Can you guys help me ID my 60 degree V6?

[Dan_89]

Hello,
after hours of searching, I've only found a little information on the v6 that was set aside 5 years ago for my dad's jeep. recently, my dad has decided to sell the jeep and I'm buying it.

He got a motor from another jeep guy in the area that was supposed to be a great motor for the jeep. it's a 60 degree GM v6, but I can't find much more than that.

It has a distributor on it, and either a 2 barrel carburetor or TBI setup... I'm not sure how to tell the difference between them.

The engine mounts are evenly spaced front to back and the bellhousing is still attached. the bellhousing looks to be the same as the mounting pattern that connects to the chevy rwd and 4x4 transmissions, so I'm pretty sure it's F body or S-10/15.

On the Driver's side, it has 889 LH6 cast into it, and on the passenger side GM 1407888. I can't find any displacement casting. It has individual belts, not a serpentine.

As far as i can tell, the serpentine was implemented in all v6's after 1987. is this correct? If so, does that mean I have a 2.8l?

Thanks in advance for the help!
Dan

[ForcedFirebird]

Should be a 2.8 Gen1 iron head. They were also used in Isuzu's.

[Dan_89]

Should be a 2.8 Gen1 iron head. They were also used in Isuzu's.

Thanks.
Is this really as bad of a motor as I'm hearing?
Dan

[ForcedFirebird]

No, it's just the least powerful of the 60 degree v6's.

[geoffinbc]

Sounds like a factory 2.8L They were used in Jeeps for a few years. It works fine but its not a Jeep/Dodge motor so all your Jeep friends will beat you up and dunk your head in the toilet. If you don't care about huge power then just let it be.

You easiest option for an upgrade is the 3.4L swap just like the S-10 and Isuzu guys do. It will give performance on par with the 4.0L (not the latest 99 up version though) and in a lighter and smaller package.

If you want to go all Jeep than you can swap in the famous 4.0L. But if it were me and the Jeep was worth keeping for the long haul I would make a 4.7L Stroker I6 with the late model intake, aluminum head, EFI and a Banks header. I am not 100% sure but with a good cam I think some guys have those things making 300HP. I recently saw a magazine article where the swapped in an aluminum head on a crate 4.6L and made 900HP with a single turbo! Not sure how it drove because it was just on a dyno and they never showed the engine installed. However with 7 main bearings holding the crank in it can take some serious power.

[45es]

You ask an interesting question. Jeep used the 2.8L carborated 60*v6 in the mid-80s for a short period of time. Many in the 4wd community will tell you this engine would not make a good boat anchor let alone a JEEP motor. I disagree and have a 1990 mpfi 60 in my flat fender. I used this engine for several reasons which included being able to install the engine with no clearance issues, more than double the original motors hp and torque, etc. With this motor I can cruise at 6 or 60 mph with ease. Also, you are correct in that the gm transmissions will bolt up to the motor with the gm bell housing.

You did not state the year or model of the Jeep. Although betterthanyou makes a good suggestion and is correct as to how your friends will treat you, depending on the year and model you may not be able to do as he suggests. An I6 will not fit into any CJ series Jeep until you get to the intermediates (72-75) without major body modifications. There is not enough room under the hood for the length of an I6. It's your Jeep and therefore you can do as you want.