ok im looking to buy a dakota for 5,500 its a 2.5L and its pretty nice its a 2000 and i was wonderng if there was any performance upgrades to get it over the 120 HP mark. Thanks for any info.

 

I hope it's a standard cab 2wd manual tranny, or you'll be sorry.

It's a decent little motor, but there isn't much of a performance market because of the plethora of better powerplants to choose from. Best mod: swap in a 5.2 and related running gear.

 

if your looking for performance you should get a V8. if you need a 4 banger truck that seats two Ford rangers with stick shifts are solid. i still own one and they are faster off the line then most cars because they are geared so well

 

ok it is the regular cab and is manual. But i was wondering if the truck has enough getup for tight situations.

 

It's a small engine in a fairly heavy truck, but generally speaking it's fine for running around town and down the highway. What are your plans for it? Towing? Better not be more than a jet ski. Hauling? don't even think of a bedful of gravel. But getting the surfboard to the beach, some mountain bikes to the trailhead, fine. It's a serious light-duty truck, and it'll work just fine in that role.

 

i doubt it will be towing a lot. My borhter can tow the boat with his ranger. I was looking at a ranger but i just cant find one for the price i can afford. I also looked up something its called venom 400 it says it will get 25% more HP and torque. Tell me about this product. just incase i do tow something heavier.

 

i got a 1997 ranger for 2 grand if your interested. i was able to haul a 3400lb chevy cavalier from LA to sacramento with it and still got 19MPG

 

well im in florida and its my first car. so im not really wanting to go outta my city to find a car. Thanks for the offer though.

 

I was also wondering if you could adapt like anyother parts from dodge cars on to the 2.5L dakota?

 

I would look for at least a V6, I know you are not in Sacramento, CA but on cars.com there was this local ad.

1997 Dodge Dakota Sport
Description — $4,800, DODGE Dakota 1997 Sport, 118K mi, 5spd, V6, clean title, AC, rns grt, $4800


That is just one of 6 under 5K and it is a Gen 2, so keep looking and be patient I would really shy away from the 4 banger......I had a V6 and traded in for a V8 and now I have the power and better gas mileage since the tuck it a bit heavy you tend to keep the peddle to the floor all the time on the smaller engines.