'93 Dakota, what happens next?

[Pyro6]

Trans and 4wd stuff is still pretty much manual: TV cable and governor. Indicator lights, VSS, ABS are the main concerns. I could make it work on the donor harness and PCM, I hope I don't have to, but a simple exact donor harness from a 4WD 5.2L Dakota would make things alot easier. The PCM (SBEC back than) could be usable from the D150. The oil pan caught me off guard, I should have known, but that's the way it goes.

[Pyro6]

We got an oil pan today, new from Advance for 61 bucks. NAPA wanted 93 and Federated wanted 83 bucks all with the same part number from Spectra. Really makes me wonder where the big price differences come from, especially when I gotta pay for Auto Care Center fees. I just paid them or I would seriously reconsider. So anyway, having a hard time getting a wiring harness, started the customizing procedure. Everything from the 6 to 8 is exactly the same. Except the 2 extra fuel injector connectors. So, I am taking the 7 and 8 injector connectors and wiring all the way back to the computer, and wiring them in on the D150 computer. If it runs off that setup, I'll probably bite the bullet and buy a reman from the Co. I get my computers.

[Pyro6]

We're gettin somewhere. The engine's in, exhaust, trans, convertor, engine mounts, all bolted right up. I finally found a V8 wiring harness for 40 bucks. It was an hour drive west on the turnpike and I had to take it out myself but it was well worth it. My constable buddy and his engineer son went along, almost made it seem effortless. Or maybe it was the beer. Anyway, if all goes well, tomorrow or Saturday we should be hearing it run. Business first though.

[SuperSix]

Why the teeny pics?

[Pyro6]

I thought they were o.k. When I review em they look o.k.? You're more computer savvy than I am, let me know what I got to do. This is the only way i could get pictures to work.

[SuperSix]

Nothing wrong with them, just small

[Pyro6]

When somebody tells me something I got is small, it gets my attention. 

[Steve Wood]

When somebody tells me something I got is small, it gets my attention. 

size them to about 800 x 600 so old people can see them

[Pyro6]

It runs!!!!!! And sounds awesome

[daveismissing]

Cool-
I'm confused about which engine computer you are now using?

[Pyro6]

Ended up buying a 5.2 one from my local Dodge dealer, 210 plus core. I thought as difficult as it was to find the wiring harness, the computer was gonna be near impossible.  The truck we got the harness from, the computer was already gone.

[Pyro6]

This is the donor truck without it's heart. The passenger side looked near perfect. The yard told Thomas it was an elderly guy that probably shouldn't have been driving.

[Pyro6]

Hey everyone, this is Thomas (Pyro6's son) and just wanted to give a special thanks to my dad and the garage in general; this wouldn't have been possible without him.  I've always wanted to do this to my Dakota, but didn't know when or even if it would even happen. Lots of time and aggravation eventually pays off. Overall it was a fun project, just kind of had bad timing. It hurt financially, but when my options were weighed, it made no sense to get rid of it and buy another Dakota with only a few thousand less miles on it, and who even knows how it was treated. It's an awesome truck, I love it, and honestly have no plans on getting rid of it anytime soon. So far it's on it's on its 4th life....only 5 more left.  And for the record, not many trucks can say they towed a tow truck (much less a loaded F-650 with a Suburban and two Silverados on it). 

[SuperSix]

Yay! Big pics!

Very nice of you to hijack your Dad's account and say that Thomas.

[Pyro6]

Latest update. The new computer lasted one week. Shut down on Thomas on main street right in front of the police station I put the 6 cyl. computer in and drove it back to the shop. Warranted computer in, so far so good.