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V8 Dakotas
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Gus
Dodge Dakota
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10/07/2003
10:26:08

Subject: RE: 3.9L V6 to 5.2L V8
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This is gonna be a long one...

I just finished the swap. 89 dak se 3.9 to a... well its a 6.1/372 now, but it was a 5.9/360. It was pretty intense - took me about 2-3 months. Got about 6-7 large in it. If U have plenty of time, brass ones, plenty of $$, and a very k00l woman then go for it! Did I mention time? Im broke, tired, have no traction, my old lady is pissed and my tranny (904) is going, but now that I'm actually driving it I can honestly say it was all worth it. Really. She is very fast and very, very fun to drive - just dynoed @ 315hp @ the wheels! Just have to baby it off the line till I get a real rear-end. I actually look foward to driving again.

I got the kit from engine-swaps.com with the oil pan and everything (like $400). It's worth it. Had to cut some metal out of the front (saws-all) to make a decent radiator fit (chevy 2 row alum racing from summit $ 200) your gonna need it. Had to mount an electric cooling fan in the front (no room - $100 summit fan). No room for condenser, think I'll try to extend the hoses and put it in the tail-gate - hehe. I had and 89 with the 998 tranny, so my 904 bolted right up no mods. If u get a good intake your going to play hell getting a compressor on, which u have to have for the belts. I cut the back off one temporarily just for a pulley. The kickdown linkage is a bitch. I got a "shift linkage cable" and made it work with some custom fabbed brackets (no welding or anything fancy). Keep every nut and bolt from both motors and any others u can find, trust me.

I'm happy to anwser ?'s, if I can. Anticipating about 10 g's by the time I'm done, but I know everthing is right because I built it myself, It's a helluvalot cheaper than a new truck, and you just can't buy a vehicle this fast for less than $40,000. 1'st gear get up to about 20mph then punch it, starts peelin big time when the 4 barrel kicks in - shifts and keeps peelin all the way through second gear (don't get sideways) - barks 3'rd pretty hard and I'm gone.

More info and pics on my site: http://www.gusosborne.com/board
look for the "building my dakota" topic.

and now some specs on the motor...

Built by Professional Engine and Dyno Services. Holcombe Ave, Mobile, AL.

Air Filter/Cleaner: K&N assembly from summit
ECU: Mopar Chrome Box (up to 8,000 rpm)
Distributer: Mopar Performance Electronic w/vac
Carb: Holley 670cfm Street Avenger w/1" spacer
Intake: Edelbrock Performer RPM
Heads: 915 casting "J heads" from a 70's mopar 340 (69cc) milled slightly mildly ported & polished
Block: 78 mopar 360 truck motor bored 60 over (now 371cid)
Pistons: SRP (JE) forged 10:1 compression @ 70cc
Valves/springs: Chevy 1.6 intake & 1.9* exhaust
Cam: Comp Extreme Energy 20-224-4 (like 491 lift/?)
Headers: Hooker Super Comp 1-5/8 primary
Tranny: Rebuilt 904a lock-up with 2500rpm stall converter
Radiator: Chevy 2 row aluminum racing (summit 2300cfm electric fan)
Arp bolt kit
Of course guages (tach, oil, water temp) and a big cowl (4").

Sorry about the super-long post.



gus
Dodge Dakota
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10/07/2003
10:39:23

RE: 3.9L V6 to 5.2L V8
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Oh yeah, almost forgot. I found ALMOST all the info I needed, or linx to it, on THIS forum. Lots of good info and smart people here, just have to dig a little. Just wanted to say thanx to everyone for sharing their knoledge. I couldn't have done it without these people.

Keep hackin your trucks
Keep thinking
Keep sharing your knowledge

Thank You,
Gus Osborne



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