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Don | profile | all galleries >> My Rides >> My 89 Dakota Convertible 4x4 >> Engine/Trans Swap tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Engine/Trans Swap

This most recent project is DONE! Started June 3rd, it took me three RAINY weeks, finishing June 23rd. That's incredible if you consider I had NO garage to work in... and didn't even have pavement! Did I mention the rain? And no shelter? My donor truck was a 1994 Dakota Club Cab 5.2L 5spd 4x4.
Before: 3.9L V6 TBI, Automatic (3spd w/OD), 4x4, rated 125HP
After: 5.2L Magnum V8 EFI, Manual 5spd, 4x4, rated 220HP
(Other consequential new features: A/C, tilt steering, dual electric fans 3000CFM each, 22gal fuel tank)
Making use of the donor
Making use of the donor		 Old tired 3.9
Old tired 3.9		 Time to remove
Time to remove		 A little help
A little help
Lift
Lift		 ...and pull!
...and pull!		 Clear
Clear		 Free at last
Free at last
Removal
Removal		 Transmission's next
Transmission's next		 The hearse
The hearse		 Drag it out
Drag it out
Pile-o-drivetrain
Pile-o-drivetrain		 Hi
Hi		 Empty
Empty		 Stripped
Stripped
Smile
Smile		 Donor engine
Donor engine		 Ready to pull?
Ready to pull?		 Transfer time
Transfer time
Pavement set up
"Pavement" set up		 Lift
Lift		 And pull
And pull		 Makeshift pavement
Makeshift "pavement"
Hard-to-find flywheel
Hard-to-find flywheel		 New clutch/plate
New clutch/plate		 Pose for the camera
Pose for the camera		 Ready to drop in
Ready to drop in
It's going to be tight
It's going to be tight		 Nothing to it
Nothing to it		 Now the hard part
Now the hard part		 A trans jack would be nice
A trans jack would be nice
New powerplant
New powerplant		 Nice fit
Nice fit		 Donor example
Donor example		 Mark carpet
Mark carpet
Mark once.. mark twice..
Mark once.. mark twice..		 Cut-off wheel prep
Cut-off wheel prep		 Cut!
Cut!		 Whaddya know... it fits
Whaddya know... it fits
Donor pedals
Donor pedals		 Dakvert pedals
Dakvert pedals		 Comparison
Comparison		 Installed!
Installed!
Installed!
Installed!		 Tastey
Tastey		 Gutted!
Gutted!		 This one's got A/C
This one's got A/C
Gutted donor
Gutted donor		 Ugh, wiring nest!
Ugh, wiring nest!		 Tanks
Tanks		 How to remove rusted bolts
How to remove rusted bolts
New fans
New fans		 Tight fit!
Tight fit!		 All together
All together		 DONE
DONE
DONE
DONE		 DONE
DONE

comment | share
Waldo 23-Jul-2006 02:08
Fantastic job! It looks great. I'll send my truck over to you to do the same asap. Thanks for the pics and information.
Guest 27-Jun-2006 15:05
Hey Don : Congrats on a great job, enjoy it!
Jim Knox, Toronto Canada. 91 Dak
Dan 27-Jun-2006 12:38
Holy crap!
THAT was a lot of work...i cant even amagine doing it in the dirt much less no shelter! But dam dude you ended up with one sweet truck that looks totaly factory! Good job.
dan,
muddog 25-Jun-2006 20:25
nice job
youmamaisproud 15-Jun-2006 22:04
Goddamn that is a lot of hard work. Good job.
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