Alright well I have a lead on a 86 cherokee with the 2.8, 5 speed and is 4wd. The 2.8 was just recently gone though and rebuilt (so I'm told) and has some rust but its a running rig and he only wants 500 for it. I haven't gone too look at it yet but I haven't heard anything really good about the 2.8 but I'm not really going to be offroading it and it will probably end up turning into my moms rig until she gets a new rig. So I'm looking for your guys opinons and any more info or links on these early cherokees? Thanks for reading.

 

run away as fast as you can unless you plan on taking out the 2.8....

 

Lol I guess every motor is different but I had a 2.8 in my first Cherokee that I TRIED to blow up for about 6 months an couldn't. This thing over heated so badly I had smoke coming up thru the center console. Replaced the thermostat a couple days later an It was good to go. No cracked warped head or bad head gasket. Don't get me wrong it didn't run like a new motor but that's cuz it was rode very hard an put up wet for 4 years. But it never left me stranded an I always made it home. After all the trying that motor was still in there when I sold that xj with 275k on the clock an they guy who bought it drove it another year before the rust over took it. Not my first choice for a motor but I can't say anything bad about my only experience with the 2.8

 

The 2.8 is a sorry excuse for a v-6, but, just like the GM 3.1 that followed it, it's a sturdy engine. If it's maintained properly, it'll go forever (had a 89 Z24 with the 2.8 and 5 speed with 270k on it and it ran smooth, no leaks at all, never rebuilt). In a XJ, you really see it's main fault (only 117hp), which is the main reason they're avoided. For $500 bucks, drive it 'til it dies.

 

Yea power sucks to but I was locked front an rear an just gave it he'll every where I went. Get it an spend some time trying to blow it up. You will be really suprised how much it takes.

 

Hahaha I know someone was going to say that. Well I'm going to try to look at it, thanks for the replies. If its not too rusted out I'll probably end up getting it. I'm not too worried about the power since I don't plan on offroading too much. It'll pretty much just turn into a back up rig for when I work on my 90. I don't plan on putting money in it for mods or lift so I think it should fine. Like no rdplz said, I'll just drive it till it dies, then take the body parts or whatever else I can use on my 90. Or go crazy and drop a 350 in it and make it trail rig. Haha thanks again guys.

 

Not a very reliable platform for a mommy rig. A carbed 2.8 is what AAA was founded on, it will spend more time on a hook than on the road.

 

I have tried to kill one but it wouldnt die. They have reliability issues and as stated above its not something you send you significant other across the state in..

 

I had an 85 Cherokee with the 2.8 and automatic. It had many problems to say the least. Was very underpowered, not reliable-didn't like to start without a war every morning. Liked to crack heads and blow head gaskets. Developed a rod knock under normal driving at 75k. Fixed that, drove it 2 months and the engine caught on fire. Probably not all of them were as cranky as mine but it left me with a bad impression of the 2.8.