2.2 0r 2.5 pros and cons

[tindrumstoo]

anytime i go to the parts store to replace the latest "weak link" the question is always, 2.2 or 2.5 well, how do i know which one i have? also what does everyone think as far as pros and cons of the two motors. ohh and f.y.i. i found a nearly complete turbo new yorker K car in the junk yard here in wichita falls texas. do the digital gauges swap in place of the old analog ones?

[88 aries]

pros of a 2.2 litre

No balance shafts
they like higher RPMS
Built like a rock
loves passing gear

Cons of a 2.2
Ocasionally headgasket
timing belt


Pros of a 2.5
Higher horsepower
smooth idle
balance shafts

Cons of a 2.5
has balance shafts (when they wear out you get low oil presure)
Ocasionally headgasket
timing belt
Doesnt like passing gear



Either way both of these engines are good and will last a long time, with the ocasional chrysler maitance

BTW the digital dash will not fit into the analog guage cluster

[tindrumstoo]

thats cool to know, now i know my 86 is tbi but how do i know if its 2.2 or 2.5?

[turbokcar]

is there a sticker under the hood some place?

[89ARIES]

What is the balance shaft? So when it wears out, the oil pressure goes down and the engine than is not lubricated properly on the 2.5? Is it hard to replace? How do you do PM on that? My original engine is still going strong at almost 128,000 miles.

[dodgeariesguy]

The Balance shaft assembly is located in the oil pan it is quite abit tougher than previous posters have made out. The problem many people overlook is you need to realign them after around 235000miles seems high but thats what Chrysler said too me when I went to the dealer. There is only one thing to do in the PM department and that is regular oil changes and if you want some high milage engine treatment. Don't worry too much about something happening as you dont need to replace the whole thing just the shafts, seals and occasionally the chain.

Will Hall

[tindrumstoo]

well i dont have the original hood, and under it is a mess. the previous owner wasn't an electrician but he thought he was. there's no fuse box, just a football sized jumble of wires balled up behind the battery with electrical tape and bare wires twisted together, so much that im afraid to even start messing with cleaning it up. it runs so i dont mess with it. another thing since you guys are talking about miles, i have no clue how many are on my poor little wagon. it reads 93,000-and some change, but i have a feeling its rolled over at least once. i know these cars didnt roll out of the factory sounding like diesels.

[88 aries]

another thing that you can do is take out the balance shafts and get a little more power. but be sure do plug the oil holes to the balance shaft. visit http://www.thedodgegarage.com for more on this idea

[88 aries]

yes they did sound like diesels, and why is becuase the wrist pins are fit to loose, now if you ever hear a 1985 model or below model run, you will find out that they dont have the common knock, and if your 1986-1989 engines don"t knock you know that your engine has been messed with at one point, so if some one things your engine is going to blow up. just tell them that they just have loose wrist pins.

[88 aries]

what i mean by knock is the wrist pins, not the engine its self.