2.2 L vs 2.5 L

[Animalman1981]

Hey everyone....am looking at purchasing a 1989 Dodge Shadow Es with the 2.5L turbo....have what may seem like a few basic questions and would appreciate input from people more educated on this subject than me (meaning you guys lol)....First of all, what are some if any major differences between the two engines?Also, I assume being an 89 this would still be a "common block" and therefore be somewhat more desirable for performance upgrades....Were these cars intercooled from the factory or no?Finally, what would be your preference between the two engines (if you have one) and why?Thanks ahead of time for you input and time....this forum rocks btw

[cordes]

I'll take the 2.5 for a street driven car any day of the week. The extra torque is killer and IMO really helps with gas mileage depending on body style. To be honest, there are probably 3-4 really good 2.2 vs 2.5 threads if you want to search. IMO there have been a few changes since then such as people making 500WHP on a non-common block 2.2 and a guy running 9s on a 100% streetable 2.5 in an omni.

As for the engine differences, there aren't many. The block and heads are the same. The rods are the same between the TII and the 2.5. The 2.5 cranks are every bit as stout as the 2.2 TII cranks. The 2.5 pistons are more fragile from all I've read, but I've not personally had a problem with them. The TII cars were intercooled, but the 2.5s never were.

I LOVE the P body cars. I had a 90 2.5 TI manual trans car for over a decade and it was a warhorse. I now own 89 CSX #42 and I couldn't be happier.

[tryingbe]

2.2L vs 2.5L, in what car?

[Ondonti]

I wouldn't worry about it. The only difference would be a bit of bias in high RPM power potential that you can sway with your choice of modifications. People are making big power on setups that the old dogs said wouldn't work.

[GLHNSLHT2]

89 ES is going to be above 2800lbs. So 2.5 all the way, especially if it's an Auto. Below 2800 2.2 IMO. With the right mods to the head, intake exhaust the 2.5 will breathe up top.

[T-Bohn]

Hello a bit of a thread HiJack...

What are the off boost torque differences between the two motors.... Think autocross off a corner, second gear 2500-4000.

or a street situation same speed gear getting on a highway

thanks

[cordes]

Hello a bit of a thread HiJack...

What are the off boost torque differences between the two motors.... Think autocross off a corner, second gear 2500-4000.

or a street situation same speed gear getting on a highway

thanks

It's a pretty good difference 30ft. lbs maybe? It's been a while since I've compared the graphs. I do know that with a stock turbo and the most basic mods everyone does by 2500RPM both combinations should be at full song.

[GLHNSLHT2]

I've always gone by weight of the car. a 2.5 in a light car just lights the tires unless you're running slicks. We put a stock 2.5 in a friends 85 laser. Weight was 2600 or so. Even with 225/50 Dunlop SP8000's you could light them up with ease. If it was raining you side stepped the clutch without touching the gas and they would spin. And this was with Koni and Eibachs too. The 2.2 is just better suited to a car under 2800lbs. Now you get over that and the 2.5 starts to shine.

[Force Fed Mopar]

2.5 works great in my heavy --- Lebaron. And if you stomp it in 2nd at 2500 it'll spool near instantly and blow the tires off at 3k...

[turbovanman²]

2.2 5speed TII body was a hoot, was just as fun as a TII 2.5 Auto van. I agree with Jay, heavy car, go 2.5.

[Vigo]

It's a pretty good difference 30ft. lbs maybe? It's been a while since I've compared the graphs. I do know that with a stock turbo and the most basic mods everyone does by 2500RPM both combinations should be at full song.

I think it's quite a bit more than that. GLHNSLHT2 dyno'd 280lb ft at 12 psi and I dyno'd 312 lb ft at 16psi on basically stock 2.5 setups (which peak at 3200-3500rpm on tq most of the time I think). If you're looking at stockish 2.2 setups at 12-16psi I think you'll see a greater than 30lb ft difference in that 2500-3500 range.

[contraption22]

For the only major difference being the stroke of the crank, there are a lot of differences in the tune.

[tryingbe]

I always found mostly stock 2.5 torque peak at 3200-3500 rpm and there is nothing left after that. Great from 0-40, horrible for 1/4 mile.