S2H

Swapping a ls1 into 1998 dakota need some advice for mounts etc, going also with a t56-thanx

Verz

iTrader: (21)

As far as the research ive done no one has completed this swap but i was planning into looking at this guys mounts and adapting them to accept lsx plates and from there figure out an oil pan that would work.

http://www.dakota-durango.com/forum/...ad.php?t=75706

tnewton

It'll fit, I've got an lq4 running a carb in mine. Truck pan fits a little tight but should work. I just adapted plates to the stock Dakota mounts

Vents

iTrader: (9)

Mr newton has had his going before mine was, but I've had a gen 3 in my 97 Dakota since 07. The motor mounts are up to your preference, I made some from 1-1/4 square tube, bolted to the crossmember. Plasma'd out all the stock stuff, and started from scratch. Easier ways to do it, but I'm just finicky. My advice for the whole project? Its a lot of work and the result is cool, but I never want to see another box of header material ever again.

91sonomast

You couldn't find any headers that would work? Seems like there is lots of room for headers from the pics I've seen.

99VetteFRC

Truck manifolds with vbands should fit in anything.

91sonomast

I'm pretty sure tnewton used truck mani's.

Vents

iTrader: (9)

I'm pretty sure Newton did use the truck manifolds as well. There's room for quite a few different header options on the drivers side, but dodge engines are installed about 2" off center to the pass side. you can install an engine with whatever CL you want as long as the DL angle is not dead on, but I found no off the shelf headers to fit my application. Plus the passenger side was VERY tight to get a long tube to fit. The truck manifolds might be made to fit on another application, but I wanted long tubes for mine. Basically just bought miller TIG machine and a few ebay headers and got to cuttin'.

Verz

iTrader: (21)

Just pulled a v6/5spd reg cab into my garage so will be digging in shortly myself

WeeWolf

iTrader: (16)

any pics of your mounts vents?

98TADRIVER

iTrader: (36)

this might help https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...akota-r-t.html

went with an auto instead of 6spd though

Geezer's Garage

Hey, S2H, saw your question and decided to start a build thread on my 5.3 Dakota swap. I just posted some pix of our motor mounts plates here:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...l#post16386691

The plates are simple to make. We just laid in some 3/8" plate on top of the Dakota rubber isolators to see where the two bolt patterns lined up. We then drilled the two bolt patterns, put in studs for the Dodge pattern, counter sunk one hole for a Chevy bolt and called it good.