I have a 88 dakota w/ a 3.9     I am looking to swap it with a V8, b4 i go through all of the lifting and suspension work. What would be a good engine  for a daily driver and off roading?  

You are going about this all wrong in your logic. The answer is not a bigger engine, the answer is to properly regear the axles!! Some many people lift truck and never regear and then blame engine not the person that configured it. Put big tires and a lift on stock gear is the same as putting much taller gears with stock tires. Both reduce performance a lot! As to what gear ratio you want the depends on the lift and the tire size but if you do it right you will find the 3.9 well up to the task.