What do you think of 4 Cylinders, Still looking for a 4x4 Comanche.

[R1.]

Still looking to buy a 4x4 Comanche.  

 

Searching Craigslist, Ebay, and random google searches.  I'm seeing a lot of RWD's, some rock crawlers, and more than enough on their last leg salvage title 10 hours away trucks.

 

I saw a 4 cylinder 4x4 with a little body damage 4 hours away.

 

I would really like a 6 cyl, shortbed 4x4, the only thing on that list that is not negotiable is 4x4.

 

First question.  What is your opinion on an 86 4x4 4 cyl with 153109 miles?

 

I want a vehicle I can take on jeep trails, travel to trailheads for backpacking, making trips to home depot.

 

Would this have the guts to do this?

 

 

 

[desbennett004]

I don't know about the 4 cylinder, I've never had one, but the 4x4 conversion is not as hard as you think. It's all bolt in stuff, you just need a donor.

 

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[neohic]

I wouldn't hesitate with a four cylinder. For light trail duty, but mostly daily driver?... hell yeah.

[DirtyComanche]

I think the 4cyl trucks are a great starting point for swapping another powertrain into.

 

I'd buy a 2wd 4L truck and swap it to 4wd before I would really consider a 4cyl.  Before I bought the pair of trucks I have now I did look at a 4cyl, but the owner had 'rebuilt' the engine to the tune of about $1000, so he wanted way too much for the truck given its condition.  IMHO he threw good money after bad rebuilding that engine (no idea what sort of quality the rebuild was anyways, his body work wasn't very good either).

 

Some people love their little 4 banger, I just find the thing so lackluster in power that it isn't worth it.

[R1.]

I'm already a half a dozen projects past my wife's limit.  But, if I don't find something before next winter I might go that route.  There are some very nice 2wd's in California and plenty of lifted salvage trucks around me.

 

Why do I feel like a lonely teenage bronkin buck with a pink carnation and no pickup truck.

[Money_Pits]

Note an 86 will require a small amount of modifications to fit the 4.0. They changed the firewall/front clip/some other stuff in 87 (I have an 86 with the v6). BUT, tons of people have swapped bigger engines into an 86, so I wouldn't be concerned about that, and all you really have to do is find an 87+ cherokee donor with a 4.0 and you're pretty well set from what I've read. As for the 2.5l's performance, I have one in my tj, and I've hauled lawn care equipment with it, had it dash high in the Mississippi, and done light trailwork with it. Only time I was disappointed in it was on the highway at 70+ speeds, but that just gave me an excuse to take the back roads. 

 

However, the advice to buy a 4.0 2wd and swap in 4wd is solid and likely far easier to do.

[Incommando]

I swapped a 2wd to 4wd in a weekend while doing a front lift & rear swap with SOA at the same time. It is definitely a route to consider.

[mnkyboy]

Stock they aren't a powerhouse but a 4banger should serve your purposes just fine.

[WyoCherokee]

don't hesitate, these little 4 poppers are actually pretty torqy and get great mileage. My old 88 had the tried and try ax-5 and 2.5l I delivered firewoood, hauled rock, and got 25mpg. They like high RPM's, and will scoot right along.

[87Warrior]

My '86 2.5L crested 190,000 miles last week, on what I assume is the factory build. This truck is the only vehicle I've owned that has NEVER refused to start.

 

The little 2.5L 4cylinder isn't a power house, so don't expect it to run like a 4.0L 6cylinder. Find a 5 speed as it should have 4.10 gears in the axles. Bonus if you can locate a 91/92 as it will have the Chrysler era multiport fuel injection. It has have enough grunt to run 70mph down the highway, but you will be hunting for a lower gear in wind or hills especially if you increase the tire size. My 2.5L took me through everything I pointed it at in the Colorado high country, on up to 13,200 ft above sea level twice in 2015. 20+mpg isn't anything to complain about either :)

 

Having fun:

 

Having more fun:

[mnkyboy]

You can always hop them up a bit too,my 89 moves pretty good.

 

[87Warrior]

 

 

You can always hop them up a bit too,my 89 moves pretty good.

 

Your truck was one that helped me not fear the 4 squirrel power plant :)

[thejum57]

Just my 2 cents, I have an 86 2.5, 2WD, 5 spd. In my opinion it has plenty of power for my needs, hauls like a champ and gets great gas mileage. I have an 18 mile round trip to and from work, and I put about $20.00 +/_ a week in the tank. My buddy who has a Dodge Ram 4 door Hemi spends $50+ for around the same trip. I wish my truck was 4WD, but I'm glad it's a 2.5 !!! 

[R1.]

Thanks to everyone for your help.  As you can see by my profile pic we bought an 89 6 cyl shortbed 4x4 Comanche!  It's only 11 hours away in Phoenix.  I found it on Craigslist.  One of my friends in Phoenix scoped it out for me, it's sitting in his driveway.  We are going to head down catch some spring training ball and pick it up.  I have been a member here since last April looking for the right truck.  

[Pete M]

nice looking rig!  what are the specs?

[R1.]

nice looking rig!  what are the specs?

Those are coming.  I didn't pull them off the ad before it got deleted and it's a long list of add ons..  Honestly more than I know what to do with yet.