Hi, I have a 1997 dodge dakota 4cly 2.5L and im trying to add more power and sound to the truck. I am not liking right now that it sounds like a toy. What are the first things i should do? I was thinking about a new exhaust, cold air intake, and a performance chip. I am not swapping engines.

 

i have a 2000 dak w/ the 2.5. i have just recently this last weekend did some mods. i put in a 180*tstat, i swapped in a 99 Jeep 4.0 tb (it fits and is bigger), i made my own cai. that alone have significantly imporved the performance of the truck. exhaust is my next step. the sad thing is no matter what we do the 4banger will always sound a bit ricey when modded. these easy mods helped me so i hope they help you.

 

not a whole lot you can do with a 4 banger but my biggest suggestion would be gears...Im sure some 4.56's would make it feel like it has a V8 under the hood...maybe

 

V6, maybe.

 

haha i thought that after I typed it all lol...its still probably THE biggest thing to get some type of seat of the pants feel with that motor although i'm not sure how HW mileage would do :/

 

As far as exhaust... IMO the only two sours you can get out of a 4cyl are "toy" as you put it or the pissed off swarm of bumble bees sound. Only 4cyl I ever really like to hear are the Subaru flat 4's

 

So I was thinking of swaping out the 4 for a v6. Do you know how much work that would be? and about how much it would cost?