engine swap? please i'm lost

[93dakota]

MY 1993 dakota 2.5 engine is dying. My question is that before i purchase a engine can i use the ones i have. I have a 2.2 out of a 1988 dodge shadow and a 2.5 out of a 1986 chrylser dynasty. Please can i use any of these motor, if so what will i have to change to make them work. They all look identical

[93dakota]

MY 1993 dakota 2.5 engine is dying. My question is that before i purchase a engine can i use the ones i have. I have a 2.2 out of a 1988 dodge shadow and a 2.5 out of a 1986 chrylser dynasty. Please can i use any of these motor, if so what will i have to change to make them work. They all look identical

[turbomini]

will not work becuse the block dont have the hole drilled or taped for the mounts.

[turbomini]

umm i got a motor out a 89 dekota i'll sale you lol pm me

[macncheese]

I thought the mount bracket holes were the same?

[turbomini]

no on a dekota block they are drilled out for the engine mounts, and on the fwd block they aren't. and if its not a common block (i think 87 and older) they dont even have the bosses for the holes on the side with the distibuter.

[allmotor]

1989 and newer is the answer for the common block

even still the bosses for the engine mounts will be present on any 2.2/2.5 from 1989 up. however not all will have the holes drilled and tapped. so to answer the original question. neither of the 2 engines you have will bolt in. that doesn't mean it won't work, you'll just need to be creative on fabricating your own mounts... plus if you use the 2.5, you would have to remove the balance shafts and block the oil hole... if you try to use the 2.2, you'll need to go shopping for an oil pan and pickup tube. the FWD pan does not fit the dakota AND the current pan you have will not fit the 1988 engine (the front seal housing is different. AND you cannot install the 1993 seal housing onto a non-common block engine.

so in otherwords, NOTHING you have is an EZ swap. BEST answer is to rebuild the current engine, then you know everything will fit.

[93dakota]

the problem i'm having is that my oil pressure is going up and down somedays when i come to a stop light the oil comes on, some days the oil pressures is normal, I'm thinking it might be something like my oil pump or oil screen stopping up, What do you guys think?

[crazymadbastard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93dakota the problem i'm having is that my oil pressure is going up and down somedays when i come to a stop light the oil comes on, some days the oil pressures is normal, I'm thinking it might be something like my oil pump or oil screen stopping up, What do you guys think?

confirm with a mechanical oil pump first, the senders and the wires tend to go loose or bad.

[macncheese]

madbastard meant mechanical oil pressure gauge.

[Sasky]

I am currently in the process of putting a 2.2 TBI engine from an 89 Shadow into an 88 Dakota that had a tired 2.2 carb'd engine. This is what you need to make it work, but let me first say, if your truck already has a TBI engine, rebuild it before attempting to turn your truck into a Shakota.

#1) For a common block, you will have to drill and tap three holes. one on the intake/exhaust side, as there is no hole drilled for the rear bolt attaching to the motor mount. If you cannot get a metric tap and bolt, Lowes sells a matched tap and bit, so get a 3/8" set and then a matching bolt. I cannot remember the length, but I think it is an inch long. The other two holes are for the distributor side motor mounts bolts. I used a 1/2" tap and matching bolts. Be careful with the depths of all three holes. The 1/2" hole at the rear of the motor mount is actually drilled all the way through the block, as verified by checking my old 2.2 carb'd engine. Use Threadlock on all bolts!! Also, when tapping, go half a turn, back up, clean the tap, then repeat. You do not want to break a tap off in the block.

#2) You need to replace the following parts on the car engine with parts from your truck assuming you have a 2.2/2.5 common block:
Oil pan, oil pick up tube, exhaust manifold, breather assembly, and the motor mounts.

**** Special note ****
If you are not going to rebuild the Shadow engine special care must be taken since one hole has to be drilled all the way through the block wall. Also, make sure to keep the engine in an upright (normal orientation) so metal shavings do not go everywhere inside the block. Now, since you have to remove the oil pan, do so with the engine on a stand and remove it with the oil still in it, so as to trap the metal shavings. Next, use a magnet to clean out all of the shavings and wipe everything down with lintfree clothes. This also a good time to remove the valve cover and flush everything out the bottom of the block with an applicable cleaning solution, such as mineral spirits.

#3) A ton of patience

Disclaimer -- I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night and I am not a professional mechanic. I am in the middle of Project 892 Shakota and speak from the things I have come across. I also have a neighbor that is a retired race engine builder, and my Dad, who is available via telephone, as well as my Brother and brother-in-law. By the way, Dad is a retired MoPar service manager (late 60's to 76) and my brother-in-law is a MoPar fan and an instructor at a mechanic school in NC. My brother, he's just real smart and paid attention to Dad all those years ago! Also, remember, you need a common block to do this type of swap. I will sell my complete 2.2 that I took out of my Dakota.

Blessings, Sasky

BareFoot Soul - A Christian Rock Band

[Sasky]

By the way, Project 892 Shakota means the following:

1988 Dakota to be rebuilt
1989 Shadow donor car
1992 Dakota donor truck

Hence, 892 Shakota

Oh, I almost forgot, anyone attempting to convert to TBI will have to either replace the fuel tank and lines, or upgrade the existing lines for TBI and install a TBI style in line filter between the tank and an electric inline fuel pump capable of delivering the proper TBI pressure level.

Blessings, Sasky
BareFoot Soul - A Christian Rock Band

[MidOhioMoparSource]

scrap the 4 banger and put a 440 in it!!!

Best of luck.

Matt

[PistonPL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93dakota MY 1993 dakota 2.5 engine is dying. My question is that before i purchase a engine can i use the ones i have. I have a 2.2 out of a 1988 dodge shadow and a 2.5 out of a 1986 chrylser dynasty. Please can i use any of these motor, if so what will i have to change to make them work. They all look identical

You can directly swap engines, but You will have also change computer and wirings. Some plugs may not fit inside car (You probably have new interior in 93 car).

Can be done.

[overboostperformance]

the engine is physically the same the electrical has nothing to do with it those are all add on parts. use the 1986 2.5 and swap the dakota stuff over to it




Norm