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chevy 2.8 L swap into early cj 5

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by wellsnmj, Oct 12, 2009.

  1. wellsnmj

    wellsnmj New Member

    Just wondering if anyone had done this? I know the latest is the 4.3 but I was thinking the 2.8 might make a decent little engine for it
     
  2. schaapveld4

    schaapveld4 1966 cj5 and 1980 cj7

    I had a 2.8 in an '86 chevy s-10 pickup at one time, I found it way underpowered
    it was the first year with efi so maybe thats why it was so sluggish
    oh and it only got about 13- 15 mpg if thats an issue for you
     
  3. wellsnmj

    wellsnmj New Member

    If I was to do the swap I would sticker with an older carb'd one. As far as underpowered not going to be any less underpowered then the F 134 that's in it... Same thing for the gas mileage. I was thinking it would be between the underpowered F 134 it has now and less overpowered then a 4.3 would be.

    Was just curious if anyone had done this?
     
  4. alex211

    alex211 Member

    I had a blazer with a 2.8, that was the crappiest engine I ever had. Must have put like 70 horse power to the wheels.
     
  5. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    The 2.8 was probably the worst engine GM ever produced IMO.
     
  6. junkfood

    junkfood Member

    The 2.8 is a POS but the 3.4 is a direct replacement and allot better motor.
     
  7. alex211

    alex211 Member

    You mean 4.3?
     
  8. fletcher0780

    fletcher0780 Member

    no, the 3.4 was the progression of the 2.8. It went to a 3.1, then a 3.4. The RWD 3.4 can be found in 94 V6 camaros.
     
  9. 73cj5

    73cj5 Member

    what about a 3.8L i got one in my pontiac its 200hp and still gets 32mpg on the highway in a big heavy car.
     
  10. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Great motor. FWD. No bell adapters.
     
  11. 73cj5

    73cj5 Member

    i thought they made a rwd version for the v6 camaro.
    The Parts Mike guy has one in his jeep. his is supercharged 240-280HP:twisted:
     
  12. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Yep, you're right. Not nearly as plentiful as the FWD 3.8L...But they're out there.
     
  13. brandon533b

    brandon533b Member since 2007

  14. wellsnmj

    wellsnmj New Member

    Thanks, going to drop him a PM see how he likes it ( if it runs yet...) I just feel the 4.3 would be way overpowered for what I want to do with the jeep..
     
  15. fletcher0780

    fletcher0780 Member

    TBI 4.3 is only 160HP/ 230TQ
     
  16. Psychojeeper

    Psychojeeper Aint 'sposed to be pretty

    If youre not into power go with the 2.5L.151ci "Iron Duke" GM 4-banger,,, were factory in early 80's Jeeps so parts, bellhousings etc are available. This is also the 4 cylinder engine in the Pontiac Fiero's, which had EFI which you could swap in.

    Go with the 4.3,,, it's always better to have some extra power for those times when things arent going as planned,,, and if you can learn to keep your foot out of it you'll get decent mileage as well.
     
  17. iagmc

    iagmc Member

    I know most of you all prob wont agree, but I felt the 2.8 in early 90s was a fine motor, keep oil changed and up on maintenance and the motor was great to me. 200k is very common, early 2.8 had a lot of changes done to them, later units ran like a champ.
    4.3 also had many of the same problems, but I never knew a 2.8 to shake itself a part like the early 4.3, this is why in the 93 ish they started to put a balancer shaft in the top of the 4.3.
    either motor imo is a good choice, I would stick to mid 90s myself (even the 2.5 s10)
     
  18. Shlink

    Shlink New Member

    http://www.wavjc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=1174
    Yes I have done it, above link is mine, and yes it does run, some guys say its a junk motor, well I been around long enough to remember they said the same thing about 350 chevs in 1969, take what ya hear with a grain of....
    Anyways, makes a nice early CJ motor in my opinion, but I've kept the 5.38 gears and dont have a overdrive yet, these things like rpm's, ohh this one is carberated and has a vacuum distributor.
     
  19. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Really? 15 years into the design?
     
  20. kirk505

    kirk505 Member

    The 4.3 wont be TOO much. I have one in my 81 CJ-5. They are not a powerful motor by any means. I like and it does what I need it to.