'93 Dakota, what happens next?

[Pyro6]

Just another thing to liven up the winter doldrums. My son's beloved truck.

[daveismissing]

Interference engine?
That wasn't the "tuff truck" was it?

[Pyro6]

Not the Tuff Truck, but unfortunately it is an interference engine though.

[Pyro6]

This thing got out of hand in a hurry. Got the report on the heads today: cracked, ruined, junk. I figure if I'm gonna do it, do it right. Anybody ever done a 5.2 conversion?

[earlbrown]

You can find a shop that can do a lock-n-stitch repair...

....or check www.car-part.com for some cheap used heads

[Pyro6]

Thanks Earl, but at 160,000 I'm afraid the lower end isn't much better. We tow a 3 ride 4 wheeler trailer with it and we could use a little more HP.  I found a used 5.2 with 63K and really think is better off in the long run. The rest of the truck is solid and clean, no rust. I believe it is an easy conversion, wondering about the wiring harness and PCM. Everything else should be fairly clean. 3.9 - 5.2 - 5.9 are all about the same thing. One of my friends has a factory 5.2 Dakota, 2nd owner, with 220,000 miles and still runs strong.

[Pyro6]

I see this doesn't appear to be a project that spurs a bunch of interest, but the 5.2 came in today and they really fixed us up. Engine with exhaust manifolds, front accessory brackets and fan, PCM including wiring harness: 650 bucks delivered, 63K on the odometer. Thomas is pumped cause it's always something he wanted to do. Hope to have it done in a couple of weeks.

[SuperSix]

Wow that's cheap!  Will it bolt up to the existing motor mounts? Trans/etc?

[Pyro6]

Bolts to the trans ok, motor mounts are different especially since it's from a 2wd. Without the donor PCM and harness it could be a nightmare.

[daveismissing]

I see this doesn't appear to be a project that spurs a bunch of interest, but the 5.2 came in today and they really fixed us up. Engine with exhaust manifolds, front accessory brackets and fan, PCM including wiring harness: 650 bucks delivered, 63K on the odometer. Thomas is pumped cause it's always something he wanted to do. Hope to have it done in a couple of weeks.

Please continue posting Gary, I'm mopar ignorant but interested to learn 

[Pyro6]

A little history on what this truck (and me) have been through. Thomas bought it as his first DD, good price, bad trans. We had the trans rebuilt with a new convertor. After school one winter when it was snowing he decides to check out the river as a side route on his way to the shop. He loses control of the truck, but thankfully there was tree there to stop him. I was gonna junk it than. I told him if he wants it fixed, he has to do it himself. We double dipped and made it his senior project for school. Ever since it's been worry free. Heres some pics including the recent bent valves.

[Pyro6]

Got back to the project the last couple eves. Found out the donor engine was from a D150 2WD which has created some extra headaches. Mounts are the same, trans bolts o.k., front accessories are o.k., exhaust bolts right up (surprise?). Setbacks include: donor wiring harness/PCM not usable and oil pan's different. In search of..........

[SuperSix]

Whoa- the PCM issue hurts.

[daveismissing]

Does the PCM control trans or transfer case?

[SuperSix]

MEGASQUIRT!!!