maxoffroad

Hello everyone

I'm looking at buying my first jeep cherokee and was wonderning if you guys could please give me some insights on if this is a good vehicle currently i have 2 s10 blazer a 2001 and a 89 and the IFS is really hindering me when going offroadm, so i have really been looking for a jeep to meet my needs.


The vehicle is my grandfathers 1986 jeep grand cherokee it's a 5 speed with a 2.8 v6 and only 52,489 original miles. The body is completley rust free along with everything underneath. It was garage duing the summer and only used during the winter.

My question is how gutless is the 2.8 v6 in the cherokee's i know there not able to come close to match the power of the 4.0 but wondering if it will be able to handle going offroad. I dont plan on needing to go faster then highway speeds so not concered with going fast.

I plan on only doing a 4.5" suspension lift with 33" tires max.

Also are the front and rear diff and transfer case weaker in 86 or are they still the ones used in the later jeeps.

Any help would be very nice thank you.

Also sorry if i posted this in the wrong place.

Matto

How much are you looking at paying for it? If it is reasonably cheap I would go for it and consider swapping motors.. if its not under a grand I would keep looking, you can find an 89-94 in good shape with an I6 for about 1.5k usually. Just my opinion, and I'm not sure about the trans case or diff, but i know swapping axles wouldn't be that huge of a deal either.

offroadnut36

the 2.8l v6 is pretty gutless imho. x2 on how much are you looking at paying for it.

maxoffroad

My grandfather doesnt want anything for it but i'm going to buy him a new snowblower so i would say $500 for it then.

Is there anything i should really look at on the jeep other then making sure the 4wd still works.

Matto

I'd go for it if it's only gunna cost you a new snowblower

I would just drive it around and cycle through the gears, but having only 50k on it the tranny should be in great shape. I would start looking for a 4.0 to swap in as soon as you can if you're planning to wheel with it a lot.

aircruiser

pics of the axles will help decide how strong they are. idk if the 2.8s had the tow package with the dana 44 otherwise i bet your stuck with the 35..