Unfortunately you get what you pay for and with a $400 budget you won't really get much. Your best bet will be to find a parts truck that has a good drive train with a v8 magnum and swap it over. I just bought one for 500 that had the engine transmission transfer case and rear axle all rebuilt less than 100,000km ago. It would have basically everything you need to swap into your truck and you would notice the biggest increase with this. I know it is more money and time but it would just be a bit more savings and if you have someone to help it should just take a weekend to do but you'll be happy with the increase.

Unfortunately besides intake and exhaust (which usually give very little gain anyways) there isn't much to do without tearing in to the engine.

 

Ok but I drive a manual and idk if that changes anything because it seems like everyone else drives automatic idk if that changes anything or not

 

Ok I'm trying to find good upgrades that aren't too hard to do I have decent knowledge but I'm not a machanic but I want to be but everyone says swap it. I say no I just want some more kick im not racing its a daily driver/weekend mud warrior and enjoy power any worthy options

 

1.7 roller rockers
headers (JBA makes them for the v6) with good exhaust
underdrive pulley kit (not sure how much this will really help, same basic idea as the e-fan and is easy to do)

Also, a numerically higher gear will give the feeling of more power because it will accelerate quicker. Of course being a 4x4 you will have to do the front and rear the same ratio which will cost more compared to a 2wd.

You can do pretty much anything to the 3.9 that can be done to the 5.2, just food for thought.

 

And prices for all this is?

 

get a 50 shot of nitrous or swap in a v8. unless you get a cam, you will not be able to add 50 hp to your truck with every bolt on you can find. Nitrous can always be reused on any car you have in the future unlike most mods. A v8 drops right in also. All you need is the motor, computer, and wiring harness. You're stock trans won't last more than 50k miles if you step on the gas too often, so you might as well get the trans with the v8. Motor and trans can be found in good shape for $300-$500. Someone with no experience and a service manual could do the v8 swap in a weekend with just a set of tools and an engine hoist.

 

If you put V8 in, would you need to use stronger front springs? I also have a '93 V6, but love mine just the way it is, totally stock engine, but would like to have a straight stick transmission.

 

if the truck was 4wd, the torsion bars could be cranked a bit to return the truck to stock height. on a 2wd, the v8 would lower the front an inch or 2 and the ride would get a little softer. Get v8 or aftermarket springs or just lower the rear of the truck to match.

 

Harland Sharp 1.7 roller rockers for 3.9L $270
JBA headers $500 (gibsons are around $400)
Underdrive pulley kit $160
Ring and Pinion $200/set (standard gears)

Do some research and try to find the cheapest prices. Or look for used parts as well to save money. The 1.7 roller rockers will be like putting a mild cam in there by increasing the lift and duration. Hughes Engines even has cams for the v6 for $200, which is pretty cool.

 

You're at about three times his price target with that though, four times if it is 4x4 and he has to replace the front diff gears as well. For about $375, there isn't much he can do. For about that price, the best bang/buck is to do a V8 swap.

I just bought a parts dakota for $500, with a good engine, transmission, transfer case, etc. It has a V8 magnum in it. I would think it wouldn't be to tough to find a V8 Magnum, Transmission, ECU, for the $500 range.

I think in the end the point for the OP is, when it comes to vehicles, getting more power usually isn't cheap, or as simple as changing a set of spark plugs. If you aren't comfortable doing some wrenching on your vehicle, you might not want to start trying to get more power out of your engine than it was designed for, as that is when things start to break.