Hi guys I just joined from Wilmington nc and I picked up a 92 Dakota single cab 2wd with a 2.5L 5 speed. I was needing to get it off the tow dolly last night so I tried to set the parking brake and was going to pull dolly out from under it but the p-brake doesn't work. I then chocked the front of the rear wheels and put it into reverse but forgot to chock the rear of the back tires and when I pulled the dolly out from under it of course it started rolling down the driveway for about 10ft. When I got into it to put it in neutral to push it forward I noticed the shifter had become very stiff with no side to side motion in neutral at all and will only move from 5th to reverse now. It worked fine before it rolled backwards in reverse. clutch position makes no difference .What did I screw up here? In the pic you can see the dolly it rolled off. It also needs a new 2.5L put in. The old has a cracked head. I got it for 400 bucks. Previous owner bought an engine out of an 88 jeep with a 2.5L but apparently they are different so when he sold it to me he threw that engine in with the deal. Its in the bed of it, complete engine. Thanks in advance, names brian

 

Don't know that rolling in reverse had any effect...but pulling it forward with truck in reverse would not have been good....even with wheels chocked if you applied any forward torque to the truck with it in reverse it could have broken something...should of had it in neutral.

 

And the jeep and dodge 4cyl engines are not the same prior to 96. If you plan on keeping the truck and don't need it as a DD you might consider swapping in a v6 or even v8. The I4 engines were very anemic...100hp or so.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I think your right about the stress put on the trans in that situation. I never jerked or yanked it, only a slow progressive pull. It feels like something is stuck/ jammed now. Is there decent access where the shifter passes through trans for an inspection ? As far as the engine, I just want a daily driver for work so the 4cylinder is what I want.

 

Figured it out, the engine is torn down to nothing but still bolted up to transmission but not to engine mounts. The trans and engine twisted to the right and pinned shifter up against the floor of truck making the shifter very hard to move. I removed old block and rotated trans back to the left and its fine. I just need a new 2.5L engine for it. I have had no luck finding one. What vehicles with the 2.5L will work ? Thanks

 

Glad to see it wasn't damaged. If the the head is cracked and you think the motor is fine this guy can probably help you. I used him for my 85 Ram D50 and it was painless and he was helpful. Nor core charge if you send the old head right back. Just put it in the same box the rebuilt one comes in and UPS takes it no cost to you. That is the first time I took a motor apart.
IDK if this is the exact head you need http://www.ramscyl.com/PagesHeads/Chry%2022-25_782.html
If that is the way you go and you still want the motor tightened up you can get rebuild kits at Rock Auto and probably other places. I had no luck searching crate motors.

 

It's interesting that this guy says the wrangler 2.5L will fit the dakota....My understanding the wrangler 2.5L's were based on the AMC engine prior to 96ish went they went to the magnum block. So, you might do some more research to be sure that the jeep 2.5L wouldn't work

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-5L-4CYL-RE...9RQjQZ&vxp=mtr

 

Well the cylinder head is opposite on the jeep 2.5, the intake is on the passenger side and exhaust is drivers side. The distributor is also located on the passenger side block also. With some fabrication it could work but i dont have the capabilities to do it. I also do not have the head for the old engine. The previous owner left it at the machine shop after they wanted to charge him 30 bucks for trying to fix it, he told them to keep it.

 

Thats the jeep style 2.5L , it wont work for me. Thanks for looking though

 

Thats as much as i paid for the whole truck. I would also need pistons as those are not here either. I may have to go that route, just buy cylinder head and rebuild kit.......