Modern Hemi swap into a '98 Durango 4x4?

[This name is al]

I've read several of the threads here & have not found a specific example of a modern Hemi swap into a 1998 Durango. Here's my situation:

I have a 1998 5.9L Durango & it's been a great truck. I use it to pull my 20' car hauler and it's moved about every car I own at one point or another. I've swapped late model Chevy motors into several foreign cars, but have never done anything with Mopars.

It's now got 140K miles on it, and the trans is kind of hesitant when you start it up and go into reverse. It also drinks gas like there is no tomorrow. I'm averaging around 12 MPG not pulling the trailer. My 2009 Challenger with the 5.7L Hemi averages over 20 MPG, and I think it weighs the same or more than the Durango- I know it is longer & wider.

Anyhow, I've read through several of the other build threads, and see others are getting great MPG such as 18 in town & mid 20's on the highway. I'm at the point where I'll either trade the Durango for something newer, or put a later model drivetrain into it. I'm not looking to mod the motor and turn 12 second 1/4 miles, stock performance would be fine.

Here are my specific concerns based on what I've read:
1) It requires a custom oil pan. I have no way to construct one of these. While there is a great welder nearby, I'm not sure I'd be able to mock up what I'd need to take to him (he is older & does not travel).
2) Ditto the motor & trans mounts. I think this could probably be handled since I have done similar stuff on other engine swap vehicles I own.
3) My transmission and driveline is not compatible. I would like to convert it to a later model AWD if possible while I'm doing this, so long as I can source parts from junkyards to keep the cost down.
4) The brake booster has to be relocated- I've seen this done on two Dakotas and figure the Durango is the same.

I'm not overly concerned with wiring, I actually kind of enjoy figuring out what goes where based on factory diagrams, and I have the '98 shop manual and can get a diagram for what my donor motor comes from. Again from what I've read a later gauge cluster could be installed to overcome any issues there. I don't want to lose the cruise control though, and if there is any way to add in the MyGig radio while doing this, that would be icing on the cake.

Thanks for any advice or comments.

Here's my truck at work with a friend's trailer:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff22/P_Account0818/1998%20Durango%20RT/IMG_0117.jpg

[DontShoot67]

2 wheel drive? or 4?

[This name is al]

Sorry, I should have put 4WD in the title & the body of the message.

All 1998 Durango models were 4 wheel drive.

[DontShoot67]

All 1998 Durango models were 4 wheel drive.

I didn't know that.

I can build the mounts and pan. You shouldn't need to move the brake master cylinder or booster.

[Bigmike7373]

how much would you charge to fab up the pan and mount for the swap .. i have a 98 durango and was wanting to do the swap... myself ...also would the tranny in my 98 work or should i get a hemi with the tranny ?

[Bigmike7373]

oh... and what year of hemi would be best to use ?

[Primus]

You will have to get the trans as well with the HEMI, seeing as yours is 98 5.2L V8 and the auto trans on those will not work with the HEMI. Years is up to you, since you don't have the trans already.

[Jasoon]

I didn't know that.

I can build the mounts and pan. booster.

:waiting:

Also interested in a set if you are interested in fabbing up mounts and pan!

[Bigmike7373]

ok... will i need the transfer case too?
hmm... so if i can use any year ...i could use all the wiring to and not have to fab one up.?..i plan on using aftermarket gauges ..speedo , tach , oil, temp , fuel, etc...

[Primus]

Yes and no. You can use the existing transfer case as they did not change much from then and later. But, the later versions were electronic shift-on-the-fly, which is mostly for convenience. Then again, my cousin's old late model Ram with the manual shift transfer case caused his transmission to fail because transfer case was not all the way shifted to 2WD.
Since you would be using aftermarket gauges anyway, the year won't matter and if you get any of the 05+ Durango's and 06+ Ram's HEMI and trans, you would have your cake and he it, since these HEMI's came with Chrysler's MDS cylinder deactivation system. With the aftermarket gauges, you will have to wire them up to be able to communicate with the PCM for any of those years.

[Bigmike7373]

Ok.. So it would be best to get the whole truck ... i gues i better start shopping , thanks for the info .

[DontShoot67]

Mounts and pan. I'm happy to do them. Once I have a viable jig for each, making them shouldn't be a problem. How much? well as much as I can of course. What do you guys think would be fair?

[Bigmike7373]

Well you would need our old pan and the hemi pan and charge 120 - 150 to do the work or would you buy the pans there and charge the cost of them plus your labor rate ... same for the mounts... idk ...just a thought ...

[This name is al]

I'm not getting updates to this thread for some reason... thanks for the replies.
I priced the stuff from a 2004 Durango at car-part.com (southeast area search) as follows:
25K motor: $1200 (needs pan ;))
4WD auto trans: $450
NV244 transfer case $225

[viridionplague]

any updates to this. im interested in doing this to my 99 durango