I stumbled across a 1999 Dakota that has a four banger engine. I am ashamed to say I didn't even know Dakotas were available with a 4 cylinder, I thought 3.9 V6, and 4.7, 5.2 and 5.9 V8s.
What is the 4 cylinder, and how good are they???
Any info would be helpful...

Thanks!!

.... hAy cRaZy ... just anutter oDdBaLl Canadian combo !!

With the right power adder, it could be a screamer...
Add a modded turbo with 40 lbs of boost, some water injection, maybe some nitrous...

Actually not that rare...they sold a bunch of 'em. The last vehicle to use the 2.5 liter if I'm not mistaken.

I believe it's the old AMC 2.5. Other than maybe being underpowered for a Dakota I don't think they're bad engines.

I think the 80's and early 90's dakotas used the old chrysler 2.5 TBI engine found in the fwd mopars of the day. When the chrysler 2.5 was dropped(or around that timeframe) they switched to the AMC 2.5 which was available in a more modern port injection version as found in jeeps.

They were the 2.5 AMC motor and they were the last vehicle for this engine to be used in (other then Wranglers). I have mixed feeling on them from my salvage yard days. They seemed to survive in the Dakotas but not in the Wranglers. The yard I used to work at had a account with a large fleet company that would salvage out their dead or unsafe trucks to them and many were 4 cylinder Dakotas. We'll used to get $1,000 + for those engines and every single one would go into a Wrangler. Its either the added weight, gear ratio, or that wranglers get beat harder but they seemed to fail in the Jeeps.

the direct connection 4 cyl is the top 1/4 midget race engine for quite some time---check out the specs--in the 80,s one of my friends raced a dodge off road buggy with the 2.2 topped by a cosworth head--for a budget racer it was a very competitive (his was a $40,000 machine competing against million dollar race teams)...bob

My sister Has one,a 2000 4 cyl 5 speed going on 13 years old still going strong.A few electrical problems,battery temp sensor and 2 turn signal switches. I'm waiting for her to give it up cause I want it.!

I'd like to take a 4 cyl Dakota driveline and swap it into a Duster, B or E body or even a 60's Dodge pickup. Should be pretty easy way to get fuel injection, an overdrive and great mileage. Dakotas are no lightweight so the 4 cyl should haul a lighter car around just fine.