Ok, new to this forum

Hi, i just purchased a 1993 Dakota sport as my winter vehicle, it was pretty much the base model.... 2.5L rear whell drive (not 4WD) power nothing, 5 spd (i like that part) I tryed a search and either im not using the right keywords or whatever but i found nothing... My question is how easy would it be to swap the 318 into my little truck, and how much would i be looking at... Thanks in advance for all your help.

well, putting in a 318 is not hard; the thing is, the type of fuel system that you'll be running, either carburated or fuel injected. It's easier to go carburated, because you don't have to bother with all the wiring and programming to make it compatible with what you have now in your truck. I believe your truck has the NV3550 tranny; it's a good tranny and will work; not sure if the bolt holes on the bellhousing would line up, I don't believe they will, so you would have to upgrade your tranny to fit a 318.

Not hard? Have you done this before?

The trans will not work.

You'd have to find a 318 and trans, together is always better, and different mounts, and then you can put it in. You'll also need the 318 computer and wiring harness or it will never run.

The shroud will be too big so you'll have to cut a big chunk out of it. What else? The K-member probably has to be changed depending on what kind of oilpan the new engine has, whether it came out of a truck or a van. You might as well just forget it.