1987 Dodge Dakota 5.9 swap with a NV3500
On the 3500, the bellhouse is integral to the trans, which splits in half longitudinally. pretty slick. The Dakota ratios are
3.49-2.14-1.38-1.00-.73od.
But you gotta be careful not to run too much rear gear else low becomes a race gear. But if you don't, then you shoot yourself in the foot, cuz the first two splits are so far apart. The splits are
.61-.645-.725-.73
so you gotta put second gear where it does the most good, and let first be what it will be. It's made for a low-rpm tractor engine. It'll be Ok with a stock Magnum, but with a low-compression, cammed-up LA, it's gonna lay down in a hurry.
With the stock 5.9, it will be fun. until it breaks; it's only rated 300ftlbs.
I would want second to be ~3200 at about 32 mph. and that would take 3.73s... which would make the starter gear 13.02, and then 65mph cruises at 2200. That's pretty good as long as you don't mind revving first out a ways before grabbing second ...... like a Mustang do.
That 13.02starter is nice if your 5.9 can pull itself at 550 cuz with 27s that makes 3.4 mph, walking speed, so you can parade the thing.
You can't put third anywhere decent;on a streeter, it's just too far away; 60mph is only 3840 with 27s It's not even a good passing gear. But the 5.9 will help with that.
Here's 5.2M, notice the 300ftlb peak at 3200. Sorry no 5.9 graph.But Ima thinking it'll be 350ish also at 3200 or perhaps a lil sooner, so you might want to make that 4bbl a small one. and no neutral drops, and no sticky tires or traction aides,lol.
On the 3500, the bellhouse is integral to the trans, which splits in half longitudinally. pretty slick. The Dakota ratios are
3.49-2.14-1.38-1.00-.73od.
But you gotta be careful not to run too much rear gear else low becomes a race gear. But if you don't, then you shoot yourself in the foot, cuz the first two splits are so far apart. The splits are
.61-.645-.725-.73
so you gotta put second gear where it does the most good, and let first be what it will be. It's made for a low-rpm tractor engine. It'll be Ok with a stock Magnum, but with a low-compression, cammed-up LA, it's gonna lay down in a hurry.
With the stock 5.9, it will be fun. until it breaks; it's only rated 300ftlbs.
I would want second to be ~3200 at about 32 mph. and that would take 3.73s... which would make the starter gear 13.02, and then 65mph cruises at 2200. That's pretty good as long as you don't mind revving first out a ways before grabbing second ...... like a Mustang do.
That 13.02starter is nice if your 5.9 can pull itself at 550 cuz with 27s that makes 3.4 mph, walking speed, so you can parade the thing.
You can't put third anywhere decent;on a streeter, it's just too far away; 60mph is only 3840 with 27s It's not even a good passing gear. But the 5.9 will help with that.
Here's 5.2M, notice the 300ftlb peak at 3200. Sorry no 5.9 graph.But Ima thinking it'll be 350ish also at 3200 or perhaps a lil sooner, so you might want to make that 4bbl a small one. and no neutral drops, and no sticky tires or traction aides,lol.
