Hi
What I can do to get more power and torque in lower rpm in dakota 2.5?
thanks

 

Exhaust,intake,throttle body,tuner,cam. List goes on but personally id take that money and save it for a v8 swap.

 

I own the 2.5 and its very costly to get anything but a little more power out of the 2.5.


I like the 2.5 but you just cant get much more out of it with out spending around the same cost of a good used V6 or V8 engine swap.


I'm in the market for a 2006 to 2009 Dakota v6 or v8 as a second vehicle but will keep my old Red W/2.5.


The only time a 2.5 works is if you have a standard or basic model of the Dakota as its the lightest of all the Dakotas that's what I own.


I'm planning on rebuilding my 2.5 up to a 2.9 and do a few more modifications to it I have plans to modify my intake manifold and head somewhat just to see what happens when my 2.5 was new I never had any complaints about power but now its dragging it tail a bit. I also want to change out my rear end gearing to a 3.75 or a 3.95 as it now has the 3.55 I may be off on those gear number a bit but you get the idea.


A cam would be nice but they stopped selling them 10 years ago I'm not sure if a custom cam can be made for the 2.5 a little more lift would be nice.




So either sell it or swap it

 

Better off buying something else in the long run.

 

turbo it or supercharge,
I did a full racing exhaust with banks headers, high flow cat (magnaflow), cat back system (magnaflow). One in dual out to 2" pipe to 2.5" to open it up a little. It did something to it but still not V8 power. Next mod would be throttle body, 2.5L to 4.0L.
Smaller tires would also help and get it lighter.

 

I just don't agree anymore on spending big money on a 2.5 huge waste of money the 4.0 throttle body and a few other simple mods are the best. now a good exhaust system is a good idea only if your old pipes are worn out and the muffler is shot then its worth replacing as it was needed anyway.


But think if you saved money and swapped engines it is way cheaper with better results.


You just cant get much out of the 2.5 for the money spent.


I decided 2 years ago big money for a complete exhaust change was big money wasted for little return. You will only see improvement in highway driving but only a little improvement.


Best bang for the 2.5 is a gearing change in the Diff or go with smaller tires the 4.0 throttle body and moving the air temp sensor into the air hat with plugging up the old sensor hole.

 

By the time you spend the money to build the engine to run/handle the turbo/sc you will have enough money into it to do a v8 swap 2 times

 

I wish I took a snap shop of a datsun/nissan pick up 4 cylinder turbo that can beat porches. In a way it is not really about how much horsepower or torque you have in your car. It matters how light it is and how drag affect performance so much. If I can only get my 4 banger to 2000 lbs I would have a chance to beat a V8 motor on the drag race. If going to spend another thousand why not turbo. Oh yeah my whole exhaust system was falling apart, that was why I replenished it. And cars do stay behind me when I punch the throttle.