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brad
Dodge Dakota
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7/17/2005
23:49:52

Subject: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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Im going to do an engine swap on my 1997 dodge dakota, 4x4, 5spd transmission, and a 3.9L engine. I want to do a engine swap to a 5.2L. I have been told the 5.2 engine will fit my 3.9 tranny. Will my 3.9 bellhousing fit on the 5.2 or do i need the 5.2 bellhousing.Will the 5.2 engine will fit into my 3.9 engine mounts. And will the 5.2 pcm fit the connections in the cab.And do i need the wiring harness or can i just tap into the fuel injectors and how would i go about doing that. Any other helpfull tips and tricks would be appreciated.



swapman
Dodge Dakota
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7/18/2005
10:40:37

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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trans will bolt jsut fine as well as the engine mounts. that stuff is all the same on the 3.9/5.2 as for the wires....... the 5.2 ecu will plug in all the same. just have to find out where to place the extra 4 wires for the injectors. its easiest to jsut wire two injectors (4 wires) into your existing harness. jsut need to figure out where they go in the connector plug for the ecu. get a shop manual or find someone that has one and look at the wireing diagram to figure htat out. then jsut wire it in and there you go



brad
Dodge Dakota
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7/18/2005
11:43:36

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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will it matter what year 5.2 engine i put in. Im talking the newer 5.2's. What are the year ranges i can work with.



swapman
Dodge Dakota
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7/18/2005
21:07:32

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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any magnum motor will work. 93 and up. the newer the better obviously for wear and tear reasons. so any magnum motor out of a dakota, ram, van, durango



Evan
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2005
00:38:10

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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Hey

Just did this swap last weekend, same year Dakota! This is a fairly easy job, but be prepared to have some friends around. I used a 318 from a 99 Durango. Got the PCM, wiring harness, y-pipe(not necessary), radiator hoses, and v8 flexplate for the swap. We pulled the already disconnected v6 from the truck around 10 in the morning and fired the v8 up around 10:30 that night. I threw on some shorty headers and man it sounds SWEET!!!
Problems...
I used the 99 harness because my 97 harness had a lot of different sensor connections and wiring connections (distributor, a/c, firing sensor, and a few others). Now, if I had to do it over I may have used the v6 harness because now I have to figure out my tranny wiring hookups cuz they are way off. I will get it done this weekend, but I also have to figure out the tranny solenoid A problem I am having, which happened about 5 minutes before I spun the v6. The 318 bolts up fine to the v6 tranny, just change the flexplate as it has 6 versus 8 windows for the firing sensor to read.
My experience was great and I had a lot of fun swapping the motors. I learned a heck of a lot too. But I still have some minor details to be done so I can drive it.

Mine is a 97 4x4 automatic with a 3.9 previously, now a 318.

Advice, find an engine that is a 97 with low miles. Also, good luck doing that! I went for the 99 since it was newer, but also it had 100K miles. For my budget, that was all I could afford. The wiring will not be such an issue if it is the same year. Plus you should be able to use the v6 harness if it is the same year as the connections should all be the same on the engine, apart from the addition of the injector wires and pins.

Good Luck!



Evan
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2005
00:39:32

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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Also, we did this with no air tools... a compressor would speed up the process a ton!!!



brad
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2005
23:22:32

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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will i need the v8 flywheel or can i use my v6 flywheel.



brad
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7/21/2005
21:15:08

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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will any computer out of a 1997-1999 dakota with a 318 work or do I need one for a 5spd 4x4.



gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2005
21:24:59

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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318 flywheel for MPI to function. Best to use the 5spd PCM.



brad
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7/21/2005
21:36:58

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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will a computer out of a 1996 dakota with a 318 for a 5spd work.



Super-bee
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2005
23:05:47

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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i FINALY got the 95 dakota in the shed to start pulling the v-8 out of it
then i have to pull all the wiring crap and then gut my 1990 v-6 and swap everything in
if this takes me less than a month ill be impressed



rick
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8/08/2010
14:06:17

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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will the 318 out an older truck that does not have a computer fit in a 1991 dodge dakota



dillon
Dodge Dakota
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11/15/2010
01:12:12

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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i have a 99 dakota 3.9 standerd tranny 4x4. i was told to put 318 in it only bolts up if its auto. is it true or will 318 bolt up to my 3.9 tranny?



wild90 d
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1/10/2011
00:12:55

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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I have a 90 Dakota 4x4 with a 5sd and And 3.9
And I have a 91 2wd with a 318 I won't to put the 318 in my 4x4 will the flywheel and clutch fit my 318????



wild90
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1/10/2011
01:05:25

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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I have a 90 dakota 4x4 with a 3.9 and a
91 2wd I won't to put the 318 in my 90 will
The flywheel and clutch off the 3.9 fit the 318. Tks for ur help bobby my email is bobbysbad67@yahoo.com



kyle
Dodge Dakota
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4/04/2012
19:57:08

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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I just finished w/my swap 3.9 to 5.2 and I used same
flywheel and pcm runs but not good do I need to change
both components to have it run good?



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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4/05/2012
12:22:39

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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Yes kyle, you need to use a V8 flywheel and PCM to get it to run correctly. Think about it, the PCM gets its signal from the flywheel and CPS. It's now trying to fire 8 cylinders when it is only getting a signal for 6 cylinders. The poor thing is confused. But not as confused as the previous poster.



John Smith
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10/29/2012
02:02:07

RE: 3.9 to 5.2 engine swap questions
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I have a 99 3.9 sport 4x4 automatic. I know everything that I need to do the swap. I'm just confused about the computer situation. Do I just need the PCM from the same model year truck and harness to make it run as it should with out doing anything to it such as reflashing? Or do I have to get the PCM and have it flashed and all that junk? I've seen a bunch of mixed stuff about having to get the PCM reflashed and all kinds of things like that. I'd love to have a simple list of what's needed to swap a 3.9 to a 5.2. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks



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