LuvsMy86Cherokee

I have a 1986 Cherokee with the Chevy 2.8 V6. I would like to replace the engine with a 3.8 Buick out of a 1988 or 1989 Buick Lesabre. This engine is in A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE car. Is it possible to make the 3.8 work in the Jeep? If so how much trouble is it and what parts would be needed? Thanks from a newbie. Steve

P.S. How bout a Chevy 350 small block?

NOTNSUV

Find a RWD Buick 231 V6 (3.8L) from Mid 80s Regal, GN. Distributor up front and tons of upgrades available. TA Performance is a good source. Cam it for low end grunt (torque).

Great engine but I'm biased-my other toy is a 70 GS Stage 1 (455).

darkoverlift

Okay, I will admit this I had a 1986 Camaro with a 2.8 V6 engine and loved it as a first car as a kid. I Did the following with that 2.8 and ran 15.9-16.01 in the 1/4 all day long.

Took the MPFI intake off and gasket matched it. I tossed a dynomax cat back, pace setter headers, MSD Coil, Accel Wires, Accel 200+ Ignition box, and almost forgot I began with a hypertech chip, but Ed Wright created a chip that was tuned way better so I got that for the old beast...

Then I learned you can take a 3.4 long block and swap on your intake and be just as happy. The 60 degree V6 from chevy has a decent heritage, good balance and in the GM Performance part catalog had once been used in racing.

Anyway, If I had a Cherokee with a 2.8 I would look into a 3.4 swap because it would be more of a direct bolt in.

freegdr

Pretty good info here ....http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...Project_XJ.htm

Brown Dog

X2 for Lunghd. His info is right on. (And he's a really good guy.)

LuvsMy86Cherokee

NOTNSUV thanks for the reply. I forgot the LeSabre had a RWD version. Unfortunately the one I have access to is FWD. I am assuming then that a FWD engine will not work? If I found a RWD engine, what would I have to go through to make it fit the trans?

NOTNSUV

I'd try Advance Adapters first.