Hey everyone been reading the past few days as I just picked up an 86 Cherokee 4x4 2.8L V6 for 400$ as you could imagine it has its fair share of issues and thats why im here to seek any advice or info to getting this thing running correctly. I am here to learn anything i can as i am new to the jeep world i was a Honda guy for a long time so sorry for any questions i may ask that you all might find dumb lmao...
Anyways a little about the jeep like i said its an 86 Cherokee 4x4 2.8L V6 it had a pretty bad oil leak when i got it i had oil coming from the oil pan valve cover had a crack in it and also i have a leak thats dripping on the front diff and dripping from there i am leaking trans fluid. i changed the trans filter and gasket already as well as the oil pan gasket exhaust gaskets and took care of the exhaust leak they only had 2 bolts holding the headers on at the passenger side now i am only getting the leak that is dripping down the front diff and im still leaking trans fluid i will try and get some pic of the leaks and the jeep up here for you guys asap..

Thanks for any help

 

Hi and welcome to the forum.
Well you are the proud owner of what some around here would say to put a 4.0 in it and trash the 2.8. Well as long as any parts or tech you get come from chevy, pontiac,buick/olds you will be fine. The 2.8 was not the best motor but Pontiac and Buick did some really cool stuff with it, I would source most of my parts from those two. The later years of the GM trucks the 2.8 was put in have throttle body and that would be a better swap than keeping the carb that's on it right now.A chilton book for the 84 and up S-10 will be a big help with the engine.
Have some fun and good luck.

 

Not to go here, but how's the V6 compare to the 4.0, reliability and performance wise? I've always been kinda curious....

 

Well with mine at 440,560mi and most others at over 200k it makes the 2.8 look foolish. The power #s are very different 4.0 at @177 and the 2.8 @120 to 140?.
But keep in mind that Pontiac pushed the 2.8 to or just over 200Hp with none of the issues the trucks had. From what I understand to fit a 4.0 in your year model some firewall work needs to be done.

 

Thanks man and yeah i noticed that in my research on the motor the vacuum lines are a mess on this thing tons are disconnected and its just a nightmare trying to figure out where they go and I plan on keeping the 2.8 in it as you said most people say swap asap i want to keep it original and just do bolt on not trying to accomplish anything crazy i plan on going with a 3-4 in lift 5 max and running 31-32's it will be my DD and just some mild trailing with friends on the weekends basically going to make a zombie task force jeep for myself



as far as your question my buddy has a 4.0 cherokee and its def more powerful and more torque but the 2.8 runs decent for me considering the leaks i don't drive it much at all if any until i get it road worthy

 

Hmm....That is a big difference. I think I'd stick with a 4.0! I've seen one XJ with the V6, and it looked like a good concept, but not very well executed, right?

 

Yes i also read about that also was reading about the guy doing a 350 swap into his and they where talking about the firewall being different but i think after i get everything running correctly it will be a good platform for me i would like to get around 175-200 range or close to that my jeep has 202k but the spedo and miles arnt working and dont really know when it quit working lol

 

I wouldnt swap from 4.0 to 2.8 if i had one i would stick with the 4.0 for sure i also was doing some research on the 3.4 swap into my jeep everyone was saying its a direct bolt in and you have to use some things off your 2.8

 

Lol well, at least you don't have the smog laws to cut in on that....Texas is pretty loose on that stuff I believe. I know someone that lived in Spring (I think that was the towns name) and he had a full on rock crawler as a daily driver. Sickest thing I've ever seen!

 

Springtown? and yeah i went and got mine inspected the other day and i dont have to pass smog because its an 86 all i had to pass was safety and that was fine by me next year from what i gather they are doing away with smog here and just check for saftey **** would be nuts

 

lmao about to post some pics of the jeep here in a sec dont make to much fun of it XD

 

[URL=http://s76.photobucket.com/user/Skeens30/media/20131115_004054_zps41313774.jpg.html]

 

Spring, TX. Just outside Houston. It's actually a rather nice Jeep! She's not worn out or beat down....She's seasoned!

EDIT: Question....Is that a skeleton under the front axle!?

 

haha its seen better days for sure seems like it hasnt been worked on in a long time lol and its a jacket oil was leaking everywhere slowed a whole lot after i changed the oil pan gasket but still leaking oil somewhere

 

Oh, thank god....Looked like a skull next to the driver side tire.