2000 Dakota 3.9v6 ?

Monkeymaster · Feb 12, 2020

Hello,
I have a 2000 Dakota king cab 2 Dr 3.9 v6 automatic 4 wd with 230,000 miles.
No 3 and 5 cylinders have ZERO compression.
I want to swap out the motor with a salvage yard 3.9
To avoid any potential gremlins, what year motors will drop into this with the least amount of issues ?
I want to avoid the electronic/computer issues there lies my biggest concern.

Then, are there any other areas I need to keep an eye on to avoid problems ?
Thanks in advance

Don Frelier · Feb 12, 2020

Probably any 3.9 from 96-03 will work.
I think the big thing to look for would be the plugs on the injectors, maybe the plug on the distributor.
Otherwise from what I know, there is not much different year to year in this range.
You can possibly go back further but I'm guessing your yard options would be slim.
Any yard motor I would think about taking off the intake, cleaning it and replacing the gasket on the plate underneath.
Buy some injectors on E-bay, tune up kit from RockAuto and new plugs.
They are nice little motors and can take a ton of abuse.

the mississippi madman · Feb 12, 2020

Try to keep it within a year of your model like a 99-01
Chrysler did some sensor and electronic changes around 97 or 98 and also around 02 I think on some models. I don't know if the Dakota was one but to be safe I would try and find one as close to the year model yours is just to eliminate any headaches but if you are just swapping motors you should be ok

Hey-O · Feb 12, 2020

I would think 97 to 03.

tmaleck · Feb 12, 2020

Hollander interchange appears to be online now. They list compatible parts from a range of years makes and models. Not always, right, but pretty close. These were paper books back when I used them, but every yard used them.
Tim
https://www.hollanderparts.com/PartSearch

Slap Stick · Feb 12, 2020

Iirc you want one newer than 95 or so. OBD II and no egr or return fuel line to the tank.
And don't just replace the intake plenum gasket.
Get the kit from Hughes and it eliminates the gasket problem.

2000 Dakota 3.9v6 ?

Monkeymaster

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Don Frelier

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the mississippi madman

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Hey-O

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tmaleck

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Slap Stick

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