86 cherokee modifications/engine swap

Hey there!

I'm doing an engine swap on my 86 XJ ... got a 3.4L V6 from a firebird to drop in. I'm planning on using the carburator for the old engine (it's got to still be carbed to pass smog in CA). Anyone have any info on any problems I might run into?

The only other mod I've done at this point was buy a 3 coil radiator.

I'm also wondering if anyone knows if I could upgrade the rear axle on an 86? I've heard talk that they weren't as good that year.

Stuff I'm considering for the future:
4.5" lift
K&N filter
Custom bumbers/rock rails/skid plates (dad owns a machine shop!)
Better roof rack

I definitely plan on taking this thing off road when I have it running again. And I'll be driving it in the snow for snowboarding trips.

I'd be interested to hear anyone's recommendations on how I should trick this thing out.

Thanks in advance!

Hit my site & check out my son's Project XJ. We did the 3.4L swap & took a few pics along the way. The list of links on the page are well worth checking out.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jeepcherokee1/Project XJ/Project XJ.htm

Here's a link to the thread on JU where I was asking the same questions & the answers that were passed along.

http://jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=417180&highlight=3.4L

Feel free to ask any questions ya might have. Pretty straight-forward swap.

Awsome! Thank you! I'll be sure to post up some pics myself when my dad and I are done