Ok guys, I purchased a 1996 Dodge Dakota 2.5 5 speed about 2 months ago knowing the motor was drove WAY to hard and it had a motor tick. Well recently I started trying to find a USED engine for it. Now the only 2.5 I could find was for $900 with 150k on the clock, but I found a V6 for it for $300 with 60k on the clock. I was thinking about putting the V6 in it but the question I have is will that V6 bolt up to the trans or would I have to replace a ton of other stuff???? Or what motor from Dodge can I put in there without any modification and still pass Connecticut Emissions.

Only reason why I am asking is because the tick is getting to tick me off, I have a 1992 Cherokee with more miles then god and don't tick that bad.

 

Your transmission wont handle the extra forces of the bigger motor. So no go there.

If you look in the faq you will see all the motors/transmission that came in these trucks from the factory.

I have a 318 Ill sell you for far less than 900

 

First off, the problem isn't going to be so much which motor you can put it. Your first step is to see what your states regulations are in terms of what they will allow you to put in and still pass emissions. Some states will let you go with anything newer provided it has all of the emissions parts it came stock with. 1996 is OBDII, meaning you would have to stick with an OBDII engine, not a big deal and actually I wish I had an OBDII to swap into on my first gen. So, check with your emissions guys and ask them what they will look for. Now to the fun stuff. **Let me edit to clarify, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to get the V6 from an OBDII truck, you will just have to have it hooked up to your OBDII equipment and all of your OBDII sensors to avoid throwing a CEL. Most likely meaning you will need to get a V6 OBDII computer.

If I were you I wouldn't go with the V6 unless you can use the trans from your 2.5L. I cannot comment immediately because I don't know what transmission came stock with the 2.5L. But I think the AX-15 was the lowest manual tranny they put into the Dakotas around that time so you would be ok putting the V6 to it. I believe a lot of stock V6s came with the NV3500 later on, for example, which would also be adequate with a 318. So check your trans and let us know what you have. Could have also been swapped at some point so it is good to just get under there and look.

If you have to swap the trans as well as the motor I would say consider the 318. OR if you have an NV3500 under there already. The mileage is about the same, much greater power, and overall I personally think it is a better engine than the 239 (V6) In 2001 they started putting in the 4.7L Powertech which replaced the 318. You can also check Rams from around the same years for a 318 also. Somone back me up here, but in 1996 or 1997 they did away with the EGR valve assembly on the 318 in the Dakota??

Next, download the 1996 factory service manual from the FAQ. It will be the best help you get.

BTW, I just downloaded it because I was curious, and it looks like the weakest tranny offered in 5 speed was the AX-15. You should be fine with a V6 then without having to change out the tranny. Would be a direct bolt up.

 

Oh, and I wanted to add. $300 for a V6 with 60K on it isn't too bad. I would say check it out and see what condition it is in.

Not sure about the motor mounts on a 2.5L, maybe somone else can help out there.

Also try to get the wiring from the V6 because you will need to run a couple extra wires for the additional injectors. Start looking into getting a V6 PCM like i said above.

If it were me I would take the V6 apart while you have it out and change all the gaskets also. Complete rebuild probably wouldn't be needed at 60K unless it was neglected or had a gasket go bad before it was pulled.

 

Lol, if you looked in FAQs, you'd see that the AX-15 was used in both the 4 and 6 cyl dakotas. It will bolt up and it will handle the v6. I believe all you should need is the computer, mounts, and fuel injector harnesses.

 

I was actually going off the word of the two guys I know with that setup that are having issues with it more than the faq......but you do have me on that one.

 

Hmm, I can't argue with you there, but the AX-15 did come factory on the 3.9L.