So I found an 86' cherokee Laredo edition with a blown motor for sale, the guy is asking $500. What I am wondering is, what all would be involved with swapping in a new motor? And if possible I would prefer to have a fuel injected 6 cylinder. Since the v-6 in it now wasn't a very good motor. The jeep is in pretty good shape overall with a few minor flaws, it needs a new headliner and a good cleaning. I crawled under it and it is scratch and rust free underneath, I don't think it's ever been off-roaded. This will be my first jeep so I wanted to hear from people with more knowledge on the subject than me.

The 2.8 is a GM family motor and a swap to one of the larger GM V-6s is easy enough(3.2, 3.8).
A good 2.8 with fuel injection is a step up. Keep in mind the 2.8 was only "really" a piece of junk with a carb and before 88(mainly in the S-10 and S-15 trucks and JEEPS). After that the main seal problem had been dealt with. Try and get any of these motors out of a Pontiac, Buick, Olds they seem to be just better.
A 3.2 turbo out of a Buick or Fiero that hasn't caught fire is an ideal swap.

If you want an easier swap with EFI you can find the Multi Port EFI 2.8 in Chevy Camaros as well. Me, I have an 85 AMC with a Stroked I-6 in it. Yes, it fits fine regaurdless of what people think or say. So finding a 4.0 I-6 is a good option for you as well.

Awesome! It should be really easy to find a motor now, I think I'm gonna go ahead and check that xj out a little more and probably buy it. Are there any things in particular I should check on before I seal the deal?

To make it easier alot of the bits and pieces can be sourced from GM vehicles up to and including some wiring, but for most parts 84 to 90 and possibly going as high as 94 cherokee parts.
Good luck if you get it.

It being carburetor motor switching to efi requires ecm and fuel system mods also. Sticking with a carburetor replacement motor would really cut down on cost. JM2CW...

Here the complete write up on the swap....http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...Project_XJ.htm

Think about it this way 500 bucks plus the price of a new engine trans and probably t case and time to swap it all,Vs spending 1500 to 2k and get a jeep ready to drive right now.I rather have rust repair then do a whole drive train swap like what its gonna take.

If its 2wd deff not worth the effort but if its 4x4 a motor swaps plus 500 not all that bad.

It is a 4x4, I am having trouble finding a nice xj for a reasonable price. That's why I was considering swapping in a motor in this one.

So did you have to cut the firewall to make it fit? Did you do anything special to it?

No, just get a 4.0 trans crossmember, motor mounts, wiring harness and ECU. The grille was the only major difference.

Crossmembers are the same between the two, minus some minor size differences. The trans mount from a A904 is the same as a 2.5L with a AW4. The only difference is that the 4.0L crossmember is mounted 14" from the LCA mount on the body side vs 10" on the 2.8L.

OP, you should consider swapping the rear axle for a 8.25. If you keep the A904, I'd swap in a 231 case. The biggest issue with the 2.8L is the crappy 2se carbs. I'm in the middle of getting everything together for a 3.4L swap and retaining the fuel injection. '84-'86 offer a little bit of challenge, but they can be made into good rigs with a little work.

If you purchase it, would you plan on lifting it as well?

Yes I am planning on putting a 4.5" lift and 33's if I buy it.

One thing you should know than is that you'll need to source a different front driveshaft. The stock style is a GKN, stick in a can, and can't operate at higher angles. If you keep the current tcase, you'll need to swap a 231 yoke onto the front output to mate it with your new driveshaft.

Here's the GKN style (top) compared to a Bronco 302/M5OD ds (middle) and Cherokee 4.0L/AW4 ds (bottom). You can supposedly use a ds out of a 2.5L m/t Cherokee for the front, but I could never find one at the junkyard. I ended up using a cut down front Explorer driveshaft.

Just something to be aware of.