2.8l engine swap for a 350 chevy
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 717
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From: Highlands Ranch Co.
Year: 1985 shell
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 1996 6 cylinder Briggs & Stratton
I'm not saying that there haven't been minor changes over the years,but the firewall was not moved back to accommodate the 4.0 or the 2.8
My pile is an 85 that i bought in 87 and came with a 2.5 and a four speed. It now has a 4.0 and an ax15 along with all of the interior and wiring from a 91. The motor mounts on the frame were a direct swap, the hood latching system and radiator required that i drill out about 20 spot welds on both jeeps (front aprons, upper frame rails and side core supports) in order to swap out the necessary parts. The transfer case shifter Z-bar was also different, but only required a little measuring to drill 2 holes for installation.
All in all there were few changes over the 6 years of production between 85 and 91.
My pile is an 85 that i bought in 87 and came with a 2.5 and a four speed. It now has a 4.0 and an ax15 along with all of the interior and wiring from a 91. The motor mounts on the frame were a direct swap, the hood latching system and radiator required that i drill out about 20 spot welds on both jeeps (front aprons, upper frame rails and side core supports) in order to swap out the necessary parts. The transfer case shifter Z-bar was also different, but only required a little measuring to drill 2 holes for installation.
All in all there were few changes over the 6 years of production between 85 and 91.
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 311
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From: Nevada
Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 5.7L V8
Just finished pulling the engine, trany, and transfer case tomorrow will clean the rest of it out and paint it also( find out if their is any rust or any thing I need to patch) fun time
and good luck I'm looking forward to this
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 309
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From: Wrightstown, NJ
Year: 1986 Comanche
Engine: Chevy 350
The rad supports won't fit unless you want to swap the headlight bucket frame pieces also, and if you do that, you will have to trim some. I went through a lot of those ideas on my '86 and ended up just trimming to fit the 4.0L rad (wanted to add the recessed winch and needed a rad that wasn't as tall to do it). There are pictures in my build thread of what I did to make it all fit.
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 311
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From: Nevada
Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 5.7L V8
Yeah thanks I'm using a lot of Garvin's help on this one guys it's my birthday tomorrow so I'm doing this along with the paint job today for an early b day present to myself lol thanks for the support thou guys I will add pics and keep you up to date on how it's going any other info would be great also
Seasoned Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi TX
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.0 straight six
Im planning on doing this next summer and slowly building a 350 over a year or so. Please takes lots of pics and go into detail. I sure would appreciate it.
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 5.7L V8
I will here are some more pics I'm done pulling stuff today I'm going to paint it and relax the rest if the day long weekend when your doing this all by yourself lol or with a shop I'll put more pics on when I'm done painting later today
Seasoned Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 371
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From: Corpus Christi TX
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.0 straight six
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 706
Likes: 1
From: Hendersonville, TN
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 litre
Ya but the Jeep can mount a 4.0 easier then a 350. Less gas usage plenty of power. A cherokee doesn't need a 350 to power it unless your pushing 52" with 25" of lift. Then ya 350... The 4.0 though just stock has more then enough power and will last for years and years to come. I'm running 250,xxx and can still white smoke my 33" and I haven't put hardly anything in the motor. Starter, valve cover gasket, plugs, wires, and cap. It's stock other than that and runs better then some brand new vehicles.
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 5.7L V8
Yes they are both great
Motor I have nothing bad to say about either of them but like I said in the first page
I have the 350 already just need to rebuild it I loved my 4.0 in my last jeep but it got totaled took a break lol to much fun with this have to eat something
Motor I have nothing bad to say about either of them but like I said in the first page
I have the 350 already just need to rebuild it I loved my 4.0 in my last jeep but it got totaled took a break lol to much fun with this have to eat something
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 798
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From: Elgin,Il.60124
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 1997 4.0 I6
Well,anything would be an improvement over the dead weight that was in there!!!! Where's the subscribe button?? Go 4bt, same weight, more torq, turbo spooling fun, plus, you could fill it up at BK and grab a burger!!!!


