Apparently some engineer at chrysler decided that it was a good idea to mount the front diff on the motor mounts and bellhousing. Not a bad idea when you think about it, but if you want to take the motor out you have to take the front diff out first. So the motor's still in, but the diff's out. Maybe tomorrow...

I'm glad I stumbled upon this,I am starting a 3.9 magnum swap and have no experience with fuel injection or computer controlled engines.Hopefully your thread will be quite helpful <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I just went out with the tape measure and it looks like a 383 would be a better fit than the small block.It's a little wider but it's shorter and the distributer is in the front <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Pffft, put a 225 in it, may lean a little. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />

Got the motor out of the Dakota on saturday, haven't got back to it since, been too busy. Finally have some time to post pics though.

Here's the engine (5.2 Magnum, 230 horse, 280 ft.lbs torque)



Transmission (46RH)

(had a slight drain pan malfunction, as you can see)



Transfer case (NP231D)



And of course, it's future home





A 3.9 Magnum swap would be very similar, the fuel injection system is the same, and I think the engine is basicly the same thing with a couple less holes. Trans is the same only not as beefy, and transfer case is the same.

I'll be tearing apart the raider soon, but I have to get some parts for the 318 before it goes in, I want to change a bunch of gaskets and do a tune up on it before I put it in. Have to wait a payday or two for that though.

You can do a cleanup on the throttlebody, knife edge the blades & thin out the shaft to add a couple ponies.

Ed

Progress has slowed a little due to lack of funding, had to replace my electrical panel in my house which stole all my toy money. Still hoping to get going before winter but my end of september goal isn't looking good. Will post more pics when I get back at it.

Found yet another issue today, when I took my measurements before for some reason I didn't check if the transfer case was going to clear the torsion bars and crossmember, turns out it isn't going to. Drivetrain is too long, and the transfer case is going to hit the torsion bar crossmember. Have to either move the engine foreward 4-5", or remove the crossmember and torsion bars. I don't want to move the engine foreward, as that would mean putting the rad elsewhere and would be bad for weight distribution, so I think I'm going to have to ditch the torsion bars. Looks like I'm going to lose my garage for the winter, but hopefylly by spring I'll have a SAS'd V8 Raider, and some cash saved up for some 37's or 38's. Guess we'll see what happens.

I just picked up a set of toyota axles for mine,they look like a good fit for a SAS.

Yota axles would be good. I'm either going that way or ford 9"/D44. Yota axles would be better though, then I wouldn't have to get new rims.

After I realised that the transfer case wouldn't fit I decided to fix my broken leaf spring at the back by replacing the center two leaves with the center two leaves from my dakota donor, and reusing the raider main and overload springs. The springs fit well, I only had to trim about an inch off the front of the second dakota leaf. When I got it all together I realised that I had lifted the rear about 2". Now she sits a little high in the back. Looks like I could clear 35's on the back for sure, maybe even 37's.