1986 Cherokee 2.8

[kota'sXJ]

i just bought a 1986 jeep cherokee for 900 bucks.... its got the 2.8 v6 carbed. i've heard that its a horrible engine, however i wanna give it a shot. any advice hear?

 

[RenegadeT]

drive it til it blows up, see if the hype is true

 

[userbmx1315]

swap in a vortec v6 from a chevy s-10 blazer

 

[kota'sXJ]

thanks guys.... we played around with it the other day and i have to say i agree this engine is really weak... how hard would a 4.0HO engine swap be?

 

[a_kelley]

not too feasible. AMC's design engineer at the time when originally the XJ was designed it was designed to NOT fit the 4.0L/258. The firewall was redesigned in '87 to accommodate it. Something about either 60* or 90* engines with a chevy bolt pattern will bolt up to the existing transmission.

 

[Yay!Gurrr]

Maybe consider selling it and hit up craigslist you can find 4.0L XJs in the same price range.. EFI much nicer on the trail.

 

[willness33]

The hype is true. I owned one. The first engine just got so weak it would barely run, the carb was a turd, even brand new, the emissions bullshit was exactly that, the second engine broke the crank in on I85 in charlotte traffic, the craptastic front "ball style" cv shredded itself, the list goes on.lol I freakin HATED that thing. Good luck.

 

[kota'sXJ]

ok thanks guys

 

[drkelly]

A buddy of mine had an 85 S10 blazer with that same motor. It was slow as shit. Felt like you were pulling a 5,000lb trailer all the time.

Sell it and buy a 91 or newer XJ with the 4.0.

 

[snappy]

That is a 60* block motor. A gm 3800sc motor will bolt up with proper spacing on fly wheel. Burn the ecm and have fun!!

 

[hadfield4wd]

That is a 60* block motor. A gm 3800sc motor will bolt up with proper spacing on fly wheel. Burn the ecm and have fun!!

Here is a how-to.

http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Project_XJ/Project_XJ.htm

but I'd sell it and get a 4.0.

 

[willness33]

That is a 60* block motor. A gm 3800sc motor will bolt up with proper spacing on fly wheel. Burn the ecm and have fun!!

I'm curious what trans it has. A 3.8 was on my radar with mine, but mine was equipped with a BA-10 (I think) behind the 2.8L. I doubt it would have lasted very long behind something with a little oomph.

 

[snappy]

Go to a tf903 out of a 2.8 cherokee or a 700r4 from a 2.8 blazer or 3800 camaro....
I'm running a 700r4 out of a blazer to a 203/landcruise doubler

 

[XJfreakHO]

My first XJ had the 2.8... it was horrible but I didnt keep it long enuff to swap anything in.