1994 dodge dakota motor swap...help

[chris172]

i have a 1994 dodge dakota thats smashed in the front end w/ no engine dammage but has bad rings and 111000 miles. although thats not alot i am deciding to stick 2000 into a truck worth half that. know its crazy but it was my first truck and im attached to it and so iv decided to make it nice...first step i want to motor swap for more power. i wish to find a v8 to put into it, i want to find a motor a build it up pistons, rods, heads general engine upgrades what nots for high performance then swap later this year...what can i swap i hear alot about the 318 is that alright performance wise and if so is it worth tearing apart and rebuilding. and if not then what other engines will work. im looking for over 300 hp n/a perhaps a blower or turbo later down the line. i have big plans for this truck...im a mechanic just out of high school so i have proper facilities to do so in and a body shop w/ discounts as our company owns it so...im a teenager w/ to much time and not enough money on my hands. if anyone has suggestions or words of encuragement that would be awesom

thanx
~Chris~

[taillight]

It sure can be done. Check this web sight, I am sure I have seen others on here do the same thing.

[chris426]

well has for the 318 it is a great motor u wont get 300 hp out of it i would just say rebuild the hell out of it new bearinging aftermarket cams heads high compression pistons put a spacer on the trotle body. my freind has a 90 dakota with some work and it is fast and if u can get some tube headers and ditch the stock exhast and if u want to really seak out some power take the cluch fan off and put a electric fan in there it adds a couple hp.
if u do anything let me know how it goes

[chris172]

Hey thanx guys. Not shure yet if the 318 is for me yet but I think I'm leaning that way for the most part. Nice electric fan tip I can belive that. But I am looking for some power so if the 318 isn't easily modified for power what else can I pu in or is the 318 the easyest thing 2 do?

[chris172]

oh by the way to what else did ur buddy do to his truck just motor or body and stuff...i just started thinking about weeks ago so i havent looked around alot for stuff. j/w

thanx,

[chris426]

[quote=chris172]oh by the way to what else did ur buddy do to his truck just motor or body and stuff...i just started thinking about weeks ago so i havent looked around alot for stuff. j/w

thanx,[/quote

well the whole truck hes building up over time put rims on it the 318 graphic different stuff dakotas have so many possiblities of stuff u can do to them and the 318 is a fast motor in that truck its light and will light up the tires with nothing. and i just rembered if u have the cash they make a intake that u can put a big 4 barrel on the truck.

[doctorheat]

exact opposite of me..i had all the money but not the time, so its stock till next year...i know lotsa guys that have done lots to their daks, a good place to get parts www.krcperformance.com and www.ohiodakotas.com. you might as well do it all now and do it right. you'll need to do injectors, fuel pump, enlarge the TB, best bet would also be the M1 intake, so the whole valvetrain, ignition, its a long list. of course with all that comes a PCM.
Another good site is www.dodgedakotas.com, alot of good stff there.
good luck, hope all goes well with the build