00 to 97 engine swap

[97RamCreep]

I have a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 with a 5.9. It needs a new motor so I bought a 5.9 from a 2000 Durango. Will these motors work as a swap. I know the Temp sensor will need to be tapped into the intake and the other sensors are the same, but the Flywheel and Distributors are different part numbers. Can I use the engine in my 97 with out pulling the intake or distributors?

 

[EJM05]

Dude i have no clue. sorry.

 

[Bigtman07]

I am not 100% sure that it will swap directly because the durango as you said has a diff intake and dizzy. You will probably be better off to move the intake and dizzy and maybe the flywheel off the junk motor because I don't believe the durango's and rams had the same transmissions. The essentials of the motors are the same. Heads pistons and internal components should be the same but the exterior may be different. You will have to try it to see what you are going to need. I'm sure someone else will slip in and add some extra info. But as I said I'm not 100% sure that it will be a direct swap. To keep things simple If you can salvage the intake and dizzy and flywheel from the ram 5.9 then it should be really close to a direct. The only other thing that worries me is that I don't remember what year the rams went to OBD2 so the computer and everything else may cause a problem. But I don't know. Hope this helps a little bit. And welcome to RF.

 

[97RamCreep]

I do not think anyone knows. It will be a weird swap.

 

[Bigtman07]

It will be wierd yes but not impossible. May take more tweaking than normal but it can be done. Anything can be done if you have the idea and tons of money. lol

 

[97RamCreep]

The ODBII started in 1996 so no sweat there.

 

[Bigtman07]

Ok good deal so that will help a ton. As I said I couldn't remember if it was 96 or 97. Heck you could have a halfa year like I do. Man finding parts for a halfa sucks.

 

[97RamCreep]

It is 1997 43,000 miles it set too long and the rings are seized I think. It burns oil bad and smokes but the truck looks and drives like brand new. I dont want to pull the intake it sucks.

 

[Bigtman07]

I have pulled mine several times while mine was burning oil. You say its siezed from sitting??? with only 43k?? That's interesting.

 

[97RamCreep]

Replaced the valve seals and no drops of oil any where. This truck looks like brand new off the show room. It was bought for a summer boat puller. Sit every winter in storage. Never saw rain. But Screwed the rings.

 

[Bigtman07]

ahhh ok. Well one thing that you may want to consider while you have the motors out.
If you didn't know the magnum 5.9 intakes have a slight design flaw with the plenum plate. You may want to upgrade that while it is out.

With only 43K maybe just replacing the rings may be cheaper I'm not sure what that would run but the motor sounds like it will have plenty of life with a little TLC.

 

[AParrette]

def get the computer from the durango or reprogram the ram's iirc the 00-03 5.9's have a one up on the earlier 5.9's

 

[AParrette]

oh and stroker that ***** while it's out

 

[97RamCreep]

I plan on building the new one while its out but I bought the other to use while I buiild. I just need it to work a few months. I just can not find any one who has done such a swap and wanted to know any pointers or if I need to swap intakes? Or Crank Trigger.

 

[Bigtman07]

Ahhhh ok Very true. You may need to change lost of things. But I would have to agree if you can get the computer from the Durango along with the motor you will be in a lot better shape.

 

[97RamCreep]

I am not sure why I would change the ECM. The sensors are the same as the trucks. Is is because the cams or distributors are different?

 

[Bigtman07]

It may work with the ram ECM but not 100% sure because of the different distributor and possibly a different intake. So that would make the Air/Fuel Ratio different along with the firing and the injectors. Wouldn't hurt to have both. If it runs fine with the ram one great you can sell the durango one. If it doesn't then you know it will work with the durango ECM and use it for the time being. As you said it is a strange swap. Most guys will just find a the same year or close to it and the same vehicle. But in theory all the 5.9 should be the same.

 

[97RamCreep]

The plug in is different on the distributors. The cam sensor and crank sensor are the same. The heads are the same. The intakes look the same except for temp sensor. The cam is different. So its a gamble if I just swap plugs.

 

[ramhunter9]

I would just think you could swap the plugs . Or swap the plugs and cap .

 

[AParrette]

take pics while you do it.
the 00-03 5.9 supposedly has 50 more hp than the 97-00 version