volcomstone550

hey guys, first post! Anybody out there swapped their tired old 2.8L V6 for the 93-95Camaro/Firebird 3.4L V6? I have done extensive motor work on my 91 300zx twin turbo but now its time to give my XJ a little more power! i found a donor motor for $200 5mins from my house. i will be using this site as a guide and it seems pretty straightforward.

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

the only problems i see is cleaning up the 24yr old grime,grease,mud, and oil sludge from around the motor, and wiring in an electric fuel pump.

If anyone has any advice i am all ears?

P.s. if you were wondering its a 1986 2.8lv6 4wd automatic cherokee chief with 266,000 on the clock(original motor) and my dad bought her new june 1986.


sadly enough here is the only pic i have on my school computer. Ignore the R1 haha

fishtaconc

it will fit they are both 60* V6s , for more info go here: http://60degreev6.com/ someone there could def help ya

firstime00XJ

60degreev6 is a great site for those motors...However, The DOHC 3.4L V6 found in those cars, also found in the 95-97 Z34 Monte Carlo, 92-94 Lumina Euro 2 door, is a crappy motor. They had all sorts of problems with the timing belt breaking, and that motor, being an interference motor, you end up bending valves, damaging pistons, etc when a timing belt breaks. You can also search on www.montecarloforum.com for the 3.4L DOHC motor. I would advise, if it is possible, to just upgrade to a 4.0 I6.

4.3L XJ

Nix the 4.0. You would need a donor vehicle for that. From what I have heard, the 3.4 is a good replacement. They will bolt in. You will need to knock the counter balance weight off the 2.8 flex plate. Get all the wiring for the 3.4 and throttle cable from the fire wall to throttle body. Also make sure your radiator is good, in fact get the 2 core radiator for it and be safe.

cliffmeister3

What if you did have a 4.0 donor car?

Will it be worth it then, and an easier swap than the 3.4?

I only ask because I can get a whole donor car (94 XJ) with a strong 4.0 for $500

huntingman2706217

the 4.0 would be more difficult... the cherokee "frame" for the motor mounts is going to be setup different... the 3.4 was a problem motor but so was the 2.8... and you see how long that one lasted... its all about watching your motor... knowing the common problems.... and keeping an eye out for them... i believe the 3.4 IS the 2.8 if i remember right... the 3.1 is a bored 2.8 and the 3.4 is a bored and strokes 2.8... something like that... all of which had intake gasket problems leading to a blown motor... i think only the 90' ish luminas has the intake manifold that would seat right... if i was you and you were stuck on keeping the XJ i would rebuilt your 2.8 with some goodies... would come out cheaper and less work in the end... maybe you can bore and stroke your 2.8 using 3.4 parts? and then you would have to swap wiring harnesses and all that crap in there... im sure its been done somewhere... maybe not a cherokee but maybe a 2.8 cavalier or something...

cliffmeister3

How about just swapping in the 3.4 block? Wouldn't that be easier and cheaper?

And far less time consuming.

From my understanding, you're saying that's the only difference among the 3 engines (2.8, 3.1, 3.4) is the bore, and bore/stroke, which would all be in the block.

rich

Easier to put everything good on the donor jeep if that is good,there is no easy way for the 2.8 to do anything. the 3.4 liter swap isn't easy either lots of work ahead of you there also Easest thing to do is rebuild the 2.8 bore it 30 over better pistons,comp cam,elderbrock 4 barrel intake with a small 390 cfm 4 barrel carb,block hugger headers and a dual exhaust might not be a true duel but close.

rich

You would still have a peice of sh-t, and its just as much work.Plus there is alot more to the 3.4s becuase they are newer than the 2.8.

huntingman2706217

because finding and buying a 3.4 block and rebuilding it would cost the same as rebuilding/boring/strokeing the 2.8... since you already have the 2.8... this way if there is anything different at all... like grounding locations... head shield holes or whatever... you already know where they go... maybe the 3.4 wouldnt have them...

your gonna run into alot of unknown stuff here... mainly because nobody really builds the 2.8 cherokees... they just drive them till they blow and then part them out (one in for sales now being parted out actually) or junked... but if you wanted to be different... lol

rich

HEHEHE just think of it a 300 horsepower 2.8 liter.