smithe1811 Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Ahhh yes, the good ole weak @$$ 2.8 question. Now i completley understand that these fine examples of internal combustion :nuts: were...slightley....underpowerd. However since i have no basis for comparison as mine is the only 2.8 i have ever driven, i have to assume that ALL 2.8's are as weak as mine and just hope that I'm wrong. On to the question. Aside from the obvious engine swap or buy a newer MJ :shake: , how can i get my MJ to be highway worthy , I'm not looking to race the darn thing or smoke my tires, i just want to be able to at least maintain my speed when i hit a hill on the highway, its really sad that within 10 seconds i go from 55 to 25 :wall: . In the very near future i plan to rebuild the carb, replace the EGR valve and get my hands on a really good electrical schematic and a vaccume line diagram to double check everything :wrench: . is there ANYTHING, like i said aside from the obvious, that i can do here? :dunno: Erik :beerhead: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtdesigns Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Wheres jeepco when you need him??????? I'd say swap for 3.4l gm engine.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 how can i get my MJ to be highway worthy , I'm not looking to race the darn thing or smoke my tires, i just want to be able to at least maintain my speed when i hit a hill on the highway, its really sad that within 10 seconds i go from 55 to 25 It can't be done. I've driven the same engine in a friend's S10 pickup when it was new, and it was also an underpowered dog. There is nothing you can do to that engine short of a supercharger that will get it to maintain highway speed on upgrades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithe1811 Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 Change the gears? would that help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtdesigns Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Ahhh yes, the good ole weak @$$ 2.8 question. Now i completley understand that these fine examples of internal combustion :nuts: were...slightley....underpowerd. However since i have no basis for comparison as mine is the only 2.8 i have ever driven, i have to assume that ALL 2.8's are as weak as mine and just hope that I'm wrong. On to the question. Aside from the obvious engine swap or buy a newer MJ :shake: , how can i get my MJ to be highway worthy , I'm not looking to race the darn thing or smoke my tires, i just want to be able to at least maintain my speed when i hit a hill on the highway, its really sad that within 10 seconds i go from 55 to 25 :wall: . In the very near future i plan to rebuild the carb, replace the EGR valve and get my hands on a really good electrical schematic and a vaccume line diagram to double check everything :wrench: . is there ANYTHING, like i said aside from the obvious, that i can do here? :dunno: Erik :beerhead: Gezzzz Wheres jeepco when you need him??????? I'd say swap for 3.4l gm engine.. Aside from the obvious that I don't read to well...... My cuz had a 2.8 in his s-15 and it was really slow, but to me it seemed to be from the auto tranny?? I guess you could regear ,, if you go that route I have a dana 35 4:10 gear set you can buy.. :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithe1811 Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 geez, the last time i was in NC i was picking up my discharge papers. well, at 55 mph speeds and only slight grades, would 4:10 be the best choice? just pretend for a min you werent selling a 4:10 :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtdesigns Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 geez, the last time i was in NC i was picking up my discharge papers. well, at 55 mph speeds and only slight grades, would 4:10 be the best choice? just pretend for a min you werent selling a 4:10 :brows: I'm a business man..... so... Oh yeah they'll make it run quick and smooth!!! lol jk'n You sir are asking the wrong guy..cause I don't know Do you know the gear ratio you have now?? I think if you knew that then you could calculate the change in gearing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithe1811 Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 actually no, I'm kindof a noob so I'm still learning. i doubt its 4:10 though. just in case its not, what would one have to pay for a fancy 35 with 4:10 shipped about 600 miles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtdesigns Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I pm'ed you ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shdbriding Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 My 86 x has 4:10's behind a 2.8 and it don't like highways let alone hills on highways. They are stock on mine so check what you got first. Don't mean to screw up a sale but I wouldn't want someone to pay to have an axle shipped 600 miles just to find out he already has 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 My 2.8L is also backed by 4.10s. Can't fight it's way out of a wet paper bag though. :( But she accelerates just about as fast with a bed full of topsoil as she does empty. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I REGULARLY ran 60mph with my ol' 2.8. BUT i never shifted into 5th gear, so she was running at 4,000 RPM constant. I accepted the fact that it's a sh*t motor with sh*t for gas mileage anyways, so i beat on it. I also accepted the fact that this would, eventually destroy it. I fully embraced that fact, for destruction of said weenie of a motor meant JUST ONE THING newmotornewmotornewmotornewmotornewmotor :brows: haha. sooo....i set out on an epic adventure to discover the joys of driving a vehicle with power beyond it's previous comprehension... haha. :roll: i'm :nuts: been at work so i'm :chillin: anyways. first thing, remove the factory carb. get a holley or something in there. talk to Twisty (I believe he's doing a 3.4 swap, but had modded his old 2.8 a bit), i think he's the best bet for more info on mods to the 2.8 to get power. i say send the jeep my way, along with a couple G's, and you'll get it back with a 3.8 camaro motor :D (or cheaper for a 3.4...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djag12 Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 smithe1811, as you know I live a few towns away in Mt Top. My 4.0L has a hell of a time keeping up 45mph going up Rt309 from W-B to Mt Top. I could never use 5th barely use 4th. So I could only imagine your pain in our area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Car RamRod Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Ahhh yes, the good ole weak @$$ 2.8 question. Now i completely understand that these fine examples of internal combustion :nuts: were...slightly....underpowerd. However since i have no basis for comparison as mine is the only 2.8 i have ever driven, i have to assume that ALL 2.8's are as weak as mine and just hope that I'm wrong. On to the question. Aside from the obvious engine swap or buy a newer MJ :shake: , how can i get my MJ to be highway worthy , I'm not looking to race the darn thing or smoke my tires, i just want to be able to at least maintain my speed when i hit a hill on the highway, its really sad that within 10 seconds i go from 55 to 25 :wall: . In the very near future i plan to rebuild the carb, replace the EGR valve and get my hands on a really good electrical schematic and a vacuum line diagram to double check everything :wrench: . is there ANYTHING, like i said aside from the obvious, that i can do here? :dunno: Erik :beerhead: I was in the same predicament months ago. It's unbelievable that such a junk motor could be produced. I ended up finding a 4.0/5 speed comanche locally and used it as a donor, switched EVERYTHING over. It has worked out pretty nicely so far. If I didn't find the donor, I probably would have done a 3.4l swap, but then I still wouldve been stuck with the 3speed auto. Another idea I had was to freshen up the 2.8 like you said, and put a 5 speed behind it. Then gear it accordingly so you could use 5th gear at 65. I think that's another viable option. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenosha Warrior Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 yeah, the 2.hate is like a hampsterball with the hampster missing a couple legs. My friend's s-10 with it used to smoke stuff alot,but it wasn't the tires :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithe1811 Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 so lets see, that aftermarket carb, regear, cross my fingers and..ya know what, hey pat, how bout you give me a grand and you can do whatever you want to it! i know i know, too far. so pretty much...I'm screwed until i can save up for a better manche. man, that sucks. is it hard to regear? what about a FI conversion, i know some of the 2.8's in other cars had FI, maybe i could rip that off. Yeah djag12, even driving on 315 i try to let people pass me before i come to an incline, I'm sure it doesnt help much being an automatic either Erik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86FUBAR Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 i put on some large valve heads on my 2.8 that came off a blazer and noticed a definite seat of the pants difference and i bet if u did a cam or some 1.6 rockers that it would be better . also the edelbrock intake is a good choice with either a good 4 barrel carb or do the 2 barrel webber . but by far the best thing iv done is the gearz (4.88 on 33), but i still had to drive the thing within an inch of its life all the time but since ur truck is mostly stock i think u would do better than i.i also upgraded the ignition system with an msd offroad ignition/ wires and soon a coil and a k&N air filter. wile everything i did to the engine was good it wasnt good enuf for me and am curently swaping in the 3.4 and if ur intrested i still got the large valve heads id be willing to sell, they are fully rebuilt and only got like 100 miles on them . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twisty Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 alk to Twisty (I believe he's doing a 3.4 swap, but had modded his old 2.8 a bit), i think he's the best bet for more info on mods to the 2.8 to get power. i say send the jeep my way, along with a couple G's, and you'll get it back with a 3.8 camaro motor :D (or cheaper for a 3.4...) No, don't talk to me. That MJ is no more. I'm just using it as a parts Jeep, and will scrap it this summer. ;) I'd love to help if I knew anything about the 2.8. I think that Jeepco is your best bet at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onebigmj Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Sorry to here about your gutless 2.8. When you get to a hill throw it in neutral and get out and push. Probably make the hills a little better. If you never did a tune up on it that might be something to consider. Plugs wires cap etc. A fuel filter might also be a good idea. It made a big difference in some vehicles I had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Dude -- Do NOT waste one penny on gears, carburetors, tune-ups, fuel filters, high-flow air filters. Do NOT do it. You will only end up poorer and pi$$eder at yourself for wasting money and still driving a boat anchor. Take the dollars you would put into those useless improvements, stick them in a piggy bank, add to them as often as you can, and then do a 3.4L conversion. It's the same basic block, but it's a MUCH better engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWLONGSHOT Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Dude -- Do NOT waste one penny on gears, carburetors, tune-ups, fuel filters, high-flow air filters. Do NOT do it. You will only end up poorer and pi$$eder at yourself for wasting money and still driving a boat anchor. Take the dollars you would put into those useless improvements, stick them in a piggy bank, add to them as often as you can, and then do a 3.4L conversion. It's the same basic block, but it's a MUCH better engine. AGREED!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 i hate to say it, but you could UPGRADE to a 2.5 4 cylinder (mine would handle 70mph with 4.10 gears). yes, a 2.5 is a better, stronger, and frankly though the numbers don't show it, more powerful motor, than the 2.8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onebigmj Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I looked it up once and the 2.5 had like 1 horsepower more than the 2.8 and like 10 ft/lb. My dad went to a dealership when they were new and said the 2.8 was like $600 cheaper than the 2.5. Thats kind of sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithe1811 Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 well, i think I'm just going to keep the dang think and save up for exactly what i want since noone wants to buy it. i guess i'll deal with the crappy gutless 2.8 for now. i did do a tune up and noticed a big difference, I'm still going to see if someone here is parting out an 86 and get that carb and rebuild it because my choke sticks a little bit and replace the bladder on the egr valve, not going to overhaul the thing since its pretty apperant that i would be wasting time and money.BTW, anyone have any ideas on an intermittant no stop light. its not the fuse and my hazards still work, just every so often my stop lights don't work for a week or so, then they just do. i havent looked into it too much yet, but any info would be nice. Erik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djag12 Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 I would say the ground behind the drivers tailight. That was my problem or isn't there a brake sensor by the brake pedal that triggers the lights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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