V6 in 1986 Comanche
 

I recently purchased a 1986 Comanche 4x4 with the v6 in it. I got someone else's project because the owner had restored the body top to bottom but hadn't reached the motor. It is a V6, 2.8 L. From what I'm reading online, people hate this motor and often swap it out. I might be doing just that since the motor needs to be rebuilt. Does anyone have an opinion on what is best and easiest engine to replace it with? I'm familiar with the 4.0 but a few online sources weren't pointing that direction. Thanks for the help.

Have you seen this ? http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...Project_XJ.htm

Junk motor.

This is your best and cheapest option for now. The 3.4L has better low end power which is a plus on our rigs.

Thanks for the advise and link. I haven't established if the motor in it is complete junk or repairable without having to pull it. When I said I bought it recently, I meant yesterday haha. Going to trailer it home a few hours home tomorrow and get into it.

I wheel a 2.8L XJ and honestly, it's not horrible, just different. If the motor is already cashed, just do the 3.4L swap for ease. Some minor points, the '86 2.8L is the large journal version, so it has the going for it. The alternator is up top, so while everyone is changing their fried 4.0L alts on the trail, you can play around in the puddles to kill time. The 2se carb does suck. I've stripped mine down to a bare bones version. I have a Holley Pro-jection setup I'm going to toss on mine till I get around to swapping my 3.4L. It's got some lower end grunt, but it's not fast, nor powerful. You have to wheel with your head more vs. the skinny peddle.

had a 2.8 in my blazer, was a boat anchor ... had one in my fiero gt with MPI and it was a good motor with decent power. 3.4 is way nicer ... 3800 supercharged are nice as well and you can find em in JYs fairly easy

My only experience with a 2.8 was in a 3rd Gen. Camaro. One word describes it. T.U.R.D. Was quickly replaced with a V8.

This is the info the OP should be looking for. Yes, the V6 is a little underpowered but will work. The 3.4L swap isn't done to gain more speed but rather for a motor that makes it power down low which is where you want yours to be off road. Ignore HP numbers and look at the TQ instead.

Well said