There are just some days I wish I didn't turn wrenches

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strutaeng

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My landlord asked me to help his guy that does work for him on the buildings on his rental properties. Has a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 that threw a rod. Is a 4.7 V8. First used engine replacement attempt was a 4.7 out of a Dakota year 2003 and did start but a lot of the brackets and other install components did not fit and when it did run, the idle would always fluctuate and then the engine would die and then would not restart till next day. So, as it turns out that when I drove to help him, 15 miles away. that he has a small salvage yard. He had a 2004 Ram 1500 with a 4.7 engine that was in a wrecked rolled over truck. He ripped out the Dakota 4.7 and installed this engine. Then he put it all together enough, minus radiator and all components at front of engine. Now it cranks over and spits while cranking and using starting fluid it fires off for a second and flames out of the TB. It has spark but sounds out of time. He has tried numerous cam/crank sensors and even an IAC valve. My scanner would not hook up/mate up and said that no info to send. I looked under the hood of the 2004 and the ECM had 4 harness connectors and the 2002 ECM had 3 connectors. Saw a few harness connectors that were hanging. Further research found that the 2004 is a Flex Fuel truck, the 2002 is a gas. FF did not start for Dodge, till 2004. Has different part numbers for some components and I also found that the Crank sensor tone wheel is different. I told him he needs a different engine or to swap all computerization and harnesses. See pics.

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He can't LS swap it? :)

I'm kidding.

I don't really know anything about these trucks, but my sister has second generation Durango, I believe the same engine. Several years ago her water pump failed and it overheated. My BIL had the engine replaced. And same BIL bought a 2013-ish Ram maybe 3 years ago. I don't think he drives it much. He's a Chevy guy but told me the only reason why he's bought these trucks is because used Chevys are kinda expensive.

We do own a minivan with the Pentastar, but everything else I own is GM full sized.
 

15burban

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I could be wrong but I think when dodge switched the tone rings they switched their canbus system also. So if even if you did switch the harness you'd have to switch out the gauge cluster too otherwise the motor won't talk to the cluster/interior harness. Dodges wiring/computer systems are way more complicated then they need to be. Hence why once my 16 rusts out from under me I'll be looking for a 90's mid 00's gm truck.
 

Tonyrodz

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I could be wrong but I think when dodge switched the tone rings they switched their canbus system also. So if even if you did switch the harness you'd have to switch out the gauge cluster too otherwise the motor won't talk to the cluster/interior harness. Dodges wiring/computer systems are way more complicated then they need to be. Hence why once my 16 rusts out from under me I'll be looking for a 90's mid 00's gm truck.
I agree with you. Cars are getting more complicated then they need to be.
 

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