Ecotec Comanche?

[Worlds Fastest Comanche]

Too much time on my hands these days, and i was thinking about cheap engine swaps for Comanches , especilly the 4 bangers. I guess if you have a 4 banger, the quick and easy swap is to go to a 4.0 l or Stroker motor. Not bad, but gas mileage could be a issue.

 

I checked boneyard prices on the Ecotec motors, you can get a good late model motor for about $500 and the turbo version for about $1,500. the bigger gas version is about 175 hp, same as the original 4.0 and the Turbo version is 260 hp. the engines are way lighter than any of the stock power plants. Much more engineering in these motors (dohc, 4 valve per cylinder, etc) There was also a supercharged version that was 205 hp, these are usually around $1,000.

GM used a Asin trans in th solstice, so you can get a bellhousing from GM.

 

Anybody got a 4 cylinder truck with a tired motor and a couple of grand and wants to give it a try?

 

Just a note GM does offer the HT 3.4 motor which should bolt to the 4 banger trans for about $1,800. It is only 160 hp and it is still an antique design, No efi, carb only 4.0 would be a much better choice then this.

[dasbulliwagen]

For those of us not GM savvy, what exactly is the Ecotech? Just curious. Is it a 4 cylinder too? If it came with an Aisin trans are you assuming that getting a bellhousing from one would allow us to bolt up an AX4 or AX-15? Sounds cool if it would work, but then again, its a GM engine, and I'm not a fan of GM, though I am considering a 3.4 swap for a 2.8 MJ, but I don't like it, just the easiest option to go with. An Ecotech swap would be very involved, with all the emmisions, and computer controls, making guages work, though if it could be done, having OBDII would be great for diagnostics. Lots of stuff to think about!

[jpdocdave]

imo the ecotec is one of the worst motors ever built, it is built on the old quad four platform, miserable, terribly designed engines, extremely over engineered, water pumps are like 6 hrs, and go bad all the time, driven by the timing chain and they're on the right bottom of the front of the motor. the timing chain guides go bad destroying the whole thing. and they eventually succumb to rod knocks. i've worked on plenty of them, and they suck. my buddy at work is replacing one for his parents as we speak.

[kro10000]

:hijack: Still would like to swap in a vortec 4200 I6

[MJ is dead]

I've heard a lot of good things about the new ecotecs in the SS cobalts and GXP solstices...solsti?? Whatever...

 

GM performance parts offers a lot of stuff for them too

 

AMC always used GM crap back in the day, it guess it wouldn't be complete blasphemy... As long as you don't own a 91 or 92 haha

[Worlds Fastest Comanche]

imo the ecotec is one of the worst motors ever built, it is built on the old quad four platform, miserable, terribly designed engines, extremely over engineered, water pumps are like 6 hrs, and go bad all the time, driven by the timing chain and they're on the right bottom of the front of the motor. the timing chain guides go bad destroying the whole thing. and they eventually succumb to rod knocks. i've worked on plenty of them, and they suck. my buddy at work is replacing one for his parents as we speak.

 

 

Well, i guess everybody has an opinion. The Ecotec is now a mature motor, and allot of the early problems have been corrected. Will it go 250,000 miles like a jeep motor? probably not. The ecotec has been used in drag racing and land speed racing. the 2.2L turbocharged drag version puts out 1,400 hp so about 500 hp/L the same engine was downgraded for land speed racing and only puts out 700 hp Probably continous service at 350-400 hp is ok. the Cobalt ss is rated at 260 hp ourt of the box, and chiping it can put it over 300 easy.

 

As for the gauges, if you put it in Comanche, most of the gauges are not run from the computer. Solutions are availble for standard transmissions, but not much for automatics. you could go with a GM non computer automatic (700r4)

 

The first ohv 4 cylinder in the jeeps was the GM iron duke, and the first year of the comanche they put a chevy V6 in it ( also a french diesel). The J trucks used Buick 350 motors, and prior to 1972 the Buick v6 was an available option on the CJ. No mater what motor they had, they were still Jeeps.

 

The engine is a DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder, cross flow head. Direct cylinder injection versions are also out there. here is a link to more information.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Family_II_engine#Ecotec

[jpdocdave]

i still see too many problems on today's ecotec, and continued service at 400 hp :eek: no way. i just hate the motor though, i've worked on so many, they suck, i'm biased. maybe they are cool on some performance end, but i don't know because i'm not into that, especially 4 cyl performance. as far as a vehicle in service daily, i don't like it.

[Akula69]

Well, if you change the wording a bit, you could use the "ecoboost" motor that Ford is putting in the 2010 Taurus SHO ( :brows: :bowdown: ) BUT:

 

It would not match a single tranny we have

It would require a topper in the back to install all the wiring and sensors

It would be front wheel drive :no:

 

And 265 HP with dual turbos!

[Worlds Fastest Comanche]

:hijack: Still would like to swap in a vortec 4200 I6

 

 

I think the inliners board has a thread on this, some guy is making a new oil pan with a rear sump. The 4200 or LL8 motor was used on the trailblazers. My wife has one in her car, great motor 270 hp and 18 mpg around town in a heavy car. the torque curve is really flat. I they cost about $1,000-$1,200 in junkyards, so the price is cheaper than a turbocharged ecotec and a ablut double a non turbocharged. There may be a height issue in an MJ. The DOHC setup makes the engine very tall. I like the ecotec because of the light weight. the LL8 motor would be less weight than a 4.0, and probably the same weight as the 4 banger. The less weight you have the faster you will be off the line. Both engines offer about the same hp ( if you compare with the cobalt ss motor). the 6 has more grunt with peak torque being at a lower RPM

 

Here is a link to the ll8 info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Atlas_engine#LL8

 

I think the big issue will be total cost, if you buy a motor for $500, than a bellhousing cost you $300, wiring harness $500. Computer $150, custom motor mounts ?? Exhaust work? I think $3,000 or so before you are done.

 

 

I think the decision between the LL8 and the Ecotec would be made on how much performance you want in the end. Lots of performance stuff available for the Ecotec, not much for the ll8

[Worlds Fastest Comanche]

i still see too many problems on today's ecotec, and continued service at 400 hp :eek: no way. i just hate the motor though, i've worked on so many, they suck, i'm biased. maybe they are cool on some performance end, but i don't know because i'm not into that, especially 4 cyl performance. as far as a vehicle in service daily, i don't like it.

 

 

What do you think of the LL8 motor, do you hate that too?

[Worlds Fastest Comanche]

Well, if you change the wording a bit, you could use the "ecoboost" motor that Ford is putting in the 2010 Taurus SHO ( :brows: :bowdown: ) BUT:

 

It would not match a single tranny we have

It would require a topper in the back to install all the wiring and sensors

It would be front wheel drive :no:

 

And 265 HP with dual turbos!

 

That is a v6 motor i believe? If i were to pick a V6 i would go with the Chrysler Phoenix V6 that they will be putting into the Wranglers and grands (2011 model year) . It is 270 hp with no turbos here is a link http://www.allpar.com/mopar/phoenix-engines.html

 

The whole point of the thread was to find a afordable swap that would get you more hp and less weight. Using a newer motor would probably be way more expensive than a $600 ecotech. I am looking at the cost to build a stroker motor and add some performance modifications (about $3,000) So what else could you do for $3,000 to get you an engine that has maybe more preformace, less weight, and better gas mileage.

[Worlds Fastest Comanche]

Found this link , it has dyno curves, etc. Maybe a 5 banger would be a good swap?

 

http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50703

 

Just a thought on the ecotech, if you can get them in a bone yard for 500-600 $, maybe they are disposible. Blow one up, buy another!

 

Here is a gerat link on what bell housings work with what engines and will adapt to an AX15.

 

http://www.jeeps-offroad.com/showthread.php?t=4740

[jpdocdave]

i still see too many problems on today's ecotec, and continued service at 400 hp :eek: no way. i just hate the motor though, i've worked on so many, they suck, i'm biased. maybe they are cool on some performance end, but i don't know because i'm not into that, especially 4 cyl performance. as far as a vehicle in service daily, i don't like it.

 

 

What do you think of the LL8 motor, do you hate that too?

 

nope, i don't hate it. i honestly can't even think of any actual engine repairs, or break downs i've ever seen in the shop on one of those. lots of 4wd problems, and the usual gm front end woes. seems like a long term dependable motor. i'm not overly impressed with it, but i don't look at these motors we're talking about from that stand point. i base my opinions on the service i see out of these engines. i get the unique perspective of seeing every car line daily, american, european, japenese, etc.... i noticed a long time ago, for the most part, there are large pattern failures in a lot of engines, or vehicles, that are there from design flaws, that simply go unattended to or remedied by the manufacturer, and i do see that in the ecotec.

 

other examples are gm 3.1, 3.4, 3.5 intake gaskets, and fuel injectors, gm truck and suv fuel pumps, ford spark plugs that seize in the heads of 5.4, or shoot out of the head on the v1o and 5.4, gm idler and pitman arms....i could go on and on and on, and jeep has some as well, but i don't like it when its a poor design, in place for years and years, where the failure is simply on a timer, and no one fixes the problem. it keeps the service going i guess.

[Unglar]

:hijack:

i could go on and on and on, and jeep has some as well,

 

I would be very interested in seeing the whole list of things you have seen, think we could bother you to write it all down?