2.5 performance ? , hardly a joke , there's some potential in these engines and they are tough.
What works is
Gears , 4.88's or 5.13's depending on tire size chosen.
4.0 throttle body
Cold air intake
Free flowing exhaust and or header
Electric fan
Cam
Head work
My 95 has all of this , except the cam and head work , this may happen later , I've got a spare head
, this engine needs to be , um ..... freshened.