Hey there!

for a year i own a Dakota 2.5 from '90, with like 18600 miles.
the engine is still running pretty well but i'd like to do a swap in the future since it cant live forever.

You guys will probally say go for the V6/8, alot easier. well the problem is here in europe it isnt, milage isnt as good and getting an old engine is even worse.
Now i noticed that there are quite some Le Barons with the turbo engines out here though, the engine should mostly be the same now i wonder is this pretty much just a '' drop in''? Except some electrical work for the multipoint injectors and some engineering with the turbo/exhaust & Intercooler.

And as an europian i honestly dont know since our cars are less strong build. can the original drivetrain hold that 170hp and the torque that also quite increases.

Thanks for the help!

 

That would be an interesting project, and it's definitely do-able. I'd suggest you check out the RWD section on turbododge.com. There's a sticky there about building a turbo 4 cylinder Dakota.

The 2.5's in gen 1 Dakotas are the same 2.5 used in other Chrysler/Dodge vehicles, some of which were turbo'd. As for whether the drive train is up to the task, I don't know what you have for a transmission. The 7.25" rear-end that you probably have is a bit light, but I think it would be fine up to 200 hp. But then, you have to consider it has almost 190,000 miles on it too.

 

That's a very interesting sounding project! I don't have anything to contribute, but good luck with whatever you do and post if you end up doing such a swap.

 

Did that with my 90, put a 2.5 turbo into it 5spd manual. If you're planning on dropping a lebaron motor into your truck you will need to drill the block for the driver's side motormount (under the distributor). Turbo Exh plumbing is interesting because it will dump right into your passenger upper control arm. The fuel pump in the tank will need replaced to handle the higher flow of the Multi-port/turbo demands.

Makes for a fun driver but I enjoy my v-6 just as much and it was much less hassle (though it doesn't have the cool BOV's "whoosh" when letting off)

 

Only thing is with the 2.2 Turbo (Depending on year) you're gonna be facing some serious mechanical issues. ('84 Specifically) Honestly I'd try and find something like a Mitsubishi 4G63T. Pretty bulletproof and common in Europe. It'll be a hell of a task but you'll get some decent performance out of it. Or just hit a junkyard, find a non wrecked turbo, get some duct tape and slap'er on in!

As a wise man once said...

"Don't let your choo choos be dreams. Just CHOO it!"

 

Sounds like quite a job. and even more with the 2.2 turbo engine with the intercooler. this engine doesnt have the RWD fittings at all or just needs some work then?

And honestly i wish i'd could just pop a v6 or v8 in it...a friend of mine recently bought a v8 ford and i'd love the sound. but for me it's just to expensive and really hard to find!
And honestly i dont want to do a swap for the insain speed, in my opinion pickups arnt speed monsters heck it's even dangerous with a car like that. i just like the low RPM riding, and the engine is just a little to weak now.

oh and the 4 cils just give pretty great MPG for engines that old and the car it must push forwards

 

the truck is so heavy that the 4 cyl will get the same mileage as a V-6 (15-18mpg average, 25 highway). The FWD turbo block will have the bosses cast but not drilled or tapped for the drivers side engine mount. For the intake I cut the throttle body mount flange off at the elbow, capped it and after knocking the expansion plug out of the other end of the manifold - welded the TB mount there. The turbo worked ok in the "stock" location with a 3" spacer that also moved it towards the back of the block a few inches (to clear the upper control arm) the compressor needed re-clocked by 180* so the exhaust outlet pointed down. A 3" downpipe worked great down the passenger side of the truck - where the stock exhaust had been.

 

Well , After some good thinking and some calculating.

i might be better off with the 2.4 N/A Engine swap. might even be more work, but parts are literally all over the place for that engine.

The way i drive, pretty low in the rpm the engine only has like 10% Torque more and like 15%Hp, but i dont want to make it a racing car either, and anyway above the 4k Rpm i get alot more hp.

The best thing though, i will probally make 27-29 Mpg on the highway. (Better as the Voyager/townandcountry/Cruiser) The RWD gearbox makes like 2500 Rpm at 74 mph and the fwd gearbox makes 3500, double win! oh, and that my Dodge dakota is 100kg lighter as a PT cruiser and 300 as a voyager.

Might not be to crazy. now all i need is alot of time

 

My only question is will the 2.4 bolt up to the 2.5 bell housing?

 

Yes and no, the original one does not.
But the Bellhousing from the 2.4 jeep wrangler cherokee, and i also think the dodge intro does. They also have the nv1500.