey Lodl
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2003
11:40:54

Subject: 3.9L Buildup
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i have an 89 dakota 4wd w/ a 3.9L v6. i was just curious if it is at all possible to build up one of these motors for the most horsepower and torque possible. what kind of performance parts can you get for these motors if any? if so where can i find them at? i really dont want to swap to a v8 bcuz i think you can make the v6 just as quick in my opinion, mind you i dont have an unlimited budget, any insight would b great, thanx corey



Kracker
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2003
13:30:13

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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Well... It's a good thing you want to build up a 3.9, cuz thats the only thing that will fit in your dak... The GEN 1 Dakota 4WD'S cannot fit a V8, somethin about the transfer case? That's what I've heard, anyway... I imagine there are some performance parts for our V6's... but nothing to extreme... Sorry I cant be of more help...

---Kracker



88 SC DAK
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2003
19:28:52

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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Could try a 318 TB, you'll have to open up the intake where you bolt the TB to so the throttle blades will open. If money is a concern I'd go with a 92 up exhaust manifolds and pipes. If your going thru the whole motor +30 on the bore and Mopar Performance still has cams available for the early motors. Also a good head porting, or maybe magnum heads, can't hurt.



NoviceWrench
Dodge Dakota
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4/05/2003
02:49:51

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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Hey I like that idea for the 3.9 buildup. How much time, money and expertise would you say is needed for that kind of work?



87DakBuilder
Dodge Dakota
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4/05/2003
10:21:50

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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Hey just wanted to let you know that a build up of the magntude you are thinking isn't as easy as it sounds. First off, the Magnum Engines and Premagnum engines work completely different. while the engine block is basically the same, all of the internals are different. To start off with the Magnum heads bolt pattern is different than the premagnums, and the heads also oil through the prush rods on the Magnum motors, where as the premagnums don't. Boring is boring so that isn't going to be a problem. If you are serious about building up the 3.9l Premagnum engine, there is a book that I purchased from Wyncododge, or something like that. I don't remember the site, but the part number to the book is as follows; PN: P4876827, this book is dedicated to v6 engine build ups, and it covers the Premagnum v6. If you want a Magnum (wich is what I decided to do after I found out how hard it is to get parts for the Premagnum) the book that you can order is PN: P4876668. This book is a book on Magnum build ups, I have both books and I recomend them to a navice or a professional engine builder. Both are very imformative. Hope I was of some help. As with anything machanical, performance cost money, all I can say to you about that is plan your mods wisely. Nothing for mopars are cheap.


87DakBuilder
Mods: Shaved tailgatehandles, Billet Grille and mirror, Gibson Performance exhaust. Sitting in the Closet awaiting Build up, 92 Magnum v6, Pcm Flash, v8 TBI Unit. (Plans are to stroke the 92, S/C it and through a lil Juice in the equation just for fun)



88 SC DAK
Dodge Dakota
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4/06/2003
08:24:24

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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while the engine block is basically the same, all of the internals are different.

What's the difference? Will the crank or cam fit. Is the crank totally differnt? Is it twisted a few more degrees than the early motors? Will the rods fit? Are they longer shorter? Are the ends different? I know the pistons are different. I'm looking for info on whats going to work. I'm not worried about the intake or any type of fuel injection as I'm going with a carb.

Whats the difference on the head bolt pattern on the magnum? I've seen plenty of early motors with magnum heads on them. Please don't tell me the bolts for the intake go in different and they can't be changed.



vern
Dodge Dakota
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4/06/2003
12:07:20

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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the 92 3.9 heads bolt on a 88 3.9 block and work i,ve done it and installed the 88 block in the 92 4x4 dak,5spd.

and for putting a v-8 in a 88-89 4x4 dak it should work fine dodge put 318s in the 91 4x4 daks with the same trans and transfers,same trucks except for front fenders and grill and bumper and hood.

the transfers in a 87 daks are a 207,while the 88-96 trasnsfers are a 231 which are basically the same except the 231s are internally strong
[i know no-one asked about transfers,i was just using this to show that daks are basically the same from 87-96, v6s and v8s,cabs and frames,the big differents is motor mounts,which can be fixed]

if your still not sure cross referance the part numbers [rods,main bearings,crank etc most part stores will do this for you]

more power to ya. good luck.



Kracker
Dodge Dakota
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4/06/2003
14:55:27

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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He might be right, When I said that, I was just saying what I've heard, because I don't actually know personally.

---Kracker



SuperBee
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2003
16:29:54

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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a engine swap to v-8 does not sound that difficult if you have a book on where everything (wires) goes, if you can get the trranny, wiring, computers, and everything to go wwith a v08 magnum (id look for a 92+ from a dakota or a 92-98 (i think 96) (ram all the components used in the ram are the same as dak)it shouls go in fairly easy
i think i could do it, maybe get some help here and there if i really needed it from a ro mechanic



Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2003
17:08:11

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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There is something about the steering system in the 4x4s that cause clearence problems. The steering box is on a wierd place on the cross emeber or something. Headers are hard to get on them so Im sure a 318 with more pipes on the manifolds might be the problem.
Joe E.



LOGIC71B
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2003
20:13:30

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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So on the note of the heads matching up, will the exhaust manifolds also cross between mag and pre-mag?
I have been wondering about this, just never took the time to ask.

Logic71b



88 SC DAK
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2003
20:24:14

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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The manifolds will bolt to the engine but the Y pipe on the magnum is different. If you go with the manifolds or headers of the magnum you'll have to get the whole exhaust. I got the manifolds from a 92 van and went to the dealer for the Y pipe (the van goes down the wrong side of the truck) Summit for a 3 inch cat and Dynomax for a cat back system. On my Y pipe the was an indent that we took out, only thing we can figure is thats it's for the torture bars on the 4x4. The exhaust didn't do squat on the bottom end but my gas mileage went up and my engine reved higher. The swap was not any harder than doing a regular exhaust I used all the stock mounts. Also I put a cut out right after the cat so I had to shorten the pipes a little, but it's no big deal.



Spencer
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2003
13:40:07

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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FYI--the dakota was changed in 91, thats why they started putting the V8s in it, but in 2wd 87s, i know a big V8 fits in there, because i had one that i put a 1964 Poly-headed 318 in it, which is just as wide, if not wider than a big block, and it fit without hitting anything, and motor mounts are easy



Eugene PETERS
Dodge Dakota
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5/30/2010
15:07:52

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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I HAVE 88DAKOTA 3.9AND WAS WONDERING WHAT CHANGES I HAVE TO MAKE BESIDES INTAKE AND FUEL PUMP TO INSTALL IN 87 DAKOTA THAT HAD 3.9



WV89sport
Dodge Dakota
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6/27/2010
20:05:57

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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I have an 89 dakota sport with the original roll
bar and off road lights -love my truck- but the
3.9 v6 never had enough power. Today I bought an
v8 engine and tranny from a 95, it looks like all
the plugins from the 89 wiring harness will plug
in to the v8. Will the v6 computer run the v8 or
do I need to use the computer I got with the v8?
The v6 computer also has an extra plugin that the
v8 SMEC does not have, so what would I do with
that plugin? Should I use the automatic tranny
from the v8 or the one that sat behind the v6? I
plan to take the fan off the front of the v8 and
put an electric fan in. Thanks for any advice.



yogi
Dodge Dakota
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7/01/2010
14:34:16

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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someone said you have to open up the intake for the 318 tb but you dont they work great noticable power just reset the comp so it can learn the new up grade



chrytek
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2010
12:55:02

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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stop right now! and buy a v8 to put into it dont waste your time/money especially on a pre-mag engine just start over and keep the box body dokota but with a real motor, or if you wanna dump some cash/time for nothing get the "magnum" heads from later 3.9 thats the main change probably get you like 40 hp, or chop the exhaust, advance timing very slightly, flip the air cleaner lid?, pre mag 3.9s are dogs, have just enough torque with no hp to run em, they just go forever and have enough torque to power brake all day and be fun but will never be a hotrod, get a 360 stroke/bore it to 408 or something really though its not worth i have 1990 ext cab 3.9 2wd 160,000 miles just beat it to death then rebuild it the way they should have been



dakota49
Gen I
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7/03/2010
15:31:22

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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I have an 88 Dakota 4X4 with the 3.9 V6. When I bought it, the engine smoked really bad. I pulled it out tore it down, and found the compression rings on 2 of the pistons were broken. I did a complete rebuild, bore, new cam, lifters, ect. I ported the heads myself, plus I opened up the exh. manifolds. Had the block decked, and the heads milled, wound up with a compression of 180 pounds. I can get 17-20 miles per gallon on highway, and 16-18 around town. Its not a real strong pulling engine, but it is some what stronger than most. If you look you can find a bigger cam. (I used a stock replacement) I also changed my exh. from 2 1/4 to 2 1/2, I'm using a Thrush Turbo styl muffler, 2.5/2.5 in out. I like the way it sounds, and you can also play with the timing.
I have mine set up to use 89 octane. Again I like the way mine runs. Wasn't cheap, but I have over 20,000 miles on it, and it stills runs great.
Good luck
Dakota49
1988 4X4 3.9

dakota49

oystermanjame
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2011
21:58:26

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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i had 1994 dakota stock had tons of torque ,turn like crazy smoked rams with 360 magnums got 20 mpglik a fool i sold it later bought 96 same truck hed power not like 94 some one told me the injecters changed to 360 , fuel pressure increased, it run 14.5 with street tiresalso had ram eshalst manafolds withe single 3inch pipes with flowmasters. wish i had it now



LORDOFDABONGS
Dodge Dakota
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2/17/2012
00:07:36

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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THE ONLY F*CKING WAY TO GET ANY NOTICEABLE HORSEPOWER FROM YOUR SH!TTY BOAT ANCHOR UV A ENGINE IS TO DROP THAT STEAMING PILE OF SH!T DAKOTA OUTTA A F*UCKING 747 AT 60000 FEET. FACE IT YOUR TRUCK AIN'T GUNNA EVER BE FAST NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO IT BUY A F*CKING V8 TRUCK YA BUNCH OF BONGHEADS



eggnoodlehead
Dodge Dakota
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2/17/2012
22:24:35

RE: 3.9L Buildup
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"i have an 89 dakota 4wd w/ a 3.9L v6 i really dont want to swap to a v8 bcuz i think you can make the v6 just as quick in my opinion"

are you f*cking serious??? you drive a sh!tbox like that??? and you think you can make it as fast as a v8??? what the f*ck are you smoking?? put down the meth pipe and do yourself a favor and drop that steaming pile of horsesh!t into a volcano and get a silverado at least you can put a spindle lift on those and run 35's some of you idiots heads are so f*cking dumb



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