ok will look in to it

 

but all in all, a motor and tranny swap is the only way your gunna achieve any REAL power. I tried to make the v6 a power house when I had it, but there's not a whole lot available for it, just small things. You could go to an auction and get a running motor and tranny for under a grand if you're lucky. Whereas you would be spending a lot more money beefing up that 6 cyl.. but to each their own I guess, I just know that I will never turn back after getting my 318

 

IMO these trucks are not even worth more than $2000 (around here, they're a dime a dozen). So lets say you get an engine and transmission for $1000 ("if your lucky"). Do you have the means, and time to do this? If not, you could easily go buy another one with a V8 already in it for what your going to spend doing the swap . Plus, your taking a big chance buying a USED transmission and engine. To each their own though. Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

Don't mean to thread jack, but if they are a dime a dozen, then yes, I wouldn't waste my time, or money. Which in my case, I just bought one with a v8 in it, and gave the 6 cyl to my girlfriend. Yes, you are taking a chance buying a used engine and transmission... but say your looking at buying a 95 dakota, for example. Whats under the hood..? a used engine and transmission... You take a chance with anything used, be it a whole vehicle, or just parts that go to a vehicle. Either way, your spending money. You would still spend less doing a swap, then adding parts to a v6, with so little to offer. Around where I am, these trucks are still selling for 3 grand. Autopac also writes them off for around 3 grand. IMO, it's not whats it's worth, its what you paid for it that determines whether or not its worth fixing, or how much money you are willing to put into it to make it better. This is all just where I stand on things, so nobody take it personal. In the long run, anything you do to that v6, in the end, will cost you more than if you just did a motor swap. (If you get lucky and find a cheap motor/trans)

And NOTHING rumbles as good as a good ole v8

 

but were just helping the OP make up his mind lol.
If I was looking at buying a '95 dakota, I would be able to test drive it, look at the oil, listen to it run, listen to it rev, and so forth. That you could never do buying just an engine, or transmission on they're own. I see where your coming from, but I'm happy with how my v6 performs (not so much without the performance chip). And if by rumble you mean waking up the neighbors every time you warm up your truck or come home late, then I've got that covered. My truck is LOUD lol.

 

Why would anyone ever buy a used engine and NOT rebuild it, IT'S USED. Any engine can be made to sound good if it has gear oil in it and only ran a short period.

If you want a fast Dakota, do a V8 swap, if you want marginal power and a funky exhaust tone (V6's never sound right) stick with the 3.9. Very simple.

 

The OP is looking for ways to make his V6 faster. He said nothing about doing a major engine, and tranny swap. Were not debating which engine is going to be faster. It's quite obvious that a stock V8 is going to be faster than a stock V6. But I've had a honda civic 4 cylinder that was pushing 400 hp (and I still pulled 30 mpg). I wouldn't of traded that engine for a 6 cylinder, when the 4 cylinder in it was capable of pushing 1000 hp if built right. Don't believe me? Google the B18C1.

-If someone put gear oil in a truck I was test driving, I'd be able to tell. I don't buy anything I could only examine for a "short period of time"

-My truck does not sound "funky", and I get better gas mileage.

 

sensitive much?

And we answered his question about how to make it faster, then we game him better options.

So if you are given a chance to test drive a vehicle how long do you drive it? Ten minutes, 30, an hour? You don't have THAT long to figure out great the engine is, or what will happen to it, that is why I think it is dumb to put an unknown used engine in a vehicle with out a rebuild, or at least a new ring and bearing kit.

Who cares about your 4 banger honda, totally different animal. My 117HP civic will out run my Dakota all day (not off the line), but no matter what is done to it it will never be good in a pickup pulling 5,000 pounds all day. Not even the same thing, why don't you bring up a diesel while you are at it, heck, I have a boat motor around, lets talk about it.

Your truck does sound funky, it's a V6, it has no other option. It may have a nice rumble, but the fact that it is a V6 makes it sound odd. V10's sound weird also. V12's and V16's sound awesome.

Got pics of the Honda? I like fast Honda's. Built for 1/4 or track?

 

Sensitive? A little, yes. I've been dealing with cops, lawyers and bail bondsman all week. Here is a link to my facebook page with some pics of the honda.....

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...a61e007&type=1

 

the v6 doesn't sound weird... My gf's v6 basically has no muffler (its there, just rotten ) and I like the sound. Not as much as my v8, but still like the sound. You can get a really good sound out of the v6 if you do it right, but that goes with anything. NOW, in terms of putting a used motor and tranny in, OBVIOUSLY do your fluid changes, that will tell you if theres gear oil in it. Plus in my city (Winnipeg), Manitoba Public Insurance handles all write offs, as they are our primary insurer here. So in that sense, if it doesn't run, its been marked as "Irreparable", which is a dead give away not to buy it for the motor.