785T/A

iTrader: (5)

I have a chance to buy back my old 2000 Dakota for 500 bucks and I thought is might be a good project swap for a turbo ls1. The donor truck is a Regular cab auto 6 banger and has tons of room under the hood for whatever i want to fit. The only problem is that i havent found anyone that has done this swap before. I guess my main question is, Is thier anyone out there that has done this swap or similar? Or am I just barking up the wrong tree? I know you can stuff an LSX into anything if you have deep enough pockets. Also would enyone think this swap would be worth it?

E36LUVA

Go for it dude, but you're on your own when it comes to anyone else doing that swap. Just don't tell the other Dak R/T guys of your plans. They'll want to hurt you. I was a Dodge Tech for 10 years and although the 5.9 is a good engine when modded in the right way it doesn't hold a candle to the mighty LS1. You'll have to upgrade the rear end though as they eat pinion bearings with out any load in the truck. LS1/T56 in a Dakota short bed would be sick dude.

Cop Car

iTrader: (14)

getting a motor physicaly into a vehicle is almost always the easiest part of a swap... the issues come with what fuel system are you going to run, the wiring etc.

for sure buy it. buy some universal LS1 mounts, or cut and weld F body mounts onto the truck. i think it would be a great swap. i like the dakotas much more than S10s personaly..

jbk240z

I have seen a few Dakota's with the genI sbc and they fit well, so should a LS1.

785T/A

iTrader: (5)

Hey, thanks for the replies. Any recommendations for a fuel system? I can run a fuel cell if I have to. no big deal. Also anyone have any ideas for a rear end?

Sabre002

iTrader: (7)

I like this but how about a new Hemi motor keep it all mopar. Either way it will be a kool truck.

lightning95sc

+1. You can find HEMI setups at swap meets for $1500 complete with harness and ecm.

Chuck

785T/A

iTrader: (5)

I really thought about that but $$ is my issue and LSX is my bang for my buck right now. I know if I look hard and long enough I might be able to find a good deal on one but darn it I know and love LSX motors more.

E36LUVA

You could upgrade the in-tank fuel pump to a higher flowing one but you'd have to drop the tank. The Daks have a returnless system. As for the rear end I'd personally use a disc brake equipped Ford 8.8 from an F-150 or E-150 as they're a proven rear end as opposed to the junk Dodge 9.25. You'd have to redrill the axles to match the 6 bolt patern of the Dak. Speartech seems to be the best harness to use along with what ever ECU came with the engine. Headers might be you're biggest obstacle though.

Cop Car

iTrader: (14)

if the Dakota has a returnless sytem it means that it has a varitable pump just like the F body.. so you could just use the Dakota pump if it has enough fuel pressure. if it dosent. swap in a complete F body tank from the junkyard. its what im doing in my swap.

785T/A

iTrader: (5)

Wow thanks for the help. I will probly use a 255 pump and and try to use all that I can on the truck so I can fab as little as possible. my plans are to add a power adder later but my main concern is getting it running and driving first. My goal is 500/500 to the ground and ill be happy. Traction is going to be my biggest issue later on.

And E36LUVA I think your right about the headers. What would you recommend for test fitting? Im going to try to get a used set later on but i dont want to waste my money if they wont work.

E36LUVA

I'm assuming that your truck is 2WD, if so you have rack & pinion steering which gets in the way of the headers usually. Mopar Perfomance makes a great set of headers for the 5.9 Dak but the routing of the tubes resemble that of a SBC with the two middle tubes close together but if you get a used set try to eyeball it to see if its feasible to cut and bend the tubes to make them fit an LS1 flange. Like I said, this is uncharted territory dude. As for the fuel pump, just remove the fuel pump module to gain access to the pump and slip in a high volume unit cuz the stock one will definitely not flow enough.

785T/A

iTrader: (5)

Thank you for the heads up info. Im doing this swap in Kansas at my dads shop. I really would like to turbo the setup thus changing the header problem. But if I really have issues with the boosted part I might hit up Parish with a few questions since he is not too far away and comes down to KC once in a while.

E36LUVA

Yeah that dude's got an awesome truck. Never met him seen but his truck all over the web. He knows his **** for sure.

785T/A

iTrader: (5)

Heres a qustion. Lets say I get a new rear end from f150 or chevy 1500 and all. What could i use in the front spindle area wise to match the rear lug pattern? Any ideas? I heard something about s10's bieng usable but havent found much.

Sabre002

iTrader: (7)

why not use the Dana rear from a Dodge RAM?

785T/A

iTrader: (5)

I have thought about that also but rams are a five lug and dakotas are a six.

E36LUVA

The dana equipt rams are 2500 and up with 8 lugs. Real strong but way too much work.

Sabre002

iTrader: (7)

its not the hard to have a hib re drilled and put some studs in it.

Skele4door

iTrader: (1)

That will work if you are going from 4-5 or vice versa, but I believe you'll have more than one interference holes going from 5-6. You could have someone weld the holes up and then turn it on a lathe to true it up, but with all the cost and hassle it'd probably be better to just get some aftermarket axles.