Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

Comache/XJ parts swap?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 09:26 PM
  #1  
saltbranch's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, Tx
Year: 1986/1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.8/4.0
Default Comache/XJ parts swap?

Here is what I have, and 86' and 88 xj I recently bought. The 86 no title, so I figure a ranch 4x4 out of it and the 88 a project for my youngest son(he is a big cherokee fan). Well my oldest son wants a 4x4 truck. A guy @ work is thinking about selling his 4x2 Comanche, not running. Its 4banger 5 spd. So will the front axle from my 86 xj/parts bolt up to the Comanche? The 86 xj is a 2.8/auto, will the tranny mounts swapout? I'd like to put the 2.8/tranny/t-case/front axle into the Comanche. I think the Comanche is an 86, its carbed not FI.
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 09:51 PM
  #2  
winston427's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,900
Likes: 10
Model: Cherokee
Default

The front axle will bolt in. The engine, trans, and tcase may have issues. The XJ firewall is the same no matter what engine was installed because the radiator supports were different. The MJs on the other hand had different firewalls for each engine.
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 09:53 PM
  #3  
JeepCoMJ's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 4
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

everything from driver's seats forwards bolts in.

trans mount, I'm not sure if it will bolt up.



as far as the comanche being carb'd, IT IS NOT CARB'D. there is no such thing as a 4 cylinder carbeurated comanche from the factory. if it is carb'd, it doesn't have the original parts and was probably a halfass swap.
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 10:03 PM
  #4  
JeepCoMJ's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 4
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by winston427
. The MJs on the other hand had different firewalls for each engine.

you're wrong
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 10:12 PM
  #5  
JeepCoMJ's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 4
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by winston427
The front axle will bolt in. The engine, trans, and tcase may have issues. The XJ firewall is the same no matter what engine was installed because the radiator supports were different.

wrong again.

84 to early 86 had different firewalls than mid 86+, and even that isn't significantly different that a few taps of the hammer won't work.

those same years also had a different radiator support, radiator (though the 4 cyl and 2.8 6 cyl interchange), and they had a different hood (cosmetically the same, structurally different) as a result because the hood latches were in different locations.


the year that 4.0 started (87) is guaranteed same firewall, same radiator support between all 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder's. and same firewall. the only difference was an "add-on" support for the 4 cyl radiator.

as far as transmissioins, you can swap engine/trans combos between any year xj or mj, taking in reguard differences in firewalls, rad supports, and hoods.

a comanche 4.0 is the same as a cherokee 4.0, same goes for trans, and same goes for other combinations.

-Pat
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 10:19 PM
  #6  
saltbranch's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, Tx
Year: 1986/1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.8/4.0
Default

The carb info is what the owner is telling me, what did they come with TBI? I've seen the truck in person a yr or so ago, not under the hood yet.I know my 86 xj is carbed.
Thanks for the info all.
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 10:20 PM
  #7  
JeepCoMJ's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 4
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

2.8's (in jeep xj/mj platform) are all carb'd.

the 2.5 was carb'd until mid-85, beginning of 86 in XJ's only. there was never a carbeurated 4 cylinder in a comanche from factory.
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 10:27 PM
  #8  
saltbranch's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, Tx
Year: 1986/1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.8/4.0
Default

So pretty much my front axle and drivetrain from the xj will swap into the mj without major welding/fabbing. I dont mind fabbing a tranny mount if needed, just did not want to get into full on build to do this swap.
Reply
Old Dec 4, 2009 | 10:27 PM
  #9  
JeepCoMJ's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 4
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

and yes, the 86 4 cylinder has throttle body injection
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2009 | 07:40 AM
  #10  
JeepCoMJ's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 4
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by saltbranch
So pretty much my front axle and drivetrain from the xj will swap into the mj without major welding/fabbing. I dont mind fabbing a tranny mount if needed, just did not want to get into full on build to do this swap.

yes, but the 4 cylinder puts out more horsepower and torque than the 2.8 v6, with half as many issues and twice the mileage.


if you're going to do a swap on the comanche, find a 4.0 donor.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
t.mcginley.jr
Jeep Builds
105
Jan 31, 2024 04:58 PM
xjwolfman
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
8
Aug 26, 2020 12:59 PM
jay_sco
Wanted
0
Sep 2, 2015 06:46 PM
Mmll52
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
6
Sep 2, 2015 10:01 AM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:18 AM.