3.9 V6 To 360 Engine Swap Questions...

[Lighthorseman]

I have a 360 that was built for a previous car...that was sold before the 360 went in, and I'm considering putting it into my 89 convertible Dakota 4X4. Here are a few things I'm wondering about.

--> Will this engine swap work? I've heard that new motor mounts are needed. I've heard that a whole new K-frame is needed. Can anyone let me know what is actually required to make this work?

--> Can I run the existing 5 speed manual behind the V8? I don't intend to thrash the thing, but will the 5 speed last at least a few summers until I get some sort of more bulletproof transmission? Also, will the 5-speed bolt up to the 360? (It's a late 80's block)

--> Anything else anyone can think of?

All pointers and ideas are super welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[DragKota95]

well first off how good is the motor thats in it. cause if its good you may want to leave it in there. a cov. dak will be worth money someday.

[Sneezer]

The LA blocks generally have a different engine mount. I admit I am not 100% familiar with them, but Schumacher makes a conversion mount kit for them. However - I am fairly certain it is for the 2wd trucks.

I have an 89 4x4 ragtop myself - recently acquired. In the process of getting the magnum 360 running that was swapped into it.

I am not positive, but I think the 5-speed you have is the AX-15. I don't think the NV3500 was put into the GenI, but I could be wrong. If it is, an AX15 will not last too long behind a 360, even an LA block.

If you do swap the engine, you will need an e-fan at minimum. There is no room for a clutch fan in a GenI bay.

I am sure someone with a little more knowledge on the LA blocks will chime in. I am still learning on some of the difference in a GenI vs. my GenII swap I did earlier. Of course that was in a 2wd, and my 89 is a 4x4 too.

[ScatDak]

I can help you out a little bit. I used Schumacher Kit took out all the guess work, granted you can make your own motor mounts but why go through such a hassle when its already been done for you.

Another problem I forsee is that your 360 is externally balanced and the 3.9 is internally balanced. So this makes it hard to swap in the manual tranny because the flywheel is neutrally balanced like a 318 would be.

The tranny and flywheel will should mount up to the 360 with no problem but the crank might not have the provision for a pilot bearing which I have seen from time to time on the 360's

Also what are your plans for making this engine run. Do you plan on going FI or Carburated.

What are your plans for the charging system. I used PowerMaster single wire altenator made for a extremely easy install I also used March Performance Brackets to mount my accessories. I was able to reuse my pulleys from the 3.9 and also PS pump.

If you go the Later here are some things you might want to get

Lokar Throttle Cable and Bracket

Also what is your plan for ignition source.

I used a MSD Distrubutor and 6al Ignition

Also the oil pan your going to need a aftermarket OP and thats where I really see a problem you could take the 3.9 OP and graft the rear sump onto the 360's pan and your also going to need a rear sump pickup tube.

Trust me the swap is really simple but you must have a straightfoward plan before you jump into the swap.

These are just a few things to consider.

[HemiEd]

I can help you out a little bit. I used Schumacher Kit took out all the guess work, granted you can make your own motor mounts but why go through such a hassle when its already been done for you.

Another problem I forsee is that your 360 is externally balanced and the 3.9 is internally balanced. So this makes it hard to swap in the manual tranny because the flywheel is neutrally balanced like a 318 would be.

The tranny and flywheel will should mount up to the 360 with no problem but the crank might not have the provision for a pilot bearing which I have seen from time to time on the 360's

Also what are your plans for making this engine run. Do you plan on going FI or Carburated.

What are your plans for the charging system. I used PowerMaster single wire altenator made for a extremely easy install I also used March Performance Brackets to mount my accessories. I was able to reuse my pulleys from the 3.9 and also PS pump.

If you go the Later here are some things you might want to get

Lokar Throttle Cable and Bracket

Also what is your plan for ignition source.

I used a MSD Distrubutor and 6al Ignition

Also the oil pan your going to need a aftermarket OP and thats where I really see a problem you could take the 3.9 OP and graft the rear sump onto the 360's pan and your also going to need a rear sump pickup tube.

Trust me the swap is really simple but you must have a straightfoward plan before you jump into the swap.

These are just a few things to consider.
I have been investigating the swap of a v8 into my 90 3.9 2wd Dakota for quite sometime.
I have a 340 setting on the engine stand, just for this purpose. However, I would like to retain the stock ignition system, ECU and emissions from the 3.9/5.2 of that year.
I have yet to find anyone that has tried this. I have wondered, would a correct electronic distributor from that year, with the the v8 ecu work?
Schumacher is now selling the oil pans as well, hopefully they will realize they have overpriced the stuff pretty soon.

[ScatDak]

Well if you have a 340 all you need to find is a 89,90 Shelby or a 91 Dakota V8 Oil Pan or you can use the God almighty priced Mildon OP from Schumacher. Now what I would do in your case is hunt down a 88-92 Ram Intake from a 360 since they were TBI equipped. And that should be sufficient enough for your setup hopefully its not a radical build can also use the computer and distrubutor from the same model also.

[ShowFire]

you can make your own oil pans! its relaly simple I just finished a 318 into an 87 with a 3.9. made my own mounts, made my own oil pan, I used the distrubuter from the 318 and wired it into the trucks wiring harness. ( personally i didnt' do most of the wiring a friend of mine did as he is really good with it)

[donram360]

The magnum engines still have both the La style mount and the newer style mount provision on the block. I didnt think they put the AX 15 in a dak yet in 89, the AX 15 is a better trans than the older A 535 that most Gen I's had.
Many of the Jeepers look for these (they came in 2WD and 4WD versions) as the AX 15 is way better than the similar AX5s which was mainly a 4 cy trans;the 4.0 I6 got the AX 15. Ive got a 93 AX 15 that I'm gonna use behind a 318 retrofitted into an older car. If if blow it blows, I'll worry about it then.
On the flywheel, the 89 was a TBI system that did not yet use a crank sensor like the magnums did, any 360 flywheel oughtta work other than the huge one in like 1-tons.

[donram360]

HEY! I have a Magnum oil Pan from a Durango, with a brand new pickup screen! (Pan is a good used) Both the 318 and the 360 Magnum use the same pan, they all reverted to the LA 360 pattern as far as the end seals go, where the 318/340 LA vs. the LA 360 pans differed. Pan is clean, and boxed up with the pickup all I need is a decent offer for it, plus shipping which I'd guess would be ~$10-12 or so and its yours, that part of the problem is solved :D:huh: Let me know? Ive seen them on Ebag go for $50+, what's it worth? I had to get an LA 360 pan to be able to put my Magnum 318 into a car, so the Magnum pan will work on an LA 360. (it came from a "98 or 99, 318.)

[91 dakota!]

I can help you out a little bit. I used Schumacher Kit took out all the guess work, granted you can make your own motor mounts but why go through such a hassle when its already been done for you.

Another problem I forsee is that your 360 is externally balanced and the 3.9 is internally balanced. So this makes it hard to swap in the manual tranny because the flywheel is neutrally balanced like a 318 would be.

The tranny and flywheel will should mount up to the 360 with no problem but the crank might not have the provision for a pilot bearing which I have seen from time to time on the 360's

Also what are your plans for making this engine run. Do you plan on going FI or Carburated.

What are your plans for the charging system. I used PowerMaster single wire altenator made for a extremely easy install I also used March Performance Brackets to mount my accessories. I was able to reuse my pulleys from the 3.9 and also PS pump.

If you go the Later here are some things you might want to get

Lokar Throttle Cable and Bracket

Also what is your plan for ignition source.

I used a MSD Distrubutor and 6al Ignition

Also the oil pan your going to need a aftermarket OP and thats where I really see a problem you could take the 3.9 OP and graft the rear sump onto the 360's pan and your also going to need a rear sump pickup tube.

Trust me the swap is really simple but you must have a straightfoward plan before you jump into the swap.

These are just a few things to consider.

Why not just drill the 360 balance holes in the flywheel. I think the 3.9 and 318 use the same flywheel and the 360 flywheel is just the 318 flywheel drilled. I believe this is what the factory did for 360. This trick works fine on any and all ferrous-metal flywheels (i.e., steel or iron), and the specifications on the drawing are correct for all '71-92 360s as long as it's not out of maybe a ton truck.

The bad news? Expect to pay fairly big bucks for the drill bit. However, you could also do the math and remove the required mass - 19.79 in.-oz. - by using a pattern of smaller diameter holes as the ones pictured.