Reg Evans Posted March 7, 2012 Report Posted March 7, 2012 I'm contemplating replacing my 97 Dakota with it's 318 engine with a newer (2005) bigger truck with a 350 Hemi and wondered what the talk is on the streets and garages regarding the engine? http://www.carmax.com/enus/view-car/default.html?id=8187758&M=Dakota%20SD&D=70&ASTc=Dakota%20&zip=95945&pD=0&pI=0&pT=400&pC=200&pB=0&No=0&Ep=fas:results:state:promo&Rp=F&Vp=R&PP=20&sV=List&CD=14+966+240+190+398+15&Q=4ed8c4d2-269e-4e39-9a12-dc6da6d2e68b Quote
52b3b Joe Posted March 7, 2012 Report Posted March 7, 2012 Well from what I understand, they are a good engine. I have a 97 Dakota with the 318 with a five speed. I've looked in to doing the swap about a year ago to the new 5.7 hemi but it looks WAY too complicated to figure it out. Physically getting the engine in doesn't scare me or doing any fabricating, but electronically with the computers and trying the get the gauge cluster to work is a disaster. From what I understand, its easier if you have a 2000+ dakota with the 4.7l. I'm not saying its impossible, but trying to figure out how to get the dakota gauges all to work with the hemi's computer in't going to be easy. I've decided to try and find a dakota R/T 5.9L to put in for a little more power, those are a direct "bolt on" swap. Are you looking for a little more power? My truck has almost 200,000 miles on it and is getting tired, and its burning a quart of oil every 750 miles, and the oil pressure has slowly been going down over the past 3 years. All thats ever been done to it is routine maintenance, so its done pretty good. Quote
Reg Evans Posted March 7, 2012 Author Report Posted March 7, 2012 Well from what I understand, they are a good engine. I have a 97 Dakota with the 318 with a five speed. Are you looking for a little more power? . I also have a 97 Dakota with the 318 and an automatic. I think it's rated at maybe 230HP and this newer truck with the 350 Hemi is rated at 345HP. I want it for taking my boat and the relatives to the lake. We usually have to take 2 vehicles because the Dakota only has tiny back seats and the relatives aren't tiny. Quote
B1B Keven Posted March 7, 2012 Report Posted March 7, 2012 I also have a 97 Dakota with the 318 and an automatic. I think it's rated at maybe 230HP and this newer truck with the 350 Hemi is rated at 345HP.I want it for taking my boat and the relatives to the lake. We usually have to take 2 vehicles because the Dakota only has tiny back seats and the relatives aren't tiny. Reg, I'll make ya a good deal on my 2004 5.7 Hemi Quad Cab SLT 2wd. Only 75k miles. I bought it new at Folsom Lake Dodge. Quote
52b3b Joe Posted March 8, 2012 Report Posted March 8, 2012 I also have a 97 Dakota with the 318 and an automatic. I think it's rated at maybe 230HP and this newer truck with the 350 Hemi is rated at 345HP.I want it for taking my boat and the relatives to the lake. We usually have to take 2 vehicles because the Dakota only has tiny back seats and the relatives aren't tiny. I miss understood what you were saying . I thought you were talking about an engine swap not an entire truck swap! Sorry about that! Quote
B1B Keven Posted March 8, 2012 Report Posted March 8, 2012 Great engines. Lot's of power and good bottom end torque. Good fuel mileage. Tow/haul mode is a nice feature. Disc brakes all the way around. Nice back seat. Nice ride. We pulled a 26' ultra lite 5th wheel up the west coast and then back to North Carolina. No issues. My truck gets 20mpg at 65, 25mpg at 55. It got 10mpg pulling the 5th wheel. Quote
48Dodger Posted March 8, 2012 Report Posted March 8, 2012 2006 introduced the econo Hemi...drops to 4 cylinders when crusing demands are low. 06 also saw the spark plug wires disappear. 48D Quote
Reg Evans Posted March 8, 2012 Author Report Posted March 8, 2012 Reg, I'll make ya a good deal on my 2004 5.7 Hemi Quad Cab SLT 2wd. Only 75k miles. I bought it new at Folsom Lake Dodge. Oh, thanks for the offer Keven but I need a 4x4 around these parts. We get 6" or more of snow a couple of times a year here and have a very steep section of driveway. I made the leap last night and came home with an 05 4x4 Quad Cab SLT for a couple K less than bluebook. Yahoo !!! Quote
B1B Keven Posted March 8, 2012 Report Posted March 8, 2012 Oh, thanks for the offer Keven but I need a 4x4 around these parts. We get 6" or more of snow a couple of times a year here and have a very steep section of driveway. I made the leap last night and came home with an 05 4x4 Quad Cab SLT for a couple K less than bluebook. Yahoo !!! Congrats!!! Keep an eye on the brake rotors. They have a tendency to warp. 5.7 Hemi? I was surprised at the power my '03 4.7 had. Quote
Reg Evans Posted March 8, 2012 Author Report Posted March 8, 2012 Will watch those rotors. Yup....a 5.7 Hemi ! I figured I gotta have at least one before I die. Quote
Dave72dt Posted March 8, 2012 Report Posted March 8, 2012 When it comes time to replace them, see if the parts store has HD or tow rotors.They're available for some trucks, drilled and slotted for extreme use and are much better suited to towing than the stock rotors. Quote
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