How to Swap a Gen III Hemi Into Your 1997-2004 Dodge Dakota

Holley’s Gen III Hemi swap systems are the perfect solution to easily install a modern hemi engine into any 1997-2004 Dodge Dakota chassis. The available parts cover engine and transmission mounting, exhaust, drivetrain, fuel system, front accessory drives, and even engine management. The beauty of these swap systems is that all of the components are designed to work together for a seamless install and factory-like fit.
Learn more: www.holley.com/products/engin...

[@kevdog541]

Finally dakotas are getting the recognition that they deserve!

[@kennethporst4359]

YEAH sport mode with either a 360 or a gen 3 Hemi manual swap 🤘

[@sparkie5571]

finally able to get some motor mounts, and a set of items that are cross compatible with ram, durango, and jeeps too! I know my 98 zj will take advantage of the engine swap even with the stock 46re.

[@Kalico_Kid]

Right

[@daviddematos7470]

finally the time that holley do swap for the dakota thank you holley

[@Floreypottery]

What I’m thinking got a 99 rt and was wondering if I can put a cheap low mileage 5.7 or 6.2 in it a lot more power then the 5.9

[@johnfloyd2551]

That digital cluster is 🔥

[@r.deanmcknight136]

👏👏👏👏👏👏finally someone gives these dakotas the attention they deserve for the builds we want to do.... THANK YOU HOLLEY 👍👍👍👍🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😎

[@mach5jeep]

We need this for the 2nd Gen Dodge Ram as well

[@tdog-jy1pp]

I do t get why people have waited this long to start making things for these dakotas

[@verdant2215]

exactly

[@nadronnocojr]

I have a 99 rt , try finding brakes for it, Other than the viper swap, theirs is Nadda . Been wanting to upgrade for five years now . Rear brake conversion drum to disc yeah on summit for like a grand lol .. nice to see a dakota get some love

[@stunnasam21]

@@nadronnocojr have you looked into an 03 or 04 Dakota rear end? I put one on my Durango. Cost me $400 and about 2 hours labor, and it came with posi

[@nadronnocojr]

@@stunnasam21 that’s a terrific solution, it is . I was hung up on keeping er original , but I may have to get over it and find a way to store the original... one the side did it come with 3:92’s that is what came in the r/t

[@stunnasam21]

@@nadronnocojr mine was a 3.55 only because my front diff was 3.55 from the factory. Switching everything to 3.92 soon. You can find them in both. Make sure it comes with the brake lines and the e brake cables. It'll make it much easier. I did this with the '03 Durango front spindles/brakes and it stops pretty darn good for 20 yr old 5,000 lb brick 😂

[@ronimhofffacts2858]

Holley dont forget us 4x4 guys, mounts would be awesome if you could make those too for a 4x4 gen 2 dakota

[@AaronJGroen]

This was my question... what about a 4x4 ?

[@ronimhofffacts2858]

​@AaronJGroen well im doing it now. a guy in Arizona makes the mounts, hooker makes cast manifolds, and milodon makes the 4wd oil pan. the rest is te same as a 2wd dakota.

[@Hrntphxr]

@@ronimhofffacts2858 I have a AWD/4x4 also, just getting started on collecting the necessary items. Appreciate any contact info and pointers you may have. It will probably be a few months before I actually get a wrench on it.

[@gauge1223]

@@ronimhofffacts2858how’s it going??

[@BrandonBurns1985]

Of course this comes out when I finish custom built mounts and harness for my 99 RT 🤦‍♂️ but now I know the 12.3 dash will fit!!

[@Tiggerlooker]

I would love to do this on my 03 Durango! I have the Shelby body kit from 98-99. It would be a awesome project

[@adkinsteddy]

me too

[@thisguy2720]

Shouldnt have put the badges on it. Gotta love a sleeper

[@markm0000]

The old 5.9 R/T is a slow truck compared to most performance cars nowadays. When they see the similar looking badges at a distance they’ll never notice. Then when they get smoked they’ll get closer and see the 6.4L badge and realize their mistake.

[@NXT_LVL]

Badges? we don't need no sticking Badges.. VAMOS!!!

[@gknettel22]

I would’ve just done an SRT badge in the on the tailgate and one tucked in the grille, nothing more, most people would probably think you’re just dense and put the wrong badges on 😂

[@randymagnum143]

​@@markm0000Getting it hooked up is a major challenge.

[@markm0000]

@@randymagnum143 nice truck brother. These will become classics someday just like old C10’s.

[@drufetti510]

As a 392 owner. This is badass!

[@joshlara8237]

Ive always loved the dakota n now i love them even more with a hemi

[@ODGColornChrome]

Awesome, this will make putting one in my 37 hudson much easier!

[@JL-hw6lo]

And this is what ive been waiting for my 98 RT is just sitting on stands and Ive been wanting to swap the motor did not know it was this easy

[@Floreypottery]

I’m thinking a cammed out 5.7 hemi would be a lot more fun then the 5.9 and motors are cheap

[@markm0000]

@@Floreypottery Ow yeah that’s what I want. Loped 5.7L with a 6 speed manual and dual exhaust. I’d have no reason to buy a new truck.

[@johnbehneman1546]

WOW!!!!! Sounds like so much fun!!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@briananderson8389]

Nice, looking forward to my swap now

[@jamessilcox1192]

Awesome job! Dakota's rule.

[@willmatic84]

Congratulations 💯k 💪🏽😎 Holley

[@StevenKenniffALW]

Welp, this just became a dream project for me!

[@SoreTv]

I NEED THIS IN 4WD!!!

[@FTsingos]

I really miss mine. 2004 4x4, 5 speed, club cab. Such a good looking truck. Not the best build quality, I had random issues in mine, but it wasn't the worst either. I should've kept it. Also, what the heck happened to the mid size truck segment? Compact trucks are not as heavy as my truck was. Man, if I had it, I would've loved to remove the 4.7 and put in a hemi. Then who knows if the nv3500 and axles would've handled the power. lol Project cars are money pits.

[@iamdjlee1837]

This the same for a 2000 durango?

[@jakobevans457]

I’ve been waiting on this 😃

[@snoopy5736]

Dammm , what a sweet idea 💡

[@bobbypomphrey1770]

Awesome as hell.

[@josuevillanueva3016]

Well, time to finally get my 2004 Dakota four door. lol

[@slantedperspective]

Gonna do this in my Jeep liberty some day

[@creepyjeep7873]

I'm still waiting for a 1500 4x4 swap

[@stunnasam21]

Will there be engine mounts made for 4x4 Durango's!?

[@chrismartin790]

When are the A-Body Hemi swap components coming?

[@NXT_LVL]

As a owner of a 2004 with the 4.7, I cannot stop laughing. the old R/Ts were sleepers in their own right, this makes it into a hair triggered land mine. To quote the video review from MT on the 98 RT "A Homerun for those power crazed Dodge Boys"

[@shosaleen]

The 5.9 were pretty slow but sounded good with exhaust. The lightning was the sleeper

[@NXT_LVL]

@@shosaleen yep, the NA 351 OBS Lightning.. not the 5.4 with a blower lol the 5.9 made 250hp and the blown 5.4 in the Lightning made 100 more hp.. thats why people added blowers or stroker kits to the 5.9s to make them 408s that then walked those "Lightnings"

[@Floreypottery]

Definitely will smoke the newer heavy cars since these were super light

[@Floreypottery]

Love my 99 R/t it’ll still light tires up if you want it too

[@nflores5433]

Same for a durango of those years?

[@chrismathis3782]

Would be sweet in my second gen

[@JavierGonzalez-kh4rl]

I knew to never let go of my 2000 dodge Dakota 5.9 club cab special black with chrome wheels and sound system complete with all original interior THANK YOU HOLLEY will be using this information to transform it into what it deserves

[@quintin288]

can i have your 5.9 lol

[@Floreypottery]

Would love to do it too my red 99 r/t club cab

[@johnsmith-qz4bv]

nice infomation

[@mikehall6912]

Make a kit for a 4x4!!!!!

[@iamnobody9001]

Yep. I’d love for my 04 4x4 Dakota to have this monster in it! It would destroy the other full sized trucks!! And it would save a lot of money too!

[@mikehall737]

Imma be shopping with yall....

[@captainobvious5993]

For this price of this conversion you could probably buy a new durango with the 392

[@savagesock3598]

Nah a wrecked scatpack wouldn't be that much... It's still gonna cost an arm and a leg but it's a pretty cheaper way to make power.

[@paytonwilliams2900]

Yeah but its not a dakota

[@savagesock3598]

@Nouse Foraname When you're buying from dodge I don't think you're looking for beauty.

[@jeffe1779]

What’s the fun in that lol

[@master6435]

@@paytonwilliams2900 the Dakota and Durango are built on the same chassis

[@johnfloyd2551]

That is awesome

[@Nevaloud]

Boostedmotorsports has entered the chat

[@willmatic84]

My man John with the full helllcat 💪🏽

[@nicholaslandolina]

Love it

[@jadengill4321]

Thinking about hellcat swapping my 2000 dodge Dakota sport 😎

[@Cpennington57]

I tried to navigate your site for a first gen Durango swap kit. Will you be making a swap kit for the first gen Durango? I’ve owned my ‘03 since ‘07 and it’s been good to me, but I would like to have a 5.7 Hemi in mine. I currently have the inefficient and powerless 4.7. My ex ran it for a hundred thousand miles in 4 years, low on oil. Gave it back with worn rings and blown everything. I’ve done all I care to with rebuilding, but at 204,000 miles, it’s pointless to keep throwing money at it. It runs great, but it definitely has reduced compression and efficiency. I remember the day I bought it with 40k miles and the front end lifted up as I peeled out of the lot. The good old days lol. Now I get 9mpg for an engine with low compression and only 225hp, or less, that lost its “oomph.” A 345 hemi with 390HP and 10+ MPG would be worth the swap to me. A 392... even better 😜

[@alexrambert]

Id love to do this to my 4.7 3rd gen ram

[@jerodwolford2743]

Itd be a waaaay easier to do hemi swap on a 3rd gen. You don't even need any swap kits, you just need the engine and ecu. The 4.7 and 5.7 hemi use the same trans and same style ecu. Now I kind of wish my rt was a 4.7 because all I'd need is the headers and engine mounts and I'd be pretty set. I wouldve saved myself like 6-8 grand alone.

[@superowen21]

can you do a video on a 2003 ram regular cab as well?

[@ryanm7905]

What's the cost of this build? I'm assuming all of this would apply to the first gen durango too?

[@dylano7242]

If you have mechanicsl know how + tools, junk yard engine $5-6k. If paying some one $8-10k. New crate engine and paying some one $12-15k

[@bradlywylie8769]

I have a plan to do this to a Dakota but I’m just putting a crate 5.7 in it. But I want to put a 6spd standard behind it

[@garydalton1542]

Curious this should be possible on the durango rt as well I'm assuming since there the same chassis?

[@Robertwells596]

Now make a kit that lets us do this to a first gen durango. Don't really want to wire stuff up based on 10 year old forums. 4x4 to be exact.

[@funny_money92]

2nd gen Dakotas and 1st gen Durango's are the same thing.

[@keanandelarosa1329]

trying to do a budget hp build with junk parts but a premium controller. i know that the Max cant control the 45rfe but I got lucky with the independent tcm. What things would I have to tap into to get everything to work together?

[@jasondwyer3486]

Can this kit fit the same year Durango 4x4

[@marchedy8228]

What did holley use for the rest of the exhaust and what was done to the transportation

[@JTC-go3kg]

Holley how about sponsoring a kit my Dakota build has been in The Gentleman Racer .. Hot Rod .. Sport Truck

[@1johnnygunn]

Does this swap only work on 4x2, or does it work with 4x4's also?

[@funny_money92]

That's what I wanna know.

[@opelwasp]

No Holley was shortsighted and didn't design a 4x4 compatible kit.

[@Jmschnider]

so can i use a similar kit from you guys to put a new 5.7 hemi in my old 03 ram 1500 hemi?

[@DarrensTruckzs]

What about installing into my 2002 ram 1500 2 wheel drive 2 door shortbox that had 5.9 magnum in it with 4 speed automatic lockup transmission... is there video on this ?

[@ColbytheOnly]

And you know damn well imma do this to the 2002 durango

[@fatkat311]

I have an LS swapped BMW with a terminator X and wish it had better diagnostics. Would be nice if it had something like an OBD2 port.

[@funny_money92]

Would this swap work for a 4x4?

[@watupchief5889]

Any complete holly kits for the v8 ranger swap ? Coyote or OHV 302?

[@nitewatch2.027]

As I said,, I’d like to do this to my 2001 Ram Van,,,, there’s lots of vanners like me,, that want a gen 3 hemi in our machines,,, if y’all come up with a system like this for dodge vans,, you’ll be hard pressed to keep up with orders

[@michaeljohnson8002]

How much weight will the Gen III Hemi and transmission add? Will I need to plan on replacing the coil springs in my 2000 Dakota quad cab that has the 4.7L Magnum V8 and 45 RFE transmission?

[@salafiathari2049]

Would it be the same on the 1st gen durango? I’ve been searching for it online , yet to see one.

[@Korican1133]

How about some Mopar A Body love Holley

[@brad3139]

FINALLY

[@anwyngiu1]

Where did you get that digital cluster, I really need that.

[@master6435]

Would this work on the same year dodge Durango?

[@ernestoramon3700]

when is holley gonna do one for the 03 RAM 1500 for gen 3 hemi??

[@daymianhayes2493]

Hell ya!!!!!!!!!

[@FranManGarage]

wat da sleeper.... Love it... LOL

[@mattybarringer8994]

Where can i find the digital gauge cluster? not finding it on the website..

[@movementonwheels]

I need that cluster

[@bad98rt1]

its just their 12" cluster its not only for the dakota

[@sjwilson1079]

Everytime he says something my wallet just groans

[@zerofoxgiven89]

Really wish you all made a kit for a 4x4 91-96 Dakota

[@vertrox3435]

I feel ya man... everyone always plays with Gen II’s... us first-genners never get any love

[@destructoidx99]

those years dodges belong in junk yards

[@moonmoon4338]

Would this also work for a 2004 ram?

[@E30Tylerrr]

Can i use this same kit on my 2001 dodge ram 1500 with the 5.2

[@adkinsteddy]

will this also work on the 97-03 Durango?

[@ronsmith9251]

I want to do this swap on a 2nd generation Ram.

[@alexanderroque1590]

Quick question, have a 01 Dakota with a 4.7 it’s a manual nv3500 2wd wouldn’t that work with the 5.7 hemi ?keeping it simple ?

[@donavinkreischer]

Would this work for a 1st gen 4wd durango?

[@pmp2559]

Can I still pass emissions testing or do I have to piggyback? Thanks

[@atsgeekstar]

Does a lot of this also translate over to the 1st gen durango to?

[@elgamazacatecas6670]

💯💯💯

[@sghand1218]

i have a 2006 Mitsu Raider truck. i've heard the V6 engine/transmission matches Dodge Dakota. is there a Hemi adaption ?

[@D_wright015]

Question: Can it still pass emissions via obd2

[@JayEllis76]

All these transmission options, but nothing for the NV3500

[@poorperformance8850]

Nv3500 is only rated to 350 ft/lbs of torque, thats why it wasn't put behind the stock 5.9 with 345 ft/lbs factory rating

[@MatthewSarduy33177]

I wanna gen 3 hemi in my 1st gen ram please

[@zacharyrodriguez1198]

So question… what happens to the old ECUs that are already on the Dakota?

[@maxialtamirano.dakenstein392]

HOLLEY! What do I need so that my starter does not collide with the chassis!?

[@tropicaldesigns1249]

I have a 4.7 Dakota quad cab, would the swap still work?

[@cb-gz1vl]

Don't show me this! I just got my 98 straight and now this is tempting me to engine swap it.

[@grimdrown7293]

will this work with 4wd ?

[@jonthomsen7433]

I just bought my 5th dakota, will the hemi work in a 4x4?? I'm curious because this on is a 318 5speed truck and I have a hemi I can swap into it. So a 6.4 5 speed dakota. But not sure if it will work with the 4x4 all the swaps I see are 2wd

[@cesargarcia-Zl8lH]

Is the engine bay with everything else the same in a 1999 Durango?

[@indycollie6424]

Got a kit for the gen 1 yet?

[@WildAzzRacing]

Question, how does this affect OBDII reading? Some of us live in states where they actually do emissions testing and they plug in to the OBDII port.

[@Airwolf1971]

This engine swap using Holley's ECU is illegal in all 50 states.

[@MrGreatness412]

​@@Airwolf1971 damn 😢

[@sparkie5571]

@@MrGreatness412 you can typically buy the stock ecu for the same price and unlock it. This will keep obd2, let you tune the car, and already comes pre-programmed for emissions, your vin, and that obd2 port I mentioned. If you buy a hemi ecu, you can be legal in a few states. I know you're legal in Az with this, because I live in az!

[@mustangspartan]

Waiting on a whole 392 zf8 swap

[@rickygrice4151]

I want this with a 392 and manual

[@98ramrado]

How about for the 2nd gen rams

[@thomasdenham2142]

Will this fit I a 2001 ram 1500 truck

[@godgirlsguitars]

Let's say I wanna keep my stock 5 speed manual. Still possible?