Has the junker 4.7. Want to do a small block. Most likely a LA. Is it a good swap or should we try find another 4.7. Is there mounts out there for this. Thanks. Kim
2004 Dak 4x4 engine swap
- Thread starter oldkimmer
- Start date
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Del @67Dart273 might know a thing or two.
Ironracer
Gearhead
I only had 1 4.7 in a short bed, single cab / w 3:92s and a 5 spd. Loved that truck... it was fun as heck, reliable, kinda fast daily for me for 5 years when gas was 4 bucks a gallon, my 74 D -200 4 door with a pissed off 318, and 4:56 gears became unreasonable to drive ( even though i could haul 4 dogs, and have a crap load of tools... that was a Badass truck, damn I miss her ) The 4.7 had almost 300,000 Well Beat on miles. Now that **** piece NV 3500 behind it.... grrrr. Those trans ain't all that... wait a sec... this may be why RustyRatRod says " drive-thru " hmm. Now I get it... duh
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The 4.7 is famous for the valve seats dropping out into the motor, causing destruction. I like your plan for an LA, or if affordable, a Gen III Hemi. I know they have their weaknesses, too.
Ironracer
Gearhead
I've heard bad stuff about the 4.7. also, I had a guy at a truck salvage say they were " great motors, till they go bad !"if you overheat em they are pretty much done. Do not rebuild, get another. I was happy with mine, now that fN New Venture 3500 ... I learned neat things about. 0) its a Non- Serviceable **** piece) 1) Propwash, from FBBO, a Really Talented dude, chained one to a floor, using a engine hoist, got one apart, and had issues. 2) there are very " innovative" ways to "play" with the hydraulic system. 3) when you rip the shift
er, and Plastic) top cover junk crap off the top, having fun, the S-10 ( and maybe Isuzu ) junk works. 4) hot glue goes Along way. 5) you can, after , having lots of " Fun" actually buy a Metal clutch slave w/ a bleeder.... but, if you can't get, or afford one, you Can the slave , turn it upside-down, and have a Great Bro pump the piss outta it after the plastic one shots 6) you Can rev em out and "Float Gears) w/ no line pressure by shutting er down, shoving it in 1st, and cranking at lights, then going into 3rd
i have a 2004 dakota 4.7 and its a great truck i drive it every day . gas milage is it's only undesirable trait .
I did a lot of research on 4.7’s when searching for a truck for me and my stepson to fix up. In line with what was said above. Good until bad. Don’t overheat and perform maintenance on schedule and they can be good motors for up to 250k miles in many of the situations I came across. I don’t think the juice would be worth the squeeze for you to go through the pains of swapping. Have you considered a reman 4.7? Most have warranties these days and it would plug right in and go. Pretty affordable too.
I own a 2000 Dakota 4x4 with a 4.7.
150k so far. Only issues has been leaking valve covers ( a real pita to replace so buy good gaskets.) pcm melting down the connectors but easy fix. A coil here or there going bad. Other than that- great truck for the farm. My only bad thing is they need proper oil changes (no drop the filters and add a quart) and there are not a lot of bolt on go fast goodies for that engine. Which is okay because it is dependable as heck. I will take that over going fast any day. I’ve got my cars to go fast.
2000 Dakota 4.7L auto, 4x4 club cab, 6.5’ bed 3.55 gears with factory limited slip.
150k so far. Only issues has been leaking valve covers ( a real pita to replace so buy good gaskets.) pcm melting down the connectors but easy fix. A coil here or there going bad. Other than that- great truck for the farm. My only bad thing is they need proper oil changes (no drop the filters and add a quart) and there are not a lot of bolt on go fast goodies for that engine. Which is okay because it is dependable as heck. I will take that over going fast any day. I’ve got my cars to go fast.
2000 Dakota 4.7L auto, 4x4 club cab, 6.5’ bed 3.55 gears with factory limited slip.
I think your truck would have the 545RFE trans? An LA would bolt to that. But, I know the 4.7 takes the same flexplate as the 5.7 Hemi of the same year. Both have an eight bolt crank and the same Flexplate offset. That is going to one of the differences to the LA.
I have rebuilt a couple of these and its really not that difficult or expensive. Get reman heads from ebay company out of florida. They pin the seats so they cant fall out. the rest of the parts off ebay. I think I had less than 1K into the last one I built thats with standard bore. New pistons, rings,bearings, heads, timing set,oil pump and gaskets.
Thanks guys. Good till bad is right. I’ve seen so many like that. I told my buddy to get rid of it b4 there was a problem. Didn’t listen to me. Now he wants me to swap in a VM 318 or 360 with a tranny. I told him I would ask on here b4 even thinking of doing it. Kim
That’s a decent price for sure. Kim
Swingin Chrome
Well-Known Member
If you replace engine with another 4.7, be sure to get the proper year. Some years with the older pcm (can’t remember what year),the crank sensor trigger wheel on the crank was different.Engines physically look the same on outside. Wrong engine results in a no start as the pcm can’t interpret the signal.Chrysler released a tsb back in the day warning techs of this scenario.Rj
Thank u. Kim
JDMopar
Well-Known Member
Kim...if you're going to swap in a small block, use a Magnum instead of an LA. Magnum motors have the mid mount motor mounts like the 4.7, so that would make the swap easier....especially if you could find a set of motor mounts for a 98-99 Dakota with a 5.2. As bad as I hate to say it, you can just about stand back and throw a 5.3 LS motor in a Dakota. Easy swap, and they fit nicely. Might be a little harder on a 4 x 4 Dakota though. Good luck with it.
Lots of those 4.7 trucks will damn near take a 5.7 hemi as a stock replacement with the right relictor wheel and a tune. I think this is one of the cases a hemi may be a better choice and almost an OE replacement. Worth reading up on before gutting it and going LA or magnum
Didn't know whether to agree or like the post. That's kinda what I was eluding to about the transmission. I didn't dare say it. As of late, if you mention gen 3 in favor of small block, it becomes an argument.
Furious65
C-body Guy
Hmm, love my 4.7, 545 auto, 3.55 limited slip '00 Dakota Sport 2wd. Honestly, I treat it like crap and in 10+ years, at 185k, I have yet to have any problems with the engine or trans. Literally, I have replaced only the plugs and the serp belt.
I guess I'm one of the weird ones as I really like the 4.7 (on my second truck with one) and had even considered doing a swap into an A-body. Probably would have done it if I could have found the info to make the PCM work with lesser inputs.
Sorry for going off topic. Oldkimmer, I would just slap in another 4.7 and be done with it. It will be the easiest and cheapest if he just wants a driver.
I guess I'm one of the weird ones as I really like the 4.7 (on my second truck with one) and had even considered doing a swap into an A-body. Probably would have done it if I could have found the info to make the PCM work with lesser inputs.
Sorry for going off topic. Oldkimmer, I would just slap in another 4.7 and be done with it. It will be the easiest and cheapest if he just wants a driver.
67Dart273
Well-Known Member
THIS RIGHT HERE
I think it's pretty fuckin obvious the OP doesn't want anything to do with the 4.7 either since he is ASKING HOW TO SWAP TO THE LA ENGINE. @oldkimmer I looked around the net for a few and really couldn't find anything concrete. I'm sure it can be done.
Ya we have both seen far too many take a dump. Kim
Thanks Johnny Mac. Kim
That right there is all I see. Where people askin to sway a Magnum or LA from a 4.7 everybody tells them to swap a new Hemi instead. Kinda doesn't answer your question.
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