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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I have a 2004 crashed dodge dakota quad cab and a 2001 with a knocking engine and a head gasket leak. I am going to attempt to switch out the 2004 engine into the 2001. Both are Quad cabs and both engines are a 4.7. The Engines look a bit different from the top. Example, the a/c compressor hoses look different. I haven't looked at them closely but I am sure there are more differences. I have been busy swapping out the interior and electric components so that everything works. I have finished the interior and have done all that I can do to the exterior. My Question is: what are the differences? Should I just take the whole thing out at once with the tranny still connected? I am sure I will have to switch computers? I want to do this as easy as possible without switching intakes, Exhaust manifolds, power steering, ac, etc. Like I said I have both trucks in my drive way so I have most of the parts that I need. Anyone have experience changing engines between years?
 

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The 2004 intake manifold is a better design than the 2001 and is a direct bolt on to the 2001 4.7. It uses silicone rubber seals instead of a gasket which makes the swap much easier than earlier motor.
You will have to take everything from the 04 to 01 because the 01 is more than likely running the JTEC controller and the 04 is running NGC which are not compatible with each other due to cam and crank tone wheels and the JTEC controller uses a separate transmission controller than the NGC.
I can't say for sure on the A/C compressor hoses but if you have the systems of both trucks drained, you can take the hoses off and check to see if they can be routed to their correct locations.
You don't have to worry about swapping the transmissions, as they are both 45RFE's, only the 04 uses the 545RFE designation to identify it has having the 5th gear programming in the PCM. The connectors are the same between the 01 and the 04 transmissions.
If I were you, I would swap out the exhaust manifolds for a pair of decent headers(not JBA's). The factory manifolds are notorious for causing the manifold bolts to break due to poor quality control of the castings, as one or two holes are not properly sized and you will be dealing with exhaust leaks.
As far as I know, the power steering pumps are the same but keep the 04 on hand just in case the 01 doesn't work with the 04 electronics.
 

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Discussion Starter · #3 ·
Ok, So you are saying that I can just keep the other transmission handy for the future right? And my 2004 engine with the 2004 computer will go into the 2001 truck and the computer will designate the other transmission into a 5 speed transmission right? Or am I getting this wrong? I will take a look at the A/C lines tomorrow in the morning.
 

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If you want to keep both transmissions, that is up to you, but it may just take up space because the 45/545RFE's are generally more reliable than the old 42/44/46RE's. But, that is only comparing well maintained examples and doesn't take into consideration design flaws that shorten the RE series lifespans.
You will get the 5 speed automatic programming with the 04 computer but you will need the 04 harness as the 01's separate TCM plug will not work with the 04 PCM.
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
Ok, The engine is swapped and not starting. The wiring harness is different than the harness on my crashed 2004 truck. The computer is obviously different also and they do not connect. I have read all this crap about changing from 32 pin systems to 16 pins system and vice versa. also heard about having to change cam sprockets or something. Where do I go from here. The harness in the existing 2001 truck with the 2004 motor all hooked up great. I had to take out a sensor on the intake and exchanged with the other mother so that the plug would connect and change throttle bodies because a sensor on the throttle body was different for the plug. Also took the power steering pump hose and exchanged it because the 2001 harness had a sensor that connects to the hose. so now all my connections are great. I am guessing that I will have to change wiring harnesses now to accept the computer that is still on my 2004 truck. can anyone chime in here with a direction I should head that is the most easiest way to get this thing started?How much of the harness do I ave to change and will I have to do any splicing? Primus, you seemed fairly knowledgeable about my situation. Whats the next move?
 

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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
Well. I went ahead and changed out the wiring harnes and computer under the hood. I still cant get it started. I have only been able to connect 3 of the four plugs into the computer under the hood. The white plug routes to the head lights and the front if the truck then back into the fuse panel and back into the truck fire wall. This white pkug may contain something nexcessary to start engine. Thinking it may be easier to splice wires then to cjange fuse box and see whats behind the fire wall under the dash. Who knows maybe there is something i have t change under the dash. Can anyone help here? I am at ends and noone has chimed in for a while. Thanks
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Here are pics of the computer and the old plug that needs to be replaced with new style. After going to thebfront end of truck, it goes the fuse box and then through the firewall. Like i said i havent seen what under dash and havnt had the time. I have about 25 hours into this truck and was just exhausted and it was getting dark.
 

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Discussion Starter · #11 ·
I took out the radiator and all in the front so at to make it easier to take engine out. On the truck that i took the good engine out of i took off the hood also because i didnt know how high i would have to go. It wasnt neccassy to take hood off the so i didnt on putting engine in. Also the truck the good engine came in.
 

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Discussion Starter · #14 ·
Again just read previous threads to help me get this rig running. Engine frome my old truck worked and works fine. Still drove it after i rolled it twice and put it threw a telephone pole. Again please read previous threads to help me with my swap issue.
 

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Here are pics of the computer and the old plug that needs to be replaced with new style. After going to thebfront end of truck, it goes the fuse box and then through the firewall. Like i said i havent seen what under dash and havnt had the time. I have about 25 hours into this truck and was just exhausted and it was getting dark.
That is the NGC PCM
Her are some other pics of randome stages of the swap. One computer versus the other. The wire plugs i had to take out from fuse box that were connected to the harness.
Here is a pic of some othe module that is from thebold harness. Dont know what it is.
This right here confirms that the 01 is a JTEC truck with the 3 plug PCM and the TCM being separate from the PCM, whereas the NGC trucks PCM was 4 plug and the TCM is part of the PCM. Like I said before, the 4.7 is the same between the two years but the tone rings on the camshaft and the crankshaft are different between the controllers and will not work with either.
You should have disassembled the 01 motor and pulled the tone rings and put on the 04 motor. It would have started right up. Now, you will lose the 5 spd. automatic function but is capable of being used again with a Jeep Grand Cherokee TCM, as it has the 5 spd. programming in it and is a direct swap and not cause problems like in the 2000's.
Unless you have everything bolted down tight, I would pull the engine and swap the tone wheels.
 

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Discussion Starter · #16 ·
Ok. Here is where i am at. I have replace the wiring harness and the computer to the engine. It wont start and smells like gas. I am assuming it is getting no spark. This because i have one more lead from the computer to hook up. Picture showns the plug from the computer goes to the fuse box under the hood and then through the fire wall to a main bank of wires that is the exact same as the other truck. Why is it that i cant put the same computer and harness on the same engine and just forget about the fifth gear and drive it like a 2001 transmission is supposed to work. When the 2001 tranny shits the bed then i will just put in the other tranny. Ps. Not taking motor back out. It was hell putting it in because the intake was taller and the firewall and was not slotted out for it to get in the bay very easy. The 2004 has a slight raise with half circle to accept the engine in easier.
 

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Discussion Starter · #17 ·
Also. I think this is being copied on two threads so it may be confusing you to were i am at with the proccess. I have 2004 computer with 2004 engine installed. I was just hoping that i would have to pull the other plug out and route the wiring harnes to thebfuse box. Hoping to just splice them but know i see that there is a separet computer that is integrated with that wire and would make it way confusing. I have alread pulled the harness to the fuse box out of the 2004 truck and will install it tomorrrow. As i was told in an earlier thread, it would adjust the tranny to 5 spead if i just use 2004 harness and 2004 computer with 2004 motor. Right? That what i am in the process of doing. The only thing different is the wire goung to the brakes. Can i just switch out contoller for the brakes or do i have change brake booster also. In that case i might as well change all the disc brakes also. But that is way down the line and i reall dont care to do it. Just be nice to wire up the existing 2001 break system.
 

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Have you tried pulling the codes to see what may be going on?
 

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Discussion Starter · #19 ·
I may do that tomorrow but i got it running. Connected the 4 plug on the computer and just as i thought the pcm was not getting power to tell the engine what to do. It was the white plug that runs to the front of car and through fusebbox and into the fire wall. Engine runs like it should so far but takes 5 seconds to start. For 5 Mississippi the engine continuously cranks with no sign of starting then all of a sudden starts as if a relay or something is not being initiated. I srltill need to work on exhaust and hookbup o2 sensors and put my original system on it as the otherheaders are different amd dont match correctly as the flange. There is a plug under truck near driver side floor panel that does not match up with anything so i am going to seebif it may go to the fuel pump or the emissions control. I am consercerned the the pressure difference betreen the fuel pump uears may ne causimg the issue. I think the 2001 runs at 53psi and 2004 runs at 65psi. There is still the break issue to to work with. Currently it stops without adding sensor to the break fluid reservoir but the hole break set up goingbto the master cylender is different. Think i cam just bolt on 2004 resivoir and electrinis and it work. What arebthe differences with the master cylinders? Part n number are different.
 

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Discussion Starter · #20 ·
Heres my problem. I totaled my 2004 dodge dakota truck and bought a 2001 dodge dakota truck with a blown head gasket. Well the engine finaly shit the bed so i did the swap from the 2004 to the 2001. Changed the engine, 4.7, and both wiring harnesses along with the different 4 plug pcm tcm sice it was different. I was told that the 45rfe would work in the truck and computer would tell it what to do. Truck engine runs great with no codes at all. The truck drove for about 30 minutes with no issues at all. Then, The transmission throws codes p0700, a code p0755 for shift solenoid b. I erased the codes and disconnected battery then reconnected battery. Drove off again and it did the same sputtering in first gear and drives like normal at higher speeds but seems that it will not shift down to lower gear when stepping on the gas to pass someone. There is no effect when i switch overdrive off or not. After erasing code reader shows the same p0700 which i understand is general saying there is another tranny problem plus that and now p2706 shift solenoid F. Both transmissions wirked perfect before the swap if engines and like i said the 45rfe work for about 30 minutes no problem before it started to act up. Again i was told it would still work. The original tranny that matched the 2004 motor that is now in the truck was a 545rfe. So, after all that said what do you thing the problem may be? I bought a filter and gasket system and was going to change that out today thinking it would work correctly. Do you think a flush or back flush may clean something out while changing filters and gasket? Isbthe tranny not a direct fit to work with 2004? Should i just change out the 2004 545rfe tranny or is there something i can do to make this pig work? Let me know your ideas and professional advise and that would be awesome asvi have been doing this switch for 4 days now.
 
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