Carl

Generally, I'm partial to the 87+ XJ's with the 4.0. They are getting very
hard to find under 200,000 miles in my area for a reasonable price. I've got
a lead on an 85 with the 4cyl, manual. I know the 84-86 was terrible with
the 6 (2.8 chev POS), but besides low on power, how was the 4cyl? This will
be a trail rig, but will need to be driven to legal-wheeling areas. I intend
to go with a 4" lift and 32's. Is it as reliable as the 2.5L that was in my
89 Wrangler?

Carl

Earle Horton

Afaik, the main difference was TBI* versus MPI**. The '85 will have TBI.
It would be similar to the 2.5 that was in your '89, except for that. I
used to have an '85 Chevy S10 with the 2.8. I believe that it had the same
amount of power as my 2.5 liter Wrangler, or maybe a little bit less. Now I
don't know that the MPI represents a power increase, or just an emissions
related change, but if the body is good on the vehicle you are looking at,
you might consider fitting it with some newer, possibly recycled, parts and
for sure a less restrictive exhaust system.

Earle
*Throttle body (fuel) injection
**Multiple point (fuel) injection

"Carl" <carlsaiyed@hotmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message
news:JaidnTGHws02vUXZnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Generally, I'm partial to the 87+ XJ's with the 4.0. They are getting very
> hard to find under 200,000 miles in my area for a reasonable price. I've
got
> a lead on an 85 with the 4cyl, manual. I know the 84-86 was terrible with
> the 6 (2.8 chev POS), but besides low on power, how was the 4cyl? This
will
> be a trail rig, but will need to be driven to legal-wheeling areas. I
intend
> to go with a 4" lift and 32's. Is it as reliable as the 2.5L that was in
my
> 89 Wrangler?
>
> Carl
>
>

Earle Horton

Afaik, the main difference was TBI* versus MPI**. The '85 will have TBI.
It would be similar to the 2.5 that was in your '89, except for that. I
used to have an '85 Chevy S10 with the 2.8. I believe that it had the same
amount of power as my 2.5 liter Wrangler, or maybe a little bit less. Now I
don't know that the MPI represents a power increase, or just an emissions
related change, but if the body is good on the vehicle you are looking at,
you might consider fitting it with some newer, possibly recycled, parts and
for sure a less restrictive exhaust system.

Earle
*Throttle body (fuel) injection
**Multiple point (fuel) injection

"Carl" <carlsaiyed@hotmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message
news:JaidnTGHws02vUXZnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Generally, I'm partial to the 87+ XJ's with the 4.0. They are getting very
> hard to find under 200,000 miles in my area for a reasonable price. I've
got
> a lead on an 85 with the 4cyl, manual. I know the 84-86 was terrible with
> the 6 (2.8 chev POS), but besides low on power, how was the 4cyl? This
will
> be a trail rig, but will need to be driven to legal-wheeling areas. I
intend
> to go with a 4" lift and 32's. Is it as reliable as the 2.5L that was in
my
> 89 Wrangler?
>
> Carl
>
>

Earle Horton

Afaik, the main difference was TBI* versus MPI**. The '85 will have TBI.
It would be similar to the 2.5 that was in your '89, except for that. I
used to have an '85 Chevy S10 with the 2.8. I believe that it had the same
amount of power as my 2.5 liter Wrangler, or maybe a little bit less. Now I
don't know that the MPI represents a power increase, or just an emissions
related change, but if the body is good on the vehicle you are looking at,
you might consider fitting it with some newer, possibly recycled, parts and
for sure a less restrictive exhaust system.

Earle
*Throttle body (fuel) injection
**Multiple point (fuel) injection

"Carl" <carlsaiyed@hotmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message
news:JaidnTGHws02vUXZnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Generally, I'm partial to the 87+ XJ's with the 4.0. They are getting very
> hard to find under 200,000 miles in my area for a reasonable price. I've
got
> a lead on an 85 with the 4cyl, manual. I know the 84-86 was terrible with
> the 6 (2.8 chev POS), but besides low on power, how was the 4cyl? This
will
> be a trail rig, but will need to be driven to legal-wheeling areas. I
intend
> to go with a 4" lift and 32's. Is it as reliable as the 2.5L that was in
my
> 89 Wrangler?
>
> Carl
>
>

Earle Horton

Afaik, the main difference was TBI* versus MPI**. The '85 will have TBI.
It would be similar to the 2.5 that was in your '89, except for that. I
used to have an '85 Chevy S10 with the 2.8. I believe that it had the same
amount of power as my 2.5 liter Wrangler, or maybe a little bit less. Now I
don't know that the MPI represents a power increase, or just an emissions
related change, but if the body is good on the vehicle you are looking at,
you might consider fitting it with some newer, possibly recycled, parts and
for sure a less restrictive exhaust system.

Earle
*Throttle body (fuel) injection
**Multiple point (fuel) injection

"Carl" <carlsaiyed@hotmailREMOVE.com> wrote in message
news:JaidnTGHws02vUXZnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Generally, I'm partial to the 87+ XJ's with the 4.0. They are getting very
> hard to find under 200,000 miles in my area for a reasonable price. I've
got
> a lead on an 85 with the 4cyl, manual. I know the 84-86 was terrible with
> the 6 (2.8 chev POS), but besides low on power, how was the 4cyl? This
will
> be a trail rig, but will need to be driven to legal-wheeling areas. I
intend
> to go with a 4" lift and 32's. Is it as reliable as the 2.5L that was in
my
> 89 Wrangler?
>
> Carl
>
>