Does anyone think my 2003 Dodge Dakota could handle a Hemi?

Question

I have a 2003 Dodge Dakota RWD and it has the 3.9 litre V6. The V6 sounds great and gets pretty good gas mileage but I want to smoke the rear tires. Do you think the 5.7 litre Hemi would fit in the engine bay with some mild tweaking? I understand it would blow my driveshaft and transmission to bits but I would be willing to change them out, I just don't know if it would even fit.

Answer 1

you can do anything you want to, it just depends on how badly you want to and how deep your wallet is, my suggestion, unless you have a very good source of funding, is to leave your 2003 alone, buy an older with high mileage or light collision damage for cheap, and tear it down, gather your parts, with a new engine like this a wrecked Ram with the engine/drivetrain you want is probably the best thing to try and find, to buy all the pieces you need new would be unbelievably exspensive, but if you can find two suitable vehicles, i'm sure you would find alot of similarities once you started swaping parts. so if your looking for an easy swap, then put the 4.7L in it, or just buy one with that motor, and supercharge it, not cheap but much easier and much less headache, but if you want something a little more unique, then go for the project and let me know how it goes, i'd love to do the same thing

Answer 2

Chops said it about right. Only thing I could add is buying Goodyear wranglers a/t for the truck. I test drove a new 06/07 Dakota with the v8 and it was awesome. I loved the tires howling around the corners and the back end slipping out. I just wish I could have drove it out of the parking lot. My dad has the 5.7 HEMI in his ram1500 so, another great pick of motor.

Make sure you you really want to change EVERTHING first. After thinking about it I would get different gears for the rear axle. Cost is a LOT less and you can save the trouble getting everything else the right way.

Answer 3

Well you can drop a 5.2 318 or a 5.9 360 in and it would mount right up, it matches the mounts already in. Then you need a transmission, new front suspension, the wiring harness for the hemi, a computer that matches the hemi, also new rims and tires, cause if you have the 3.9 more than likely your tires ok for now, but it you drop that hemi in, you'll smoke the sh*t out of those tires pretty quick since they are so small. The 3.9 is basically a 5.2 with two cylinders chopped off. I plan on droppin a hemi in after my 5.9 in my R/T craps out on me. try going to dodgedakotas.com and do a search of engine swap. or theres other dakota forums if you do a google seach that can help you find more info, well better info than you can find here.

Answer 4

New Transmission, new rear gears, prolly new mounts and wiring harness. You are looking at a good bit of work and possibly so extra frame reinforcement in order to handle the added power of the 5.7 vs. the 3.9. also look to beef up the front suspension so the added weight wont drastically effect the handling

Answer 5

With some mods it's possible, I crammed a 302 into a Ford Ranger, and a 307 into a Chevy S-10, so theoretically it's possible, but do you have the green for this. Call your local speed shop for a ballpark figure of what this is gonna cost, it might change your mind. By the way are you entering pinks with a sleeper or something?

Answer 6

It would cost you the pretty look of your body, but it would give you a lot more horsepower. Your would probably have to shave a lot of metal off of the inside of the engine compartment. I know it can be done because i was able to stick a Cummins Turbo Diesel into a 73 Ford F-350 with a 360 gas engine.

Answer 7

Your frame is to weak for a Hemi.

Answer 8

might fit. might have to do a little bit o'tweekin.

Answer 9

sure if you can you can ; they have v8 in them from the factory talk to your dealer .they will you good luck

Answer 10

I gotta see that!!!!!