First I want to say IM NOT asking how to do this or if its feasable, this Is basically my build thread telling you how I am GOING to do it...(unless I fail LOL-if I do ill report on that as well haha) all my research of the topic leads to a bunch of people talking about how it would be a pain and how it is too much work, probably wont work blah blah blah, nobody that's tried it or done it on a dodge that I can find...just a lot of talkers... All I can say Is that we'll find out soon enough.... I think it will work...
A little about me: worked on cars my whole life, spent 15 months at wyotech in Wyoming studing auto repair/custom fab etc. I since have worked for dodge for 10 years and have been building up my home shop for the last 10 years where I specialize in moonlight auto repairs/medium duty fabrication/small engine repair/camper repair/etc... I have a lot of tools and a big enough work space to allow a project to sit. since I work for Chrysler I have unlimited access to service manuals and scanners. im 29.5 yrs old.
Disclaimer: My initial glance at this project, i would say like has been said in the past-DONT TRY THIS AT HOME LOL, it will not be easy and would not be something id recommend others do unless you also have patience and a very good grasp of electronics and the vehicle your working on. also what I do here may not work for your vehicle because of different options and combinations. I believe this swap for me will be significantly easier that converting to a newer (97+ harness) due to the 95-96 Dakotas being so similar even a 92,93,94, differently equipt 95 would be totally different swap and you could only use my info as a guide not the definitive answer
my truck: 1995 Dakota 5spd manual 318 engine originally, now 408 5spd manual but is a OBD1 mopar computer
So im in the junkyard the other day and I see a 1996 Dakota, after a closer look I find that it is pretty much intact as far as wiring/pcm goes and its as close to my truck as im going to find probably... it has a 5.2 liter v8, auto trans, 2wd with similar options to my truck. my plan is to remove the entire harness including the interior harness but use as little of it as possible... ill post up pictures as I go, but as of right now im 2 hours into the removal of the harness and have the engine harness out of the truck with the exception of a couple transmission connectors.... I am friends with the guys that run the yard and they are going to lift the truck up once I get the dash out so I can get the last few connectors out...
that's all I got for now, ill update with pics as I go, wish me luck