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Found a 86 2.8. Got some questions..

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81Chero Comanche Fan

81Chero

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I'm in the process of buying it. Owner said that the day he got it, he drove for aprx 60 miles and it used almost a whole tank of gas! So he parked it, and hasn't done anything more with it. 

It's got the 2.8 and I've read that the 3.4 is a lot better engine, and swaps right in.

But what else is "special" about it? Anyone know what the gears usually were in the 86's?

It's not in the best shape. And figured it will need a new fuel tank.

At the time I couldn't see the rear axle, so could it have a Dana 44 in back?

Can anything be deciphered from the VIN? I know it's on my phone but can't find it 😡

Thanks for the help.

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Pete M down with the MJ sickness

Pete M

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gear ratios paired to drivetrains wasn't yet standardized in 86 so it could have pretty much anything (3.31, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10).  easiest way to check is to jack up one rear tire and rotate it around exactly twice while counting the number of times the driveshaft rotates. :L:  for example: 3 and a half times is 3.55 gears 

 

the 3.4 is a better built engine (it's essentially just a newer version of the 2.8), but if there's nothing horribly wrong inside your 2.8, I personally probably wouldn't put forth the effort to do the swap unless I was also swapping in the EFI. 

 

to go through that much gas I'd guess that the tank leaks.  could just be the pump seal, but could also be rust.  hard to say without looking. 

 

the 44 rear axle technically wasn't available in 86, but anything could happen in 3 decades so it's best to look and see.  :L: 

 

drop your vin into the registry section:  https://comancheclub.com/forum/29-1986/ 

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81Chero Comanche Fan

81Chero

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Thank you.  Haven't purchased the truck yet, because it's almost an hour away. I did source a D44 from an 88 comanche a few years ago. and have a selection of carriers/gear sets spanning a few decades, so as long as they didn't change the internal workings I should be good. Also have a pair of 44's from an older Cherokee. But they're 2.93:1(?) I also have a 2.5 that I had some machining done to, and might even use that. 

It's been sitting several years, so who knows what I'll find lol..

 

Again, thanks.

 

 

 

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gogmorgo Obsessive Comanche Disorder

gogmorgo

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Fuel consumption like that and I’ll agree with Pete, it’s dumping it on the ground somewhere. If it was all going through the engine, you would know from the puddle of liquid gas running out the tailpipe… that or the flamethrower.

 

Or the fuel gauge doesn’t work so good and it either didn’t start out with a full tank, or it didn’t empty it all the way, and buddy didn’t realize. 

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JYau Comanche Fan

JYau

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I used to have an 86 with the 2.8L, and mine was terrible on gas, for me I would get about 150-175 miles per tank, not 60! I did some basic carb work and it didn't get much better. I never saw any signs of gas getting dumped anywhere. I attributed to the bad gas mileage to a combination of the carb and poor shift points set on the 3 speed auto. 

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