saabflyer Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Hello to all my name is John, This is the first forum I have registered with so i apologize if I don't put things in the right order or anything lol. I am currently living and working in a town about 30 minutes outside of Shanghai China but hope to return to Roanoke Virginia sometime in June. After looking at all your pics i am totally excited about rebuilding my 86 Comanche X and was wondering if anyone would have some advice for a couple of decisions I need to make. First off is the engine. The 2.8 V6 has got to go, this engine has never let me down but is really underpowered and my other car is a 61 Chevy Corvair so I'm kinda ready for a little more power. I have been told by others that the 4.3 vortec from Chevy would be a super easy drop in but that i might as well go with a 5.3 vortec. Do you know anyone that has done this kinda of swap in the past I did electrical work before moving to China so I'm not too worried about the wiring. The second question i have is I have always liked driving a 5 speed would it be pretty easy to convert this truck with a v8 to a 5 speed or should i just keep it an auto. The third and final question i have is the truck is 2wd and I'd like to possibly turn the truck into a 4wd but i don't expect to use the truck as my main 4wd i also have a 1976 CJ7 that was left to me by my late father but is in need of some major body work. Any ideas would be great I'd like to start thinking about my project now and get past the question/planning stage. BTW I can't remember who it was but the guy with the jeep in Salisbury NC Super Nice work. I will post a photo as soon as i can figure out how to do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Welcome to the club! :wavey: It's the 3.4L that's a super easy drop-in. the 4.3 will require a whole new drivetrain and a bunch of custom stuff since it shares nothng with the 2.8. The 3.4L is identical to the 2.8L on the outside, but vastly improved on the inside. They can be found in early 90s Camaros and Firebirds (or as a crate motor from GM). You can either swap over the electronic fuel injection fromthe car, or swap in an aftermarket intake and carb onto the new block. all the exhaust will be the same. For photo loading tips see this post: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11077 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STERLING STINGER Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Welcome :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project88mj Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 as far as the motor do a 4.7 stroker I6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saabflyer Posted December 9, 2009 Author Share Posted December 9, 2009 Thanks for all the welcomes :cheers: . I have heard that the 3.4 just bolts right in but that there really isn't a big power difference between the two at least not for the money. I would really like to use the 4.0 jeep engine but everyone i talk to says that the firewall has to be cut out and just about everything else in the engine compartment as well in order for it to fit which is why i was told to just go with the Chevy engine. What all is involved with converting from 2.8 to 4.0 i am not really looking to make this my off road vehicle but to be used as my towing truck. thanks again also what is the trick to loading a photo in the message? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saabflyer Posted December 9, 2009 Author Share Posted December 9, 2009 hey guys I'm going to try to put a photo on as a test lets see if i mess this up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeegy410 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 Thanks for all the welcomes :cheers: . I have heard that the 3.4 just bolts right in but that there really isn't a big power difference between the two at least not for the money. I would really like to use the 4.0 jeep engine but everyone i talk to says that the firewall has to be cut out and just about everything else in the engine compartment as well in order for it to fit which is why i was told to just go with the Chevy engine. What all is involved with converting from 2.8 to 4.0 i am not really looking to make this my off road vehicle but to be used as my towing truck. thanks again also what is the trick to loading a photo in the message? sounds like your looking at a fairly large job. i definately reccomend a 4.0 even though it does involve some metal working, but sence you want to convert it to 4wd and 5 speed you may be better getting a parts jeep in the first place so you have an engine, transmission, and fwd linkage that already works together. then you can just transfer what you need and possibly even put the old parts in the extra jeep and sell it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 . I have heard that the 3.4 just bolts right in but that there really isn't a big power difference between the two at least not for the money. who said that? The 2.8 is so underpowered that the 2.5 is a better engine. the 3.4 block bolts right in using your existing trans and exhaust and accessories. get an aftermarket carb or wire in the Camaro's electronics (I'm told it's stand alone and very straight forward) and you're good to go. If you want a 4.0, this is how it's done: Step 1: buy a donor 4.0 XJ that's in good shape mechanically and has an intact front clip (you need the hood and radiator mounts and hood latches in order to run the 4.0 radiator) Step 2: gut your entire truck (except for the axles). Step 3: gut entire XJ and swap all those guts into your MJ Step 4: be sure to get a 4.0 fuel pump for the tank and shorten your rear shaft to fit the new drivetrain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeegy410 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 exactly what i was saying. theres no reason to try to buy and piece together all those extra parts when you could just buy a whole jeep fairly inexpensively and transfer all the parts over knowing that they work together. then you have your whole jeep in working order without having to hunt all over creation to find what your looking for (aside from the jeep itself) and you won't have any problem piecing it together because its a simple gut and swap job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saabflyer Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 ok well it sounds like that's what I'll be doing then or maybe when i return home if i happen to find a newer jeep MJ with the 4.0 already in it i'll just buy that instead :D :banana: thanks for the help I am really excited to get back and get started on the project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRF136N Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 :hmm: Not that its any of my business, but I'm still stuck on the second sentence of your intro...what the hell you doing in China??? Military, or? You don't have to answer, I'm just intrigued. I've been to Asia many times, and always thought it would be fun to move abroad for awhile and experience a different culture, for no reason other than to say I did it :nuts: Anyway, welcome :D :cheers: James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saabflyer Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 Haha well I'll give you the short short reason.... Girl Friend :brows: lol. I talked with this wonderful young lady for over a year then went to China for 2 weeks to meet her in person. After meeting in person I decided to get to know her better and so I sold off most of my things packed up my SNES and off to China I went. I currently teach English at a local training center, for companies such as AMD and Logitech. We are now married and have known each other for just over 3 years now. Its easier to move here and spend time getting to know someone then to try and bring them to the US, and I didn't want to just say umm you look pretty ok lets get hitched. Now we are just waiting on her Visa then we will return to the US, and yes she likes Jeeps too so I hope to get out and do some 4 wheelin' as soon as I get back. So I look forward to meeting those of you on the east coast sometime next year, thanks for all the help so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 give a holler when you get back to Roanoke......I'm over in Richmond, and there's a few more MJ'ers in the area. Welcome to the club :cheers: Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeegy410 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Haha well I'll give you the short short reason.... Girl Friend :brows: lol. I talked with this wonderful young lady for over a year then went to China for 2 weeks to meet her in person. After meeting in person I decided to get to know her better and so I sold off most of my things packed up my SNES and off to China I went. I currently teach English at a local training center, for companies such as AMD and Logitech. We are now married and have known each other for just over 3 years now. Its easier to move here and spend time getting to know someone then to try and bring them to the US, and I didn't want to just say umm you look pretty ok lets get hitched. Now we are just waiting on her Visa then we will return to the US, and yes she likes Jeeps too so I hope to get out and do some 4 wheelin' as soon as I get back. So I look forward to meeting those of you on the east coast sometime next year, thanks for all the help so far. sorry to get off topic but ive gotta say i love that you sold most of your things but still held on to the super nintendo. :clapping: I'm only 18 but ive been playing snes my whole life and would definately bring mine with me if were so inclined as to run off to china. Good luck with your jeep though just to stay on topic. God bless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratrapp Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 i'm only in buena vista,less than an hour away.hollar if you need jeep help when you get back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 .... are you missing a bedside in one of those pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 .... are you missing a bedside in one of those pics? I can see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 pass. bedside looks like its missing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 It's there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 I havent done it, but they say that the firewall mod to swap in a 4.0 can go one of two ways. It caould be a late production 86 in which case thay already made the mods to the firewall to fit the 4.0 in for 87, or it could be early production in which case you shouyld just need to do a little finessing with a BFH. Ive heard maybe a half inch or so... no big deal! I also have an 86 X as a parts vehicle that will get built later on, so who knows, I may need to do it at some point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saabflyer Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 HAHA yeah the three most important things i have are my Nintendo, my Lego's, and my Jeep all three of which i kept but only my SNES found its way to china, its a shame my jeep couldn't fit, I would love to have it right about now. Riding an electric scooter in the dead of winter isn't much fun. For my friend just a bit north of me in B. V., Howdy, thanks for the offer, I think the biggest help i will need is finding a new jeep Commanche with the 4.0l + 5sp. Happy late New Years to all and look forward to meeting everyone in a few months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STERLING STINGER Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 :hmm: Not that its any of my business, but I'm still stuck on the second sentence of your intro...what the hell you doing in China??? Military, or? You don't have to answer, I'm just intrigued. I've been to Asia many times, and always thought it would be fun to move abroad for awhile and experience a different culture, for no reason other than to say I did it :nuts: Anyway, welcome :D :cheers: James ya i was wondering that also???? and is there any chinese dudes running any manches over there that youve seen? i seen tokyo drift :yes: and am worried that they have manches lowered and pimped out :ack: or is it like 20 dudes jammed in the bed of the truck with fruit and sheep in it with them :huh???: just asking and welcome again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeegy410 Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 HAHA yeah the three most important things i have are my Nintendo, my Lego's, and my Jeep all three of which i kept but only my SNES found its way to china, its a shame my jeep couldn't fit, I would love to have it right about now. Riding an electric scooter in the dead of winter isn't much fun. For my friend just a bit north of me in B. V., Howdy, thanks for the offer, I think the biggest help i will need is finding a new jeep Commanche with the 4.0l + 5sp. Happy late New Years to all and look forward to meeting everyone in a few months. Hah thats great. Well good luck to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saabflyer Posted January 20, 2010 Author Share Posted January 20, 2010 Well my friend the only pimpin' that I've seen here with jeeps deals with moving them farther away from the ground not towards it so you can rest easy tonight. There are jeep Cherokees and grand Cherokees here but no manchies. Sadly trucks are only allowed to be sold to companies or businesses that need them not to the public and that goes for all sizes of trucks I wish i had my cam with me more often that shows some of these guys and their trucks that simply defy physics lol, talk about over loading I'll see if i can't find a few and post them. as for local jeep clubs the american love of the off road is alive and well here there are plenty of 4 wheel drive clubs here, I'll take some photos of the jeeps i see here in china and post those as well hows that. :popcorn: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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