2.5L Upgrades?

I have a 1998 Dodge Dakota with a 2.5L engine with a manual transmission. I would like to upgrade the performance of this engine while retaining (or improving) fuel economy. I have installed a throttle body spacer and a cold air intake. Are there any upgrade tips? Thanks.

V8.

Insightful yet not the route I was going for. Although I must admit a V8 would be nice.

A performance chip, maybe a turbocharger off of a Mopar car of the same motor, something like that...

Yeah I've been looking into a turbocharger but I can't find one made for my truck. I guess not many people think a 2.5L is worth the time and effort. Im thinking about getting the Venom 400 to upgrade the dakota. Lookin at a 300 buck deal on that so basically waitin on the cash.

A 2.5 definitely is worth the effort, like it was in the older cars. I'm sure you can take a turbo from a 2.5 from like a Shelby Daytona or something. I think a Dodge Magnum 2.5 engine is very similar to the one used in the older cars.

You can turbo the 2.5L in the truck, everything still fits from a turbo car. If you're lucky, the oiling ports are on your 2.5 too, ifnot, you can get around that with a remote oil filter adaptor and some adaptors.

Do it! It'll be fun to watch. Tell me when it's finished and I'll come and see it run. Might even be fast...

If you need mor info or help post it here and I'll give you other details as to all what you have to do to make more than 200 BHP out of that thing....

Check your poll, I gave you a reply that might suprise you.

There are 153 reasons why not to put that motor in that truck......:)

Slantsixness
From Beautiful Downtown Spotsylvania, VA (HA HA HA)

There are several things you can do to upgrade the 2.5l other than a turbo. One of the greatest items of note on the magnum 2.5l is that it is the same as the jeep 2.5l.

Mopar makes a cat-back system, cam, and valve upgrades

Pacesetter and Borla make headers for the 2.5l jeep, same as the dakota. The pacesetters can be gotten for around 150 while the borlas cost closer to 300

The jeep 4.0l throttle body fits onto our engines, just make sure it is off of a wrangler tj with the MAP sensor on the throttle. Most of the other jeeps have their MAP on the firewall (with spacer, up to $180). You will also need to move your sensors over from your current tb to the new one.

180 degree t-stat (stant #36308 or 65358 at checker/schuck/kragen, www.partsexpress.com, $10)

make your own intake ($50)

could try port and polish (DIY for around 50-100 depending on tools you already have)

jet stage II performance chip ($230)

flowmaster 40 series delta muffler

accel 300+ ignition system ($300)

These are probably the easiest mods to perform on a 2.5l. The throttle, port/polish, intake, and exhaust should probably be done before the jet II because the stage two assumes that the engine's breathing has been opened up. If you want to go with the chip first, you should probably stick to a stage I chip. If you are considering building up the engine to a large extent, I have heard that the crank/rods/pistons for the 2.2l turbo fit into the block and that crank will carry 300 hp no prob while the stock 2.5 will only hold about 200 hp.

for info on port and polishing the head yourself, try the following resources. None of these are specifically for a dakota, but it is similar for most vehicles. Supposedly, summit racing makes a port & polish kit that they sell for about $30.

info resources:
http://www.automotiverebuilder.com/ar/ar39924.htm
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/63200/index1.html
http://www.sa-motorsports.com/diyport.htm
http://www.gtiworld.fsnet.co.uk/porting.htm
http://www.miata.net/hakuna/port2.html

parts resources:
http://www.ruffstuff.com/pages/pindex.html
http://www.carbidebur.com/automotive.html

I want some of what dralin's smokin.....

Dralin states:
"I have heard that the crank/rods/pistons for the 2.2l turbo fit into the block and that crank will carry 300 hp no prob while the stock 2.5 will only hold about 200 hp."

LOL,.... no LOL!!!!

"There are several things you can do to upgrade the 2.5l other than a turbo"

There are several things I can do to run your normally aspirated 110 Hp 2.5L at least 3 seconds behind my whiny little turbo's all day long.


You livin it up dude, I don't know where you bought that stuff, but I'm getting a buzz off it from here.

Slantsixness

Whats the difference between the Jet stage 2 and the Venom 300, wouldn't the Venom 300 be a better bet since it modifies as it sees it, and basically at WOT? Plus the Venom has an off switch which will return my truck to well, the bolt-on stockness of it lol. Plus only lookin at $70 more for the Venom.

The venom will allow you to pass emissions when they get to your county, too. Jet won't.

So there's a thought. I've gotta do emmisions next year with all mine (pain in the A$$).

I wasn't saying that the crank/rods/pistons from the 2.2 was going to make the 2.5 have 300 hp, I was saying that they would be *safe* up to 300 hp. I have also mentioned they had to be from the 2.2 turbo, not just any 2.2.

Just to let you know slant, the 2.5 is 120 hp stock, not 110.

As far as turbo v. normally aspirated, I just don't like the idea of a nifty little turbine spinning anywhere from 15k - 90k rpms with splines that could blow into my engine at any time. Some people like turbos and if they can get it to work safely, more power to them (literally).

I was also saying that you can upgrade the engine without doing a turbo setup, not that you can't turbo it. You may have the money to burn on a turbo, but I don't so I have to make do with what I can.

It's great to know that there's at least one jackass on here who has to comment on everything anyone says about the 4 banger, I'm really glad to see that everyone here understands the concept of a limited budget (= no engine swap).

this is dralin signing off, not to return

Were you actually calling me a donkey?

first,
Turbos are very safe, and they're not expensive, especially considering you'd spend at least $600.00 just in bullsh!T upgrades you could avoid with a $35.00 junkyard turbo and about $100.00 of other small parts. What concept do YOU have of a limited budget?

Second,
what exactly is the difference between 110 and 120 HP... both still crawl... and the old 2.2's were 110hp so, whatever dude.... I suppose you could change the intake temperature sensor to read cold all the time and then you'd gain 20 more HP too, huh...? yeah that's Bullsh!t you hear all right...

Third,
If you can't take the flaming, don't stoke the fire.

Actually Just slapping a turbo on a vehicle not set up for it is a horrible idea unless you plan on running no more than 6 lbs of boost. Any more than that requires forged components unless you want to be rebuilding your motor every 15-20000 miles.

Dralin's approach is much safer for engine components minus scabbing 2.2 componentry in your 2.5.

not fueling the fire just adding level headed 2 cents. 2.5 with a turbo in a jeep is still going to be gutless. Its nature of the beast so all you can do is A: either deal with it, or B: Help by upgrading what you can.

Keith

OK, first off a 2.5l turbo in a jeep would not be gutless... I've got one of the old turbo shadows and am running 15 pounds of boost with NO INTERCOOLER on stock T1 internals. Granted, i would not run more than 15psi without an intercooler but with the turbo internals it is quite safe with higher octane gas. It is not hard to get 300hp with at least as much torque out of the 2.2/2.5 liters. Also, in '89 Chrysler went to the common block (meaning the 2.2 and 2.5 use the same block) and the only difference with the internals is the crank (longer stroke) and pistons (They are shorter in the 2.5 to allow for the longer stroke). There are lots of these engines around as you could get them in pretty much any k car that Chrysler built in the 80's and early 90's, even in the old caravans before the v6's were available.

Granted, the N/A upgrades are the easiest to do, but on a budget it is quite possible to upgrade to a turbo setup, though it is not worth doing unless you get the internals. As long as you have the common block (89+) internals from either engine will work, but you will then be stuck with the displacement of the engine that you used for the parts. Otherwise, all the external parts are the same too, except for the computer. You must get one that matches your displacement.

If you want the power, Go with the turbo... its totally worth it and not that expensive as you can get all used parts pretty cheap. If your just looking for a small boost, just stick with the N/A stuff.

And for the record, you dont need forged internals for more than 6lbs of boost, in fact the stock t1 internals are all cast except for the rods, which are forged. The cast crank is safe up to about 300hp in the common block motor, any more than that and things will start to flex.

HMMM are you sure about that, the engine in the Dakota changed from a Chrysler to the AMC motor in 97 or 98 (same as jeep 2.5l motor after 97 or 98) so fitting an early pre 1995 2.2 turbo and internals might not be as simple as you think.

I have the 99 Dakota with the 2.5, have done the CAI, Wrangler TB conversion, Ignition Coil and wire upgrades along with plugs to IRD units, has shown modest increases but still underpowered on highway, around town it's great.

Looking for a garret t3 or t4 turbo and will make my own manifold for it, I love this truck and the mileage I get just need about 30 to 40 more HP, and yes I am willing to spend the time doing it cause that's what I like to do. Some people fish or hunt, I like to tinker with cars. If done right it might even be a bonus at a car show, not many around. Not looking to do an 10 sec 1/4 mile, got my Prostreet Ranger for that, just want to be able to pass on the highway without yanking into 4th all the time.

The 2.5 Liter in 97 up Dakotas are the AMC based four cylinder engines.
As far as performance modifications, go to .505 performance. they have good deals on cylinder heads and if you want to go crazy, get the stroker kit. or buy the stroker engine with the better head for 3000.
My two cents at least.
For turbocharging these guys, use the t4 turbo off of a mitsubishi engine, or an m90 supercharger to bolt onto the manifold. ( have to relocate the powersteering.) yes you will have to build an adapter plate, yet it works good off idle which is what you want. Stock i never had to pull mine out of 5th on the freeway to pass people. so idk what everyone is complaining about that their underpowered. I got up to 70mph in 3rd for crying out loud. it spins that little guy but it does it.

The 2.5 Liter in 97 up Dakotas are the AMC based four cylinder engines.
As far as performance modifications, go to .505 performance. they have good deals on cylinder heads and if you want to go crazy, get the stroker kit. or buy the stroker engine with the better head for 3000.
My two cents at least.
For turbocharging these guys, use the t4 turbo off of a mitsubishi engine, or an m90 supercharger to bolt onto the manifold. ( have to relocate the powersteering.) yes you will have to build an adapter plate, yet it works good off idle which is what you want. Stock i never had to pull mine out of 5th on the freeway to pass people. so idk what everyone is complaining about that their underpowered. I got up to 70mph in 3rd for crying out loud. it spins that little guy but it does it.

Hmm must be the hilly terrain around here, to drive from Sydney Nova Scotia to Halifax, I would say I am about 50% for 4 to 5th gear and that's just to keep a decent 65 MPH without passing. Tires are a bit larger than stock so gear ratio is slightly lower that stock, expect that's the difference. Turbo will fix that. Another option is the 3.9L I have in my parts truck, but need a new 5-speed if I go that route. Thanks for the info you supplied all pros and cons go into the equation before I do anything. Interesting alternative the supercharger, hmmm. will have to look into that.

Hmm must be the hilly terrain around here, to drive from Sydney Nova Scotia to Halifax, I would say I am about 50% for 4 to 5th gear and that's just to keep a decent 65 MPH without passing. Tires are a bit larger than stock so gear ratio is slightly lower that stock, expect that's the difference. Turbo will fix that. Another option is the 3.9L I have in my parts truck, but need a new 5-speed if I go that route. Thanks for the info you supplied all pros and cons go into the equation before I do anything. Interesting alternative the supercharger, hmmm. will have to look into that.


The 3.9 is more of a :jerking: lol. If you go with a 3.9 you might as well take the extra step and put the 318 or 360 in the truck. the mileage would be about the same. Infact my 99 318 dakota 4x4 with a 5speed got on average 18-20 in town. plus on the freeway it wasnt spinning hard either, got around 24. Best was 27 idk how i did that one. so if your looking for a little more gearing and power i would go the v8 route with these trucks. I have never seen the benefit of the 3.9. If you do turbo the 4 banger there is some guys putting 198 ftlbs of torque to the rear wheels. .505 performance has the one engine for 3 k with a bunch of goodies included. thats 180hp and 200 ftlbs of torque. I am implying you may have to go internal to get the results you want. But i am willing to help anyway you go :cool:

Hmm interesting and a good point, the 3.9 is a 318 missing 2 cylinders, did some research on the M90 supercharger, that looks really unique. they are fairly inexpensive and plentiful. found a few threads for them in the 2.5 motor. Only reason I mentioned the 3.9 is because it's free and the one I have in my parts truck runs like new.

As for internal mods I was going to freshen up the 2.5 before installing the turbo or supercharger anyway, any suggestions here are welcomed, I got a rebuild kit (all internal bearings and gaskets) along with a new OEM cam and lifters, would like to find head studs but my searches come up empty, would the 4.0L head stud kit work from ARP? (I know there will be extra but as far as I know the 2.5 is basically a 4.0 missing 2 cylinders), the other thing I haven't been able to find is a set of forged pistons, hypers can be used but forged are more reliable. Also would love to get some YellaTerra roller rockers but they are way out of my budget, and alternatives you know of??

Hmm interesting and a good point, the 3.9 is a 318 missing 2 cylinders, did some research on the M90 supercharger, that looks really unique. they are fairly inexpensive and plentiful. found a few threads for them in the 2.5 motor. Only reason I mentioned the 3.9 is because it's free and the one I have in my parts truck runs like new.

As for internal mods I was going to freshen up the 2.5 before installing the turbo or supercharger anyway, any suggestions here are welcomed, I got a rebuild kit (all internal bearings and gaskets) along with a new OEM cam and lifters, would like to find head studs but my searches come up empty, would the 4.0L head stud kit work from ARP? (I know there will be extra but as far as I know the 2.5 is basically a 4.0 missing 2 cylinders), the other thing I haven't been able to find is a set of forged pistons, hypers can be used but forged are more reliable. Also would love to get some YellaTerra roller rockers but they are way out of my budget, and alternatives you know of??



Forged piston apparently came stock in 97 up dakotas and jeeps. They are the same size piston as a 4.0 from what i have been informed of. Yes the ARP studs will work from a 4.0. If you have a 3.9 with the manual, keep that manual so if perhaps you decide on doing the v8 swap, you have the transmission already to go. the eaton m90 is not as hard as everyone thinks to adapt to the engine, I personally relocated my power steering pump and bolted it to the intake. However you can get creative and do all sorts of different set ups. a turbo will be easy with a banks turbo exhaust manifold, flip you intake upside down and have the turbo blow up into the intake. (sounds weird but it works. That way the injectors also create a swirl effect in the manifold for the fuel. (kindof a diesel compressing effect.) We did manage to get this system running today on a mule engine, so i do not have numbers.

Anyways. Pistons and head studs are readily available, and yes those rockers are bad assssss:iceslolan:naughty:

So mine is a 1999 AMC 2.5 in my Dakota and it should already have the forged pistons then, interesting I did not know that, I have a bore gage and microeters, if the bores and pistons are still in spec, all I will need is a ridge ream and hone the cylinders and the internals will be good to go, except for wrist pins, cannot find them unless I buy piston set?? I would love to see a pic of your setup if possible, that system sounds sick.

"a turbo will be easy with a banks turbo exhaust manifold"

Found a "banks torque" exhaust manifold for the 2.5 but cannot find the turbo exhaust manifold, a link would be most appreciated.

"Forged piston apparently came stock in 97 up dakotas and jeeps." FYI: Just started to rebuild my motor, pistons are original and are most definitely cast, not forged, 1999 Dakota 2.5L, so where ever that info came from they are mistaken at least with my motor, just updating for anyone who reads this. Back to work now, later.

I have a 1997 2.5L I just got the 4.0L throttle body and straight piped from the cat back I would like to do fuel injectors Wich injectors would be best and I heard of using a ford explorer or Taurus rad is that true??? And are there any other good mods recommend for this motor ? Personally or not would like to know!!

I got a 1997 2.5L sport and did the 4.0L throttle body swap and I want to know any other good mods recommend

Hey I'm new to this but seems to be
A solid Way to get info, now speaking of the 2.5 Dakota I just got one has 130k alot of older car guys say baby e.m at that point every miles a blessing, I definitely don't like having any balls under the hood just crashed old square body with a screaming small block in it it's one extreme to another but I see u can buy TB's from Holly even aftermarket intake manifolds and header so is OK get all that and have that many miles or just rolling them dice?