Results 1 to 22 of 22

Thread: 2.6 (1989 4wd) & 2.6 (1987 2wd) motor swap

  1. #1

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B

    2.6 (1989 4wd) & 2.6 (1987 2wd) motor swap

    Hello all, I am new to the ram 50 world and knowledgeable help is hard to find. I am needing to replace my engine (g54b) and found a donor but its out of a 1987 and it's 2wd. Am I going to have any clearance issues and will I need to swap any parts to make it work? Thanks for any help!!!

  2. #2



    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-16-2011
    Posts
    3,803
    Location

    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle

    1979 Dodge D-50
    Engine

    Chevy V6
    I want to say there the same. But look in the Wiki under engine. We have a hole big thing in there on years and types. It should help out, I hope. But one of the second gen guys will jump in here soon.
    Members come and members go, But the board keeps track of them.
    Find me on FaceBook
    clicking HERE.

    Or look on YouTube Click Here.
    http://mobilemillwright.com

  3. #3

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    From what I deciphered everything will be fine with the blocks. Haven't seen anything about the transfer. My current tranny is a manual and the donor is a automatic. Kinda has me scratching my head. Only one way to find out if I don't get a solid answer.... Thanks!

  4. #4



    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-16-2011
    Posts
    3,803
    Location

    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle

    1979 Dodge D-50
    Engine

    Chevy V6
    Measure the distance between the 2 lower mounting bolts. But I want to say that after 85 they were all wide block engines.
    Members come and members go, But the board keeps track of them.
    Find me on FaceBook
    clicking HERE.

    Or look on YouTube Click Here.
    http://mobilemillwright.com

  5. #5

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    Will do thanks!

  6. #6




    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-20-2011
    Posts
    4,851
    Location

    Pittsburgh, PA
    Vehicle

    1980 Dodge D-50
    Engine

    G54B
    the oil pan may need changed to clear the front diff - compare them and see - the pickup may need to be swapped also. Both blocks are wide blocks, so that should not be an issue.
    Pennyman1
    The best Dodge that Dodge never made
    Living the D-50 lifestyle since 1980

  7. #7

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    04-15-2011
    Posts
    66
    Location

    American Fork, UT
    Vehicle

    1987 Mitsubishi Montero
    Engine

    Other
    the shifter housing is easy to remove, and the front housing section attached to the transfer case bolts up to the gear box. (just did this 2 days ago). 87 and 89 engines are nearly identical-I have an 87. If you are installing the transmission yourself there is a secret for a very easy way to do it-install just the gear box first-it's not very heavy and you can lift it in to place yourself, line up the input shaft and just push it in to contact the engine block and install the bell housing bolts. Next you install the shifter tunnel section, very light with only one tricky bit-getting the shift-finger selector inside of the selector rods on the gear box. The hardest part is the beefy t-case-feels like 100 pounds or more. You'll need someone inside to slide a shifter selector part on the rod that connects to the t-case as you push the unit forward. I can supply photos if you need it. If you haven't done it before, I suggest doing a trial run in the driveway to see how it all connects first. Took me 30 minutes and I'm old and stupid. Good luck.

  8. #8

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    Thanx natureboy I'm thinking I will do the swap and leave the tranny in (if its possible) I got the donor motor pulled yesterday. Wasn't too bad and I was surprised to see that the torque converter has 6 bolts and the block/tranny only has 4. I'm not eager to mess with the tranny or transfer case on the driver.

  9. #9

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    I rounded a bolt on the daggum top left tranny bolt (up against the firewall) I can't beat a 12 point socket on like I normally would. Any suggestions? Afraid to use heat since it is so close to the carb and has oil all over the engine. The only tools I can get to squeeze in there is an open 14mm wrench and vice grips. I've had it soaking in sea foam but am open to suggestions!

  10. #10


    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    08-31-2011
    Posts
    832
    Location

    Calgary, Alberta, Canada
    Vehicle

    1981 Dodge D-50
    Engine

    Ford V8
    I have a set of these and they are one of the best tools I ever picked up http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1..._tnt=39869:3:0

  11. #11

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    09-30-2012
    Posts
    394
    Location

    Vanessa, Ontario
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Power Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    If you pull the intake manifold carburetor and all and wash the oil off you can heat up that bolt and crack it loose with the vise grips. With the manifold out of the way you may have a bit more room to work.

  12. #12

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    Got it finally. Just found a fire extinguisher and kept it handy. Little heat and a few busted knuckles later I was in business. Should put the new motor in sometime next week.

  13. #13

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    I got the motor in and it was a pain. It didn't trigger in my mind to check the oil pan and sure enough the 4x4 had a different oil pan that was preventing the motor mounts to mate up. I pulled it all back out changed the pans and the pick-up tube then it fit like a glove. I plumbed it all in and I knew it had a bad tank. I found out today that a long bed tank is bigger than a short bed....

  14. #14

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    09-30-2012
    Posts
    394
    Location

    Vanessa, Ontario
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Power Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    I think the tanks differ from 2wd to 4wd also, as well as ext.cab to regular cab. Although the latter may be the same as long and short bed. I'm not sure if regular cab long bed is the same frame as ext cab.

  15. #15




    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-20-2011
    Posts
    4,851
    Location

    Pittsburgh, PA
    Vehicle

    1980 Dodge D-50
    Engine

    G54B
    yes the long bed reguar cab and the ext cab are the same frame with different mounts for the cab and bed. The tanks are also different from 2wd and 4wd. I tried to warn you about the oil pan and pickup...
    Pennyman1
    The best Dodge that Dodge never made
    Living the D-50 lifestyle since 1980

  16. #16

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    Thanks for the info on the tanks. I found one tank thats out of a mighty max. As soon as I couldn't get those motor mounts to bolt up I new exactly what it was. I should have the old goat runnin this next week.

  17. #17

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    Got a tank out of a mighty max for $20 I plumbed it in and she started right up! I just gotta put new carpet and seat in then I'm on the road. My crew cab 2500hd 4x4 needs a break from the 45 mile commute to work. So does my wallet! Thanks for all the help ill post pics ASAP.

  18. #18

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    09-30-2012
    Posts
    394
    Location

    Vanessa, Ontario
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Power Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    You may want to keep a spare fuel filter in the glove box. After I swapped the tank on mine, the fuel filter plugged up a few weeks later. Over a distance of 20 kilometers from the first sign of power loss it became barely driveable.

  19. #19

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    bolt.jpg This is the top left tranny/motor bolt that stripped. Had to file it down to a 10mm heat it and bust a few knuckles....truck.jpginterior.jpg after the rat eviction glove box.jpgthey even ate part of the darn glove box??? cbt.jpg Im sure you are interested to see what the other truck in the shop was....

  20. #20

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    Got everything lined out she is running good (little weaker than the V8 that im used to driving). Just have some small issues to fix like the a/c compressors. I like the compressor and brackets that came out of the donor but will not mount up to my condensor (hoses are different mounting style). The idler arm is out so it has the death wobble at 65mph. Also has a high idle in neutral and im afraid to mess with the carb with all of the horror storys i have read about. I would like to thank everyone that helped me out with some very good information.

    Lessons learned:

    2wd & 4wd models are interchangable from 87 - 89 if you change oil pans and pickup tube....
    Fuel tanks are not interchangeable between short/long bed.......
    The entire truck can be disassembled with a 12mm & 14mm wrench.

  21. #21



    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    07-24-2012
    Posts
    2,363
    Location

    Washington State
    Vehicle

    1986 Mitsubishi Mighty Max
    Engine

    G63B
    Looks like the rats ate your seats and carpet too looking in that one picture...

  22. #22

    Array
    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    03-23-2013
    Posts
    18
    Location

    Fort Smith, AR
    Vehicle

    1989 Dodge Ram 50
    Engine

    G54B
    The rat crap was so thick I was scraping it out with a garden hoe. I had a mound from the ground to the door. Piss saturated the floor and the foam was nearly all gone from the rats hiding it in the ducts. Finally got the smell out and the wife refuses to ride/drive it. **win!**

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •