1st May 2003, 12:18

I have a jeep with the 2.8l in it. I don't understand how any of you can say anything good about this engine. I've blown four of them in 8,000 miles. the first one at 78,000.

The automatic also doesn't have overdrive and the thing gets about 14 mpg on the highway. please tell me your secrets. to having a reliable jeep.

5th May 2003, 14:30

I agree-I have an 1986 Jeep XLS with the 2.8l and three speed automatic-it's lousy- no gas mileage- no power-truck is in excellent shape, but would like to get some mileage!!

11th Feb 2004, 21:54

I am on my third Comanche (drivers in Seattle SUCK!). The first 2 were AMC 2.54L 4 cyl. The first one was an '86 with Renix TBI fuel injection. I sold it at 320,000 original miles (used it as a delivery truck) and it was hit by other drivers 5 times, but suffered only minimal damage. I was the second owner at 110,000 miles (previous owner thought it was worn out. It now has almost 350,000 miles on it by the third owner and he loves it!).

I changed it to 4x4 and lifted it 3 inches (that really helped it not be damaged when hit. Just the bumpers got hurt). The next one I had was an '87 4x4 with a rattling motor (timing chain had broken and it was rebuilt with a Chevy chain, which didn't work right as it was too long).

My current one is a '90 with 4.0L in-line 6, and it was 2WD and 5 speed, but will be AW4 automatic/NP208 and 5" of lift to clear 33" tires (I also had lots of XJ Cherokees and have 2 full size Jtrucks and big Cherokees/Grand Wagoneers too).

3rd May 2004, 22:03

I have a 1986 Jeep Comanche with the 2.8L V6 and last winter the crank went out of it. Thought bout putting the 3.4L Conversion in it, but all the fuel injection and computer work seemed too much. I just put another 2.8 in there and the motor is brand new. I think I get worse gas mileage than I did with the old one, and though the speed has picked up a tad, still isn't fast enough. My Jeep has a little problem that I can't seem to pinpoint. When I hit about 60-65 it starts shaking and making all kinds of racket like the drive shaft is out of balance. I just balanced the drive shaft and that wasn't it. Can't figure out what is wrong with it, but if anyone has any ideas, please tell me. Thanks.

13th Jun 2006, 05:56

I've got a 1986 Jeep Comanche Custom longbed with 2.5L AMC engine and manual transmission. I get excellent mileage on it and it's the most reliable car I've ever had (and I've had a couple). Transporting things is a walk in the park as the long bed hauls nicely and with a trailer I can tow my other cars around shows. Excellent truck, cannot see why in the earth they stopped making these.

11th Mar 2007, 15:33

Hi there. I have a 1986 lb Comanche, with a 2.8 and auto. I raised it 3" and installed the Moab wheels and tires from my Rubicon on it. The Comanche is a God awful tan color and has a kind of gold interior. I need a carpet kit for it, but I don't know what color the interior is called and the carpet companies advertise gold, tan, mandarin range and cognac an some one tell me what interior colors were available in 1986? Also, I read that some one installed buckets seats in their Comanche. I bought some Cherokee Buckets, but they are to high and will not mount up regardless of height. Where can you get buckets that fit?

15th Mar 2007, 09:22

I have an 87 2.5l 2X4 5-speed Comanche. Bare bones version. 1 mirror, no air etc... I've only had it a month or so, but so far it's been great. XJ (Cherokee) buckets and brackets will swap with the bench seats, and from the doors forward it's identical to a Cherokee of the same era for parts availability. I plan to street truck mine, but lowering and suspension components seem non existent. If anyone knows where to find a 2" front drop kit I would love to get my hands on one. Long term plans include a Ford 8.8 rear end, and Camero engine and tranny swap.

17th Mar 2007, 16:21

Hello I have a 90 jeep cherokee with the 2.5 in it and the transmission went out in it would the transmission for a 2.8 work.

17th Mar 2007, 16:38

Would a transmission from a 2.8 fit with a 2.5 cause my transmission wen out in my jeep cherokee.

28th Mar 2007, 14:09

I just purchased a 1987 Comanche with a 4.0,5-speed, ac,4x4,p/s, with 159,000 miles. Someone had put a flow master exhaust. Runs and drives great. I just have some problems putting it in 4 wheel drive (like I have to find it;Not sure if it's a linkage thing or something else. But once it's in..it's ready to go.) This is my first 4x4 and I wouldn't trade it for nothing. Just a great little truck and great gas mileage.

Tony from St.Louis, Mo.

7th Jul 2009, 08:35

I just picked up a 1989 Jeep Comanche 2wd with 2.5liter engine and 5 speed transmission. I got it from the original owner who'd had it for 20 years.

It's a short box, and so far seems to get great fuel mileage. It has some things that need work of course. I paid $700 for it. Drove it the 45 minutes drive home and seemed great.

I got it because it's cheap on gas, has a bench seat and besides a little bit of rust forming on the wheel lip near the plastic wheel well arch piece, it's basically rust free.

I have never had any vehicle made by Jeep, this is my first. I even got a brand new in the box, catalytic converter that everyone was sent back in 1989, as they did not put one into the truck originally, it has always passed smog tests here even without it. It's neat to have a brand new in the original box catalytic converter that is 20 years old. That alone would cost half what I paid for the truck, if I ever do have trouble with smog tests, I can put that on and have no probs passing.

I hope to fix the rear shocks, grease the window tracks, buy a Cherokee of the same era and stick with this pickup for awhile. Seems excellent so far, and since I am the second owner, it's a great story behind the truck.

17th Dec 2009, 20:42

Hi.

About a year ago I bought an 86 Comanche LB, and got an 89 parts Comanche SB for a parts truck on someones from yard in the middle of no where. The pair had been neglected, but I got them both for $1000.

The 86 is my driver, it's a 2L 4 cylinder standard 5 speed, bucket seats with a console, tan interior, black exterior. It's lifted 3 inches and I put 31"10" on my aluminum 15"rims. I also got a spare rim in the deal, so that's under the back. It's got over 370000 kms on it, I believe its engine has been replaced. It's had its problems, brake booster, slave cylinder, a bit laggy and doesn't like the cold, great truck overall. The 89 has came in handy, took lots of parts and body pieces off it. Took me about 8 months to get it on the road, in all I think I have about 3000 into it, and it's a solid reliable first truck.

The 89 4L 6 cylinder 4x4 could have been restored, but I took anything I needed from it. The frame is solid or white short box cap mint, still lots of good parts. I still think about rebuilding it, but I'm still focusing on the other truck. I have lots of plans for my 86. I'd like to put roll bars in the back and side root rails, I have a small wench I'd like to mount to the front, and if I have to replace the engine, I'd like to try to find a small diesel engine. Just ideas tho.

Jacob B

N.F.O., Canada.

11th Dec 2017, 17:53

Hey! If anyone can help me out with a little information here, it would be great! I got a good deal on a 1986 Jeep Comanche LB 2WD.

Replaced the starter and got it running. Drove around a few miles for 2 days and made sure that I dropped the bottom radiator hose every night. Never leaked a drop of water.

Go out this morning, put the bottom radiator hose on like I have for the last 2 days.

Now I have water leaking from between the motor and transmission, and coming out around the starter. I know it's a freeze plug, but how could it not leak for 2 days? Oh yeah! It also has the 2.8 liter V6 engine.