got a 89 dakota

[1966 dart wagon]

well i just picked up a 89 dakota 3.9 auto, for 200 bucks i needed a winter truck and well it came along at just the right time.

first off what transmission does this truck have. and how hard is it to swap in a 360 with a 904, cause i got a couple 904's and a extra 360 that needs a rebuild, i might just buy a 318 to swap in(runs and drives for cheap). Im already a member on dodgetalk.com but there isnt alot of info on the old style 1gen dakotas. also on what headers/manifolds to use(i assume stock ones will be hard to find). i wanna v8 as cheaply as possible cause i have a friend with a 400sb s10 i gotta woop on can anyone point me in the right direction?

how about a solid front axle swap? anyone do this?

[moparzrule]

Should have a 42RE trans, basically a overdrive version of the 904. The 3.9 is basically a 318 with 2 cylinders chopped off, so any small block chrysler will bolt right up to that trans. It might not take the power though, 904 you wouldn't have overdrive but it would be a lot stronger and should bolt right in *I think*.
A stock 318 in a dakota isn't gonna woop up on a 400sb S10, sorry!

[1966 dart wagon]

well its possible.....all he does is spin through all 3 gears, and can only go maybe 60. and dont worry the sb weither its 318 or 360 it will have mods

also if im driving down the road and let on and off the throttle it has a sharp tink noise. im assuming u joints are bad? what do you guys think?

[moparzrule]

Yes, U joints. I had to replace mine on my 90' dakota as well for the same reason. They were completely dry and the cap was even broken on one of them.

[1966 dart wagon]

Yes, U joints. I had to replace mine on my 90' dakota as well for the same reason. They were completely dry and the cap was even broken on one of them.

sweet thanks

[1966 dart wagon]

that takes atf 3 right. NO DEXTRON?

so quakerstate atf3 would work fine

[Birddog]

ATF +3 or +4. Preferably +4. Don't ever use Dex in a late model Mopar trans...
If you go 5.9 find a A518 or 46RH cause the 42re-rh/A500 will not live long.

[1966 dart wagon]

well i put the new u joints in and still got a clunk when i put it into gear

[moparzrule]

Whoa whoa you said ''sharp tink'' noise, thats far different than a ''clunk''! Thats the slop in your differential, sounds like someone didn't change the gear oil regularly. Atleast check the fluid level, mine was bone dry practically I put 2 quarts in it and it doesn't even hold 3! My axle seals leak and I haven't gotten around to fixing it yet.

[1966 dart wagon]

well when i went to put the new u joints back in i inspected the play in the rear end and my friends said it was about normal, and i they deal alot with trucks/drivetrain. i'll check the fluid though

[ScottD]

I love 1st gen Dakotas!

Here are some sites that offer some info on the conversion, you'll have to sift through them, I've never found one site that will walk you through the conversion. Probably the easiest way to go is to get Shumacher kit if you're using a pre-magnum block. I've heard that if you use a magnum block it is more along the lines of a bolt in deal. Of course in either case you'll want to make sure the front springs are up for the conversion.

http://www.bionicdodge.com/forum/
http://forums.delphiforums.com/dakotart/start
http://www.dakotatrucks.com/
http://www.dakotausa.com
http://dakota-durango.com/forum/
http://devilbrad.com/index.php
http://www.dodgedakotas.com/
http://www.dodgeforum.com/
http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/
http://www.dodgetalk.com/
http://www.dodgetrucks.org/
http://www.moparchat.com/forums/
http://www.dakota-truck.net/

[88_pacifica]

well i put the new u joints in and still got a clunk when i put it into gear

Sounds like motor and trans mounts to me? Does it "rock" real bad from going from drive to reverse?lift hood and watch through crack between hood and dash...

[Vigo]

i love dakotas too. my parents have a 96 thats not getting much use that im scheming a 360 swap for..

of course ours already has an electric fan conversion, and i just rebuilt the trans.. all ill need for the swap is a 360 longblock plus fuel rails, pcm, and a few extra inches/ circuits on the stock harness.. sweet

[1966 dart wagon]

what rear end dakota gear oil does that take 80w90?

[1966 dart wagon]

forgot to add, ya it does make a loud noise and its the worst drive to reverse/reverse to drive.

you guys thinking mounts? i might just check the rear end just for the heck of it.

which mounts would it more then likely be? I can get some of the mounts through work.

front motor mount (left) $46
trans uppper l&r $4
-lower l and r $4

all though westar industries

on top of it all, im at work first off, and i have uti grad telling me its within specs for a 350 to burn at least one qt of oil between changes....thoughts, he claims chrysler probably has something similar

[moparzrule]

80W90 will work just fine. Make sure you don't have a limited slip and you'll be fine with straight gear oil.
Still sounds like slop in the gears to me. Most of the time it's the spider gears with a little slop in the ring gear too for added affect LOL.

[2.5L_Turbo_Sundance]

my girls got a 88 with the 3.9, and i love that truck!!!
hers got the 904 on it.

i gotta admit, that little 3.9 got some power, to me anyways.

it surprised me, when i drove it, compared to my 90 RAM 318.


i have a 318 with a burnt tranny in a 94 dakota in the back yard if your interested, but your kinda far. its stock to my knowledge, and complete from what i can remember. the tranny is an overdrive tranny, and im thinking its like the 727, but im not sure.


good luck with the project, and one of my favorite places on the web is www.dodgetruckworld.com

they have helped me on my ram and my girls dakota.

Alex

[Scottmon]

Yup, love mine STILL

I custom ordered my '94 Dak Sport CC new. 5.2, 5 speed, trailer towing package, A/C, PS, PB, cruise. Black with gray cloth interior.

Mods are full 3" mandrel bent exhaust, no cat, ATR stainless Y-pipe, MP MPI intake, MP PCM, intake converted to "ram air" by removing the plate over the air inlet in the grille w/K&N in the air cleaner, Magnacore plug wires and home modded TB.

Seat-o-the-pants meter suggests mid/low 14's with traction and gets 19 MPG mixed if I drive it easy.

So far I've put 235K on the clock and it keeps on ticking, although it's getting kind of rough looking now and I haven't driven it much lately. Can't bring myself to get rid of it, so I guess it's time to put some TLC back in it.