ridergoatee Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Bought a really cherry '86 comanche in mint shape with lift kit too. Only problem is the extreme lack of power from the 2.5 4 banger. Is it possible to engine,tranny swap to 4.0 or other? And is it feasible? Thanx for any guidence you could throw my way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 What size tires? What gear ratio in the axles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridergoatee Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 31x10.50x15's. haven't pulled covers on diff's yet. apparently a conflict there also,previous owner might have been in the middle of something,won't run with front drive line in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 An increase in tire size will hurt the performance of an engine if the gear ratio isn't changed to match. This wouldn't happen to be a gold colored MJ would it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridergoatee Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 will look into ratio's, no the truck was red,now heavily primered grey. will have to post pic soon. thanks for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Rod Jeep Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 You can always just do what I did, just add 4 more cylinders. :D 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 This wouldn't happen to be a gold colored MJ would it? :rotf: The 86 models don't readily accept a 4.0L as the 87+ ones. You'll have to massage the firewall and redo the front clip/raditaor area to accomodate the larger engine. It can be done, but it's not a drop-in job. I went from stock 205's to 235's with 4.10's and I can feel the loss of power, even with that small change. I wouldn't even try to run 31's on mine as it sits, especially if I lived in Colorado :eek: I'm moving up to 4.56's when the 31's go on mine. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 A stock '86 4-banger (unless it was a 4-speed manual tranny) probably has either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. Those are okay for 31" tires with a 4-litre engine, but a 4-cyl will be working pretty hard to run those tires, even with those gears. 4.56 would be better but was never a factory option, so you would have to buy gears. As already noted, the 4.0L swap in an '86 is difficult. It can be done and it has been done, but it's a lot more work than the same swap in an '87 or newer chassis. The rear-wheel drive GM 3.4L V6 is the same block as the Jeep 2.8L, which Jeep bought from GM. Your best, most cost-effective upgrade would be to swap in a 3.4L V6. Since the 86 MJ was available with the 2.8 from the factory, it's basically a bolt-in conversion. You will have to rebalance the flywheel, because the 2.8L was externally balanced and the 3.4L was internally balanced. Perhaps a more interesting upgrade would be to swap out the throttle body injection for the newer Chrysler multi-port injection that came on-line for the 2.5L beginning in 1991. You would need to swap out basically the entire fuel and ignition system including the ECU, but the last versions of the 2.5L put out more horsepower and torque than the 2.8L V6. You could also drop in a factory stage 2 or stage 3 cam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
husky410ohio Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 I got the old transmission out of mine this last weekend. Pulled a lot parts off it. I think the old clutch was wornout and the throwout bearing pulled apart and leaked. Then a mouse made a home in it. I have the radiator out. Can the metal arond the front grill come off so I do not have to lift the engine up high to get it out? The Haynes manual I have is not that detailed. It looks like take the plastic off then the head lights, then a bunch of torx head screws. Not as easy as a Jeep CJ front end to remove. http://hometown.aol.com/husky410ohio/my ... /auto.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 I got the old transmission out of mine this last weekend. Pulled a lot parts off it. I think the old clutch was wornout and the throwout bearing pulled apart and leaked. Then a mouse made a home in it. I have the radiator out. Can the metal arond the front grill come off so I do not have to lift the engine up high to get it out? The Haynes manual I have is not that detailed. It looks like take the plastic off then the head lights, then a bunch of torx head screws. Not as easy as a Jeep CJ front end to remove. You mean the header assembly that the grille and headlight surrounds live in? It ain't metal, it's fiberglass. I would strongly (as in STRONGLY) recommend removing it, because one slip trying to hoist the engine over it and it's history. It's basically attached with screws on the outer corners, beneath the headlight bezels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 There are 3 or 4 bolts/nuts holding the header panel in place on each side. The top one is a PITA to get to, especially if it has been rusted on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
husky410ohio Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 Thanks, the grille and front end header is all I have left to remove before I rent an engine lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 You can find Cherry pickers for around 200 bucks, for a folding one. This was one of the best buys I ever made, except I got a full size version that won't fold. They come in real handy for lots of things like building axles, bumpers, removing beds, and other various things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildman Posted August 23, 2006 Share Posted August 23, 2006 I know it's not the best, but for a couple of uses, Harbor Freight have a folding hoist on sale until 8/28 for 149.99. Whats that equal, 5-6 days for a rental? Just another item on my wish list :brows: Equipment / Tools that I only use once in a while, Harbor Frieght, ever day use, much better quality. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 MY cherry picker is a non folding unit, and weighs a ton. It has been known to pick up whole vehicle front ends with the legs and boom extended out. I bought it used about 8yrs ago for 200, and it has been a real good tool to have when I have needed it, but in the way 90% of the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Folding pickers ROCK!!!! Got a Harbor freight special in my garage and I can't imagine life without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
husky410ohio Posted August 29, 2006 Share Posted August 29, 2006 I purchased a folding cherry picker from Summit. Summit is near me so I did not pay to have it shipped. And if you ever been to Summit WOW. It is the size of a super Wallmart and nothing but car stuff. I got the engine out and the chevy motor mounts bolted in. Here are the pictures: http://pictures.aol.com/ap/viewShare.do ... nTD2eA%2f6 my Jeep page: http://hometown.aol.com/husky410ohio/my ... /auto.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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