86 cherokee engine swap to v8

Dec 28, 2005 4 Replies

I have a friend who has decided/thought to purchase a 86 or older (to save money and avoid some computer electronics stuff) Cherokee and strip it down to the frame and rebuild it for fun. We live in the Great State of California, Mountains of San Bernardino.



The question has to do with smog requirements if he were to get a newer v8 with efi rebuild and install it. Are there some good web site references? I will be checking Bills site after this message.



a side note; he plans to but a 4 to 6 inch lift on. I'm figuring there will be other upgrades needed to support the lift. Is he perhaps better to start with a 87 and above Cherokee?



If this doesn't make sense don't blame me, "I know nothing, I am just the messenger".



tia jim oliver


If it's got the V6 then you're going to have real trouble trying to shoehorn a V8 in there. The clearances are tight for the V6, an eight just doesn't seem likely to fit, at least not without a fair bit of sheetmetal reworking.

I had my 2.8L replaced with a 3.4L and other than flywheel balancing and an electric fuel pump it was pretty much a bolt-up match.

Retrofit sheet metal from a newer model year, that had the I-6 option. This will give you enough space for an I-6 and maybe even a V-8.

Earle

PROPANE is Smog Exempt in California too AFAIK. And safer.

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